Coastal Highway Southern Link completion is IIB’s primary KPI

The University of Reading Malaysia is the first overseas campus of the University of Reading in the UK and is based in EduCity, Iskandar.

KUALA LUMPUR: The completion of the RM180mil Coastal Highway Southern Link (CHSL) is the primary key performance indicator for Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) this year, said president and chief executive officer Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad.

He said the almost-completed coastal highway linking Medini to the second link would enable users to drive directly to the Sultan Iskandar Building Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Johor Baru without having to exit the main highway.

“Work began in 2015 and the highway should be completed by end of June. However, we need time to carry out inspections before opening the highway,” he told reporters at the breaking of fast in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

The highway was co-funded by stakeholders, as well as the Federal Government through the Public-Private Partnership Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department.

Khairil Anwar said IIB was also focusing on some placement-making activities to re-brand Nusajaya to Iskandar Puteri in an effort to turn it into a multi-purpose destination.

“Visitors come to Iskandar Puteri in order to go to Legoland or Gleneagles Hospital, but we want to make it a destination with many activities,” said Khairil Anwar.

He also with Iskandar Puteri’s Educity underway, Iskandar Investment Bhd would help its education partners in terms of enrolment and enhancing student experience in the next few years.

Boasting RM700mil in investment, Iskandar Puteri has six universities, namely University of Newcastle, University of Southampton, Multimedia University, the Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology, Raffles University Iskandar, and University of Reading.

Incorporated in November 2006, IIB is a strategic developer to stimulate the long-term development of Iskandar Malaysia.

IIB focuses on Iskandar Puteri (previously known as Nusajaya) or Flagship Zone B. Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the Employees Provident Fund and Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor are its shareholders. - Bernama