We've done our part, up to Singapore now to improve traffic on Causeway, says PM

SINGAPORE: Malaysia has done its maximum to ease traffic congestion at the Johor Causeway and now it is up to the Singapore side to reciprocate and address the issue, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister commended the effort put in by the Malaysian Immigration, Customs and agencies in tackling the issue.

"The agencies have been supportive and we see a major change. I was there (Johor Baru) a few weeks ago and now Singapore needs to do its best to ease the traffic," he told reporters after a talk session during the 10th Annual Asia Summit here on Wednesday (Sept 13).

On his recent announcement on the special economic zone in Johor, he said that the congestion at the Johor Causeway would not affect those working in Singapore and staying here as it would involve the second link.

Anwar had recently announced that the government had designated the multi-billion ringgit Forest City project as a special financial zone to spur the economy in Iskandar Malaysia.

He said among the incentives were allowing for multiple entry visas, fast track entry for those working from Singapore and a flat income tax rate of 15% for knowledge workers.

He said all these incentives were in addition to what has been announced for Forest City.

Anwar said that Johor has a uniqueness as it was next to Singapore and instead of competing with each other, Malaysia and the island republic could complement each other.

In Singapore, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, participated in two special sessions at the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2023.

The first one-hour session, ‘A Conversation with Prime Minister of Malaysia’ was moderated by Bloomberg’s anchor and chief international correspondent for South-East Asia, Haslinda Amin.

It was then followed by another 45-minute session, ‘Malaysia’s Investment Outlook: A Conversation between the Prime Minister and Global Investors’, which was moderated by Milken Institute’s chair of Asia, Robin Hu.

California-headquartered think tank Milken Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life.

Anwar also met with his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong.