JOHOR BARU: Johor is set to make history as the first Malaysian state to offer premium starting salaries for high-skilled workers, ranging from RM4,000 to RM5,000, says Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
The Johor Regent added that this ambitious initiative is being led by the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC), launched on Nov 3, showing the state's commitment to nurturing a skilled workforce.
“In addition to this, the Johor state government, through the Johor Plantations Group Berhad (JPG), has secured a significant partnership with Japanese corporation Fuji Oil Asia Pte Ltd.
“Together, they plan to set up a palm oil and speciality fats refinery in Johor, with an initial development investment of RM500mil,” he said in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Tuesday (Nov 5).
Tunku Ismail added that the Johor government’s commitment to international collaboration was further demonstrated during recent discussions with 83 prominent companies from South Korea.
“This initiative aimed to promote the forthcoming Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which is expected to attract investments worth approximately USD190mil (RM828mil).
“These new projects are expected to create more job opportunities for Johoreans in the coming years,” he added.
In a bid to enhance Johor’s tourism appeal, Tunku Ismail shared that the state will also be undertaking restorations of the historic Johor Grand Palace and the Sultan Ibrahim Building at Bukit Timbalan.
“These 19th-century landmarks, which will soon be reopened to the public, will be upgraded to increase the tourism value in Johor Baru,” he said.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported saying that Johor is set to become the first state to offer a starting salary of RM4,000 for diploma holders and RM5,000 for those with degrees in specific sectors related to the JS-SEZ.
He added that the newly launched JTDC would play a significant part in realising the state’s vision of offering such premium starting salaries for youth in the state.
“This could also ensure that the 100,000 quality job opportunities expected to be created under the JS-SEZ will be taken up.
“At the moment, about 74,000 such jobs have been made available, and only some 52,000 have been filled,” he said.
