(From fourth left) Mohd Haffiz and Tan performing the groundbreaking ceremony for Calia Residences at Danga Bay.
THE Johor Baru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is expected to accelerate population growth and housing demand once it begins operations in 2027.
Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said the city was already seeing heightened interest, with construction approvals by Johor Baru City Council’s (MBJB) one-stop centre increasing significantly in recent years.
“Development in Johor Baru is very active at the moment.
“As the RTS nears completion, demand for residential properties is expected to grow further, driven by migration from other districts and states, and even from abroad.”
He said this in his speech during the groundbreaking ceremony for Calia Residences by Paragon Globe Bhd (PGB) at Danga Bay.
The RTS Link, together with the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), will reshape cross-border mobility and daily living, said Mohd Haffiz.
“People will be able to live comfortably in Johor while working in Singapore.
“This will make Johor Baru a preferred residential base due to its lower cost of living, better housing options and improving connectivity.”
The 4km rail system will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Baru to the Woodlands North MRT station in Singapore.
It will have a capacity of 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, reducing congestion at the Causeway and cutting travel time between the two cities to about five minutes.
Mohd Haffiz said this enhanced accessibility was expected to accelerate the development of new residential hubs, commercial precincts, and transit-oriented communities in the city centre.
At the event, PGB signed a five-year memorandum of collaboration (MoC) with UOB Malaysia to advance green financing, sustainability integration, and cross-border investment linked to JS-SEZ.
It formalises and expands an earlier agreement signed in June 2024 between the two parties.
It marks a shared commitment to promote responsible growth and support Johor’s transition towards a sustainable investment hub.
Under this collaboration, UOB Malaysia is PGB’s preferred banking partner for upcoming residential, commercial and industrial projects.
Both parties will cooperate to structure innovative green financing mechanisms, facilitate investor connections and embed environmental, social and governance (ESG) best practices across PGB’s development portfolio.
PGB executive chairman Datuk Seri Edwin Tan Pei Seng said their collaboration was more than financial, and that it was a shared commitment to balance progress with responsibility.
“As PGB expands, we want each project to contribute meaningfully to Johor’s long-term growth under the JS-SEZ initiative.
Located in the prime waterfront district of Danga Bay, Calia Residences is a freehold development spanning 1.46ha with two 36-storey towers comprising 1,274 units ranging from one to three bedrooms including dual key layouts.
“With a strong response from the market, Tower A has achieved a remarkable 90% take-up rate and we are pleased to announce that Tower B is now open for registration,” said Tan.
“This milestone gives us confidence that the market values PGB’s commitment to delivering quality and sustainable homes,” he said.
