PETALING JAYA: A clear blueprint is essential to boost the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) effectiveness, says the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM).
Its president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng said the blueprint would act as a catalyst for the public and private sectors, fostering development in the economic zone for the benefit of both countries and the region.
He emphasised the importance of effective planning, monitoring, coordination and enhanced communication between the two nations as these factors significantly impact the zone's performance and trust levels.
Ng proposed that the JS-SEZ should be operated within a transparent regulatory framework to ensure policy consistency and maintain investor confidence.
He also called for clearly defined ownership for managing and operating the SEZ.
“Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the funding requirements for both on-site and off-site industrial infrastructure development, including a survey of potential investors and supporting industries in alignment with the identified priority sectors,” Ng said on Tuesday (Jan 7).
He advocated for a supportive, business-friendly regulatory environment and streamlined bureaucratic processes.
“The SEZ should promote inclusive growth, ensuring benefits are distributed across different locations and sectors, fostering linkages between companies operating in the SEZ and local SMEs to create opportunities for local suppliers and service providers.
“The necessary infrastructure and access to finance, technology and markets for SMEs should be provided.
“Manpower development, skill and vocational training as well as capacity building programmes are also needed to meet human resource requirements of our industrial sectors,” he added.
Ng said the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre Johor (IMFC-J), acting as a one-stop centre for investment, should facilitate a smooth transition for both domestic and foreign investors from initial interest to operational realisation, utilising digital platforms.
He also encouraged domestic SMEs to explore opportunities and find partners to invest in the zone.
“More importantly, the government must ensure that domestic industries benefit from foreign direct investments in the SEZ through technology transfer, expertise sharing and creation of job opportunities for locals,” he said.
