Johor gets 4 applications to set up IBS plants
JOHOR BARU: Johor has received four applications including from investors in China to set up industrialised building system (IBS) plants in the state.
Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian said the investments, estimated to be around RM3bil, would create some 1,000 jobs for locals and result in economic spillover to the building and construction industry in Johor.
He said Johor already has eight IBS plants including the biggest IBS plant in the region owned by Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd, the developer of the multi-billion ringgit Forest City project in Gelang Patah.
The company had invested RM730mil for its IBS plant on a 7.26ha site in Gelang Patah and the facility can produce about 260 cubic metres of building construction materials annually.
“The four new IBS plants are likely to be set up within the next two years,’’ Osman told reporters at the convocation ceremony of 250 trainees from the Southern Region National Construction Academy.
He said the state government was looking to have the four new plants set up in Kluang, Mersing and Segamat so as to benefit the local economy.
Osman said that presently, the existing eight plants are located in Johor Baru and Muar, adding that these plants catered to local and Singapore markets.
“The IBS products produced in Johor are of high quality and it is proven with construction companies and developers in Singapore importing from us,’’ he said.
Osman said Malaysian developers should not have doubt on the quality of the Made-in-Malaysia IBS products, including from Johor, as they were certified by the Construction Industry Development Board and Public Works Department.
On a separate issue, he said the state government hoped to meet with the Johor Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) soon on the suggestion to abolish the 15% discount for bumiputra properties worth RM1mil and above.
“We need more input from them and the state government is always open to discussion on matters which benefit all of us in Johor,’’ said Osman.