One of the five development zones in Iskandar Malaysia.
MALAYSIA and Singapore should act fast to realise the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Johor Baru Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Low Kueck Shin said the zone would help attract investors to Iskandar Malaysia.
He said many businesses did not have any details on the SEZ although it had been discussed since the end of last year.
Low hopes more meetings will be held with stakeholders on the SEZ.“We hope the Johor government can hold meetings with stakeholders on the project,’’ said Low when contacted.
He said the joint announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Singapore prime minister Lee Hsien Loong failed to give a clearer picture on the SEZ.
During the 10th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat on Oct 30, Anwar and Lee agreed to jointly develop the SEZ.
Both leaders said SEZ would tap into the complementary strengths of the two countries by improving cross-border flow of goods, investments and people.
Iskandar Malaysia Johor Chamber of Commerce and Industry secretary-general Md Salikon Sarpin said Johor government was also part of the joint ministerial committee for Iskandar Malaysia, which is studying the SEZ.
“Briefings should have been held this year since the setting up of the SEZ was first discussed at the end of last year,” he noted.
He said this would give the state better input.
He also hoped that the Federal Government could extend Iskandar Malaysia’s Compre-hensive Development Plan beyond 2025.
Md Salikon, who is a former Johor exco member, had proposed the setting up of a dedicated industrial park within SEZ.
“Johor needs to attract more capital-intensive and high-technology investments to SEZ instead of labour-intensive manufacturing,’’ he said.
Malaysia and Singapore are expected to ink a memorandum of understanding on the parameters of SEZ in January.
