ISKANDAR PUTERI, Johor - Malaysia and Singapore are expected to finalise the terms of reference in October for the setting up of the Johor-Singapore special economic zone (SEZ).
Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the SEZ would be further discussed during the leaders’ retreat involving the two countries in October.
He said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong will be attending the retreat in Singapore.
The discussion on the SEZ will be followed by one on the terms of reference, Datuk Onn Hafiz said, in reply to Pakatan Harapan assemblyman Andrew Chen Kah Eng at the one-day Johor assembly meeting on Thursday.
Mr Chen had asked about the status of the SEZ.
Mr Onn Hafiz added that through the 16th Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia in Singapore on July 14, both countries agreed to create a special task force to study the establishment of the SEZ and this matter has actually been discussed since the end of 2022.
“I am truly happy and excited about this development and announcement because it will continue to strengthen the good relationship between Johor and Singapore for mutual prosperity and progress.
“Johor and Singapore will cooperate more closely and complement each other for the good of the people in both countries,” he said.
Datuk Seri Anwar recently announced that the government had designated the multibillion-ringgit Forest City project as a special financial zone to spur the economy in Iskandar Malaysia.
Among the incentives were allowing for multiple entry visas, fast-track entry for those working from Singapore and a flat income tax rate of 15 per cent for knowledge workers, he said.
These incentives were in addition to what was previously announced for Forest City.
Mr Anwar also said Johor has a uniqueness as it is next to Singapore, and that instead of competing, Malaysia and the Republic could complement each other.
Earlier, before the start of the state assembly meeting, newly elected Simpang Jeram assemblyman Nazri Abdul Rahman was sworn in front of Speaker Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
He won the recently concluded by-election with a 3,514 majority, beating Perikatan Nasional’s Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya and independent candidate S. Jeganathan.
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
