Forest City, a project started in 2015, is a mega mixed development project on four reclaimed islands in Johor waters. — Filepic
Southern Johor to see extensive connectivity plan for Forest City through rail and road
FOREST City is strengthening its role as a major transportation hub in southern Johor, to support the growth of the Special Financial Zone (SFZ) and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
As part of its long-term strategy, Forest City aims to expand beyond its existing road network by incorporating rail connectivity to enhance accessibility and economic integration within the region.
Since 2023, the township has collaborated with Causeway Link to establish a bus network linking Forest City to the Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) at the Second Link, facilitating easier cross-border travel between Malaysia and Singapore.
Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd deputy president Syarul Izam Sarifudin said the partnership was now set to expand with upgraded bus routes, increased frequency, and extended services to key destinations.
“Both Forest City and Causeway Link are working together to enhance bus connectivity, ensuring seamless integration with Johor Baru’s public transport system,” he said in a statement.
He highlighted that the improvements included optimised routes to popular locations such as shopping malls within Iskandar Puteri as well as the introduction of weekend services to and from Kuala Lumpur.
These routes were launched on a trial basis on Feb 12 and became fully operational on Feb 16 this year, he added.
Syarul Izam says the partnership is set to expand with upgraded bus routes and increased frequency to key destinations.
Syarul Izam said that with major rail projects such as the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) and Johor Baru’s planned Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) systems under discussion, Forest City was positioning itself to be a key player in the region’s evolving transportation landscape.
“Whether it’s the highly anticipated restart of the HSR or the development of ART in Johor Baru, government agencies are working to advance these projects.
“Forest City looks forward to participating in these initiatives,” he said.
Johor works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said improving connectivity between Forest City SFZ and the JS-SEZ was top priority for the state government.
Currently, daily cross-border travel between Johor and Singapore via the Causeway and Second Link ranged between 300,000 and 400,000 people, he said.
“With the Malaysian government’s new single immigration clearance system now in place at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) and KSAB, movement between Malaysia and Singapore has become more efficient, leveraging facial recognition, QR codes, and passport verification for faster processing.
“The Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, connecting Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru to Woodlands North in Singapore, is set to be a game-changer,” he added.
Mohamad Fazli said the RTS was scheduled for completion by the end of 2026 and would be fully operational by Jan 1, 2027, accommodating up to 10,000 passengers per trip.
He also said discussions were underway to introduce a single immigration clearance system using the RTS for smoother cross-border movement.
“In addition, the state government is considering an elevated ART system along three key corridors – Iskandar Puteri, Skudai and Tebrau – with the Iskandar Puteri line expected to connect directly to Forest City’s SFZ and the wider JS-SEZ.
“This transportation network will further solidify Forest City’s status as a major hub, attracting investments,” he said.
Mohamad Fazli added that the state government would collaborate with multiple stakeholders to drive the transportation initiatives forward.
