ISKANDAR PUTERI: Civil servants and state government-linked companies (GLCs) must be prepared for the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) next year, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
The Johor Mentri Besar said 2025 will be a "make-or-break" year for the state, especially with the signing of the SEZ in January.
"Next year will be a make-or-break year for Johor. It will determine whether Johor can achieve its goal of becoming a developed state by 2030.
"As early as January, we will also be signing a strategic agreement with Singapore for the SEZ," he said, adding that the whole world will watch Johor closely next year.
Onn Hafiz said this in his speech during the Economic Synergy Executive Talk at a hotel here in Iskandar Puteri.
He said investors he met during his visits to Shenzhen (China), South Korea, Japan and the United Arab Emirates, have also expressed their eagerness for the SEZ.
"The ones that will be executing this are the people in this hall (civil servants and GLCs leaders).
"If we cannot execute the vision, the plan will not happen," he said, urging the crowd to work together.
Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the signing of the SEZ agreement, which was scheduled for Dec 9, has been postponed to next January.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the delay was due to Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong testing positive for Covid-19.
