Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival has helped boost the city’s profile. — THOMAS YONG/ The Star
Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap featuring major infrastructure overhauls and high-value investment targets to transform the industrial hub into a “smart, sustainable, and investor-ready” metropolis.
Pasir Gudang mayor Datin Paduka Hazlina Jalil (pic) said that these initiatives were central to the MBPG Vision 2030 framework.
The strategy seeks to balance the city’s industrial prowess with modern liveability, leveraging international events to bolster its global profile.
“One of the early administrative milestones this year was the implementation of the Cross Fertilisation Programme (PCF) for Johor local authorities, which began on Jan 7,” she said in her speech when chairing MBPG’s full board meeting at Menara Aqabah, Pasir Gudang.
She said that under the PCF, 11 officers from Johor Baru City Council, Iskandar Puteri City Council and Pengerang Municipal Council were seconded to various MBPG departments to strengthen operations and organisational restructuring.
She also stressed the role of councillors in translating policy into action.
“Councillors serve as a bridge between MBPG and the community to ensure development projects meet residents’ needs,” said Hazlina.
She added that Pasir Gudang’s inclusion in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) expanded the council’s remit, requiring more efficient governance, competitive urban services, and a heightened focus on fostering a world-class investment climate.
Hazlina said several key programmes held in January in conjunction with Visit Johor 2026 included a joint effort with Tourism Johor and Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to welcome tourists at the Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal.
She said the Pasir Gudang Cashless Campaign and 2026 Property Tax Payment Campaign were also launched to encourage online payments, adding that early-paying ratepayers received vouchers and tokens of appreciation.
Hazlina said MBPG had several major events planned for this month, including the launch of the 28th Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival by Johor princess Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Ibrahim and the MBPG Ceramic Gallery launch.
She said the kite festival, which ends tomorrow, had the ability to boost the city’s tourism profile as it drew both local and international visitors.
Hazlina also touched on community engagement, which she said remains a priority.
“For example, we held a dialogue session with Kampung Cahaya Baru villagers as part of efforts to gather feedback and explain development plans.”
She said Pasir Gudang had attracted RM760mil in high-tech investment with the groundbreaking of Rianlon Malaysia R&D and Manufacturing Base launched by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
“The project will generate skilled employment opportunities and reinforce Pasir Gudang’s standing as a competitive industrial and port hub,” said Hazlina.
She said the launch of Brooks Automation Malaysia’s high-tech manufacturing facility and EcoCeres’ Sustainable Aviation Fuel plant in Tanjung Langsat had fortified Pasir Gudang’s industrial ecosystem by generating over 300 highly skilled jobs.
“The opening of the Bestari Perdana flyover has improved traffic management and road safety.
“This is complemented by the Federal Government’s toll-free travel initiative until Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” said Hazlina.
Besides these, the city council has allocated funds for community projects, infrastructure upgrades, smart city initiatives, as well as low-carbon and urban sustainability programmes.
