‘People to benefit from economic spillover’
JOHOR BARU: The 2017 Budget will help Malaysians weather the challenging economic situation and allow development programmes to forge on, said Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) chief executive Datuk Ismail Ibrahim here yesterday.
He said Iskandar Malaysia would get part of the RM1.2 billion allocated for the infrastructure and socio-economic development in economic corridors and believed it would go a long way in providing the people to take part in the economic spillover.
Iskandar Malaysia also welcomes the government’s effort in providing incentives for people who want to buy their own house, especially their first house.
“Furthermore, the building of 10,000 unit of rental houses in the urban areas, specifically for youth, would support Iskandar Malaysia’s effort to attract new talent or the region and is in line with the trend among youths who prefer to rent for the purpose of mobility,” said Ismail.
He said Iskandar Malaysia was committed to providing public transport infrastructure, like Bas Rapid Transit, Rapid Transit System and the High-Speed Rail.
“These facilities would boost the investment value in Iskandar Malaysia and more importantly, would benefit the public.
“The increase in the frequency of the ETS service from Padang Besar to Johor Baru would also improve the connectivity between the economic regions as well as attract more tourists to Iskandar Malaysia.”
Iskandar Malaysia also welcomes the government’s RM536 million allocation to upgrade the hospital facilities and cardiology amenities in several hospitals, including Sultanah Aminah Hospital.
“Another aspect that would benefit everybody is the large sum that has been allocated to improve the water supply in the country, which is in line with the population target of A scale model of three million in Iskandar Malaysia by 2025.
“These sustainable agenda would make Iskandar Malaysia a smart metropolis that includes economic, environmental and social aspects.
“It is our aim to ensure that Iskandar Malaysia’s inclusivity would benefit not only the people in the region but also the whole country,” said Ismail.