Anwar: Johor-S’pore Special Economic Zone a game changer

The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) will be a game changer for Malaysia’s economic growth and social strategy with Singapore, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who chaired a Special Meeting on Johor Development with Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and other ministers yesterday, said the JS-SEZ would strengthen bilateral ties.

Commenting on the special meeting, he said this had been done with other state governments to hear their views and give attention to the states’ needs and priorities.

“This meeting studied the status of the implementation of initiatives to support national economic growth, particularly that of Johor,” he wrote in a Facebook

post.

He said the meeting discussed suggestions on how to realise the JS-SEZ, which aimed to improve cross-border travel, strengthen the business ecosystem and attract investments.

Anwar added: “The government aims to finalise the JS-SEZ with the Singapore government based on the mutually agreed timeline.

“This initiative will serve as a game changer for Malaysia’s economic growth and social strategy with Singapore, as well as strengthen ties between both countries.”

He said the meeting touched on developments related to the implementation of the Forest City Special Financial Zone initiative as well as the creation of the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre in Johor.

“I also took the opportunity to discuss the problems faced by Johoreans working in Singapore and studied new approaches to simplify cross-border travel from Johor to Singapore.

“The state government’s efforts to help the people emerge from hardcore poverty was also discussed to help people obtain a better quality of life.”