04 Oct 2005

Johor Bahru Masterplan BluePrint is out for public viewing !!! The Showcase will be held at Danga Bay from 03 Oct till 04 Oct.

Latest updates

JB Masterplan 2020 covers 5 major transportation Development

1) Air Transport

- Senai ( Transportation Hub Development )

2) Mass Rapid Transportation ( Possible route )

- Stensen Senai / Kulai
- Stensen Kempas
- Stensen Tmn Impian Emas ( Place where I lived )
- Stensen Molek
- Stensen JB Sentral I ( CIQ )
- Stensen JB Sentral II
- Stensen Bukit Indah
- Stensen Perdana JB
- Stensen Holiday plaza

{ Sorry I cant remember all }

3) LRT ( Possible route )

- Stensen Best World
- Stensen JB Sentral
- Stensen Larkin
- Stensen NusaJaya
- Stensen ThemePark
- Stensen Tun Aminah
- Stensen Pasir Gudang
- Stensen JB Sentral

{ Sorry I cant remember all again }

4) Monorail { mostly city areas )

- Stensen Hospital
- Stensen SeaView ( i think its along Danga Bay )

{ Sorry I cant remember all again }

5) Ferry Service

{ Along the strait of Johor }

Wow MRT for JB! Finally!

SOunds very promising.Did anyone of you went to see???

i did ...

Johor State Government has resided over 20 billion dollars to invest in this majestic transformation project that will took place till 2020. Based on resources , presently JB has a population of around 1.5 million , making it the second largest City after KL. The blueprint has divided southern Johor into 6 major Areas, namely : NusaJaya , Johor Bahru ( JB ) , Kulai + Senai , UTM , Pasir Gudang & Skudai. Development will be make possible with the upgrading of its existin roads & constructing more highways to cater the rising patrons on the road. In order to realise these projects with ease , a Powerplant has been constructed to meet the power supply demand till 2015. These are all part and parcel plans to reinvent Johor State into a regional commercial , transportation & shopping hub that will eventually help Johor to fulfill its Developed state target by the year 2020.

wow hope it could be realised! Now all we need is a denser JB :cool:

In my opinions, Jb has the capabilities to become the world-known city. A denser JB is inevitable, it is just the matter of time. As far as i read, many major road projects (upgrading and elevating of roads) will be implemented in the next 5 years, especially to ease the traffic condition along jalan tebrau, jalan kerbun teh, parsir gudang-skudai highway interchange, jalan yayah awal, jalan permas etc. The traffic is becoming worse and worse as each year pass, i can see the difference. Also, Jb has ample of spaces and lands to develop, therefore you cant really find much buildings, especially condos or flats, etc. But i realise that more condos are coming up in the east side, especially the outskirt of permas.

although the 20 billion package sounds a bit attractive , but i believe its still not enough to span for the next 15 years. we need to take into consideration of unforeseen circumstances like water supply , hiking fuel price ; meaning higher construction cost for our state government. Vision to become a regional world class city by 2020 , we have to do more than that.

Thanks for the updates DW25. :okay: The proposals sound very interesting. How are the developments for Nusajaya planned out? Any general idea of its status?
I was in UTM for 5 years actually and I’m glad that they’ve included it as a major development area. Taman Universiti and its surroundings are already bustling as they are, and considering the nearby Technovation Park too. ;)

I heard a propose Mini - MSC will be created in conjunction with the developments of UTM ...

wow!! LRTs, MRTs and monorails!! sounds so coooooool

ERM。。。I am “wait” and “ see”。。。
aih....LRT talk so many years liao..since 1990.

ERM。。。I am “wait” and “ see”。。。
aih....LRT talk so many years liao..since 1990.

wow!! since so long ago??

same situation here in Penang he he..... :bash:

true la ... many times our government dun really match their words with their action.

But from two circumstances I can see that MRT/LRT will be encouraged or rather force to be introduced.

1. Hiking fuel price
Instead of permanent subsidery in fuel price , why not invest heavily in public transportation , This applies to all parts of Malaysia.

2. The power plant
Since construction will due in 2007 & MRT/LRT needs massive power supply , evidently , Johor will be commercing with the construction sooner or later ...
moreover it takes 5 - 15 years for full network link integration to take place.

Urban renewal project, Johor Bahru
VIDEO PRESENTATIONS (http://www.realismstudio.com/Animations/johor3d.mpg)

http://www.realismstudio.com/Animations/johor.jpg

Urban renewal project, Johor Bahru
VIDEO PRESENTATIONS (http://www.realismstudio.com/Animations/johor3d.mpg)

http://www.realismstudio.com/Animations/johor.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y164/braincyo/lansiface2.gif :eek2: Amazing video.

Whos that guy in the picture, look like terrorist.

Whos that guy in the picture, look like terrorist.

What makes you think he looks like terrorist? :sleepy:How come you tell someone by his face> :eek2:

I dont know, it just come to my mind. Maybe not you or others.

^ who's dat guy anyway?

^ who's dat guy anyway?

LOL :lol::lol::lol: that's the roti roti guy in the Malaysian Idol advertisement :D

LOL :lol::lol::lol: that's the roti roti guy in the Malaysian Idol advertisement :D

You're right ! Here >> http://www.malaysianidol.com.my/images/commercial/comm1.gif (http://www.malaysianidol.com.my/images/commercial/roTimaNmiLkman.mpg)

Others > MI (http://www.malaysianidol.com.my/Commercial.asp)

You're right ! Here >> http://www.malaysianidol.com.my/images/commercial/comm1.gif (http://www.malaysianidol.com.my/images/commercial/roTimaNmiLkman.mpg)

Others > MI (http://www.malaysianidol.com.my/Commercial.asp)

lol :) So the terrorist is roti guy :eek2:

Any pics/maps/blueprints of this JB Masterplan?

Thanks :)

Wow, go, Johor Bahru and boom! :applause:

LOL :lol::lol::lol: that's the roti roti guy in the Malaysian Idol advertisement :D
sorry ar, donno laa.. but what an entertaining ad.

Was not sure where to add this article on PJICC, so I decided to place this information here.

JCorp ups investment in convention centre
By VASANTHA GANESAN


February 17 2006


JOHOR Corp (JCorp) has doubled its investment in the development of the Persada Johor International Convention Centre (PJICC), located in Johor Baru, to RM100 million to optimise the PJICC's potential.
The developer and manager of the convention centre is Puteri Hotels Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JCorp.

"The investment is now at RM100 million (compared with RM50 million earlier) for bigger space which includes additional wings and additional car park facility," Puteri Hotels managing director John J. Roozemond said.

"During the construction we realised (PJICC) has more potential and we wanted to absolutely maximise the space," he said.

"The built-up area is 1.74ha, of the total 2.43ha available. Earlier it was 1.42ha," Roozemond said, adding that the PJICC is half the size of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

The extension includes widening the entire convention and exhibition space as well as increasing the car park bays to 16,000 from 11,000 initially.

As such, the convention centre can host up to 2,100 delegates in classroom style with its column- free facility, 2,000 in seated banqueting and 2,500 in theatre style.

As a result of the expansion and heavy rains late last year, the opening of the convention centre has been delayed by a few months to October, from its earlier scheduled opening in August this year.

"Sixty per cent of the superstructure is complete, and we will be targeting to open in October this year," Roozemond said during a preview of the PJICC's progress in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

wow...i wonder did they sell any CD bout the masterplan to the public?

sorry ar, donno laa.. but what an entertaining ad.

why sorry? nothing to sorry about lar...:D

RM300mil project liquidation woes
Saturday March 25, 2006
By TEH ENG HOCK


JOHOR BARU: The RM300mil Lot 1 (http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/3/25/southneast/13749356&sec=southneast) at the Waterfront City project here will be liquidated, but unit owners need not be alarmed, as those who had paid the full purchase price will not be affected.

Lot 1 Unit Owners Association, which has more than 120 members, will hold an annual general meeting at Tropical Inn today to discuss the matter.

The association’s legal adviser Woon See Chin said the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted an order to liquidate Transbay Ventures Sdn Bhd on Jan 27.

Lot 1 was developed by Transbay Ventures Sdn Bhd, a 70:30 joint venture between Pilecon Engineering Bhd and the Johor State.

The complex, with a net retail area of 380,000 sq ft, is divided into 350 units.

“The liquidator has taken over Transbay to ascertain their assets, debts and liabilities.

“But the debt burden will not fall onto the unit owners, as a substantial number of units belong to Transbay,” Woon said.

It is learnt that 70% of the units were management-owned, with the remaining 30% sold.

Unit owner Long Heng Khuan, who paid some RM400,000 for his unit, said it had been a nightmare for him since his investment collapsed.

Long, who is also the association’s assistant public relations officer, said the AGM would update members on the status of the complex and discuss possibilities of reviving the project.

The RM6bil Waterfront City project was launched in 1996 and was supposed to consist of 10 parcels. Commercial and residential properties were planned for the 2.5km seafront, but no other development took place except for the construction of Lot 1.

In 2003, the state decided to abandon its floating city project because of environmental concerns and worries that it would be a blight on the coastal landscape.

Johor convention centre taking shape
By JOTHI JEYASINGAM
February 25 2006


JOHOR'S first International Convention and Exhibition Centre (Persada) is 60
per cent complete and expected to open this October.

The project, developed by Johor Corp (JCorp), will be managed by Puteri
Hotels Sdn Bhd, another JCorp unit.


Puteri Hotels managing director John J. Roozemond said there were strong
booking enquiries for Persada, with some 90 potential clients on the waiting
list.

But we are not accepting any firm bookings yet. This is to avoid
complications just in case the building is delayed," he said.

Roozemond said 90 per cent of the enquiries were from local event managers
and Government agencies, while the rest were multinational corporations.

He was speaking to reporters after a progress preview for the media and
event organisers held at the Puteri Pacific Hotel Johor Bahru.

Earlier there was a site visit to the construction, where the guests were
briefed on the development status of the structure.

Roozemond said he was upbeat about Persada's prospects, as statistics
provided by the Immigration Department and Tourism Malaysia showed a 24
per cent increase in international convention and exhibition arrivals in
Malaysia from 2002 to 2005.

"With this positive development, I see Johor Baru becoming the hub for the
MICE (Meetings Incentives Conventions Exhibitions) business, serving the
southern Malaysian market and Singapore," he said.

Roozemond said Persada was intent on capturing international convention
business from the city state.

"Singapore is expensive, not to mention its exorbitant hotel room rates and
logistic costs.

"We can offer the same if not better facilities, at a fraction of their costs,"
he said.

Roozemond said Persada was also being marketed aggressively at
international trade shows like the International Conference and Convention
Associations, the Asian Travel Fair and the International Travel Conference
Meeting Exhibition.

Persada has now joined the ranks of the Malaysia Association of Convention
and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers to raise its profile, according to
Roozemond

The convention centre comprises two main levels and two intermediate
floors.

The upper level houses the convention halls while the lower level is
designated for the exhibition centre.

The structure can house a total capacity of 2,100 delegates in classroom
style, 2,000 in seated banqueting and 2,500 in theatre-style.

Persada Johor International Convention Centre
update from webshot

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/3054/64530an.jpg

Johor convention centre to open by October
Tuesday March 14, 2006
By MEERA VIJAYAN


JOHOR BARU: Nestled in the heart of the city, Persada Johor International Convention Centre is 60% complete and expected to be ready by October.

As the first convention centre in Johor and south of Kuala Lumpur, the centre owned by Johor Corp aims to boost economic growth in the state.

Puteri Hotels Sdn Bhd managing director John Roozemond said the strategic location at the border of Malaysia and Singapore was ideal for those with business dealings in both countries.

“I must point out that hotel rates are also lower in Johor Baru,” he said after the preview of the progress of construction at the convention centre recently.

Puteri Hotels acts as the management company of Persada Johor.

Roozemond said statistics provided by the Immigration Department and Tourism Malaysia showed a 24% increase in arrivals into Malaysia for international conventions and exhibitions from 2002 to 2005.

“For years, the international conventions and exhibitions have been centred within Kuala Lumpur itself. Many foreign convention travellers would welcome a change of venue,” he said.






http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2006/3/14/business/b_10shafiqul.jpg

From left: Johor Land Berhad managing director Shafiqul Hafiz , The Puteri
Pacific general manager John Roozemond, Johor Tourism Action Council
general manager Abdul Jabar Md Tahir examine the model of the Persada
Johor International Convention Centre at the booth at the Puteri Pacific Hotel
in Johor Baru. The centre is 60 per cent complete and is expected to be
ready in October.






He said the convention centre had the capacity to accommodate up to 6,600 delegates. Its neighbour, The Puteri Pacific Hotel (formerly known as Puteri Pan Pacific Hotel), has 500 rooms.

“The convention centre and the hotel will be linked by a covered bridge as the hotel is situated just next door,” he said.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y271/Tswnet/panpac.jpg

Nice architechture( do I spell correctly :bash: )

I don't like the color!!

Persada Johor International Convention Centre
update from webshot

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/3054/64530an.jpg


Too many brick-walls, should have more glass windows to provide more "open concept" to the design. Without the roof this building just looks like some Sekolah or shophouse or some jubilee hall. Therefore I'm not too thrilled with the design...it doesn't scream,"Watch out KL, here comes the new and vibrant JB!" And I hope that ugly "Taman-looking" fence would be pulled down once the convention centre is opened.

To me, i really feel that design is really poor and very ordinary. It is not really fantastic. Look more liike a sport complex to me. The place is a waste of building such a small and short building. It should be built with tall and highrise buildings. Big waste. :no:

^^^^ the color is boring and yet look so bricky, more steel can be much better.

I don't like the color!!

me 2 !!

design is quite ok though :)

Great developments! Keep 'em coming since the city is an alternative to Singapore. Or perhaps in the future, Singapore will be the alternative to Johor Bahru.

under the 9MP, johor is gonna get lots of money, hope this areas will see more construction...the CIQ to Gelang Patah corridor, Bandar Nusajaya, johor cybercity, Danga Bay-Lido Beach, proposed logistic hubs at Tanjung Pelepas, Senai, Pasir Gudang...etc :)

yaya...go ahead Johor Bahru, let the world knows that JB is better than Singapore:D

9MP Report: RM10b boost for Johor


THE 9MP will see greater emphasis on balanced regional development Towards this end, growth corridors will be identified and states given allocations.

Johor will receive RM10.2 billion, part of which will go towards developing the South Johor Development Authority (SJDA), which will be the Government’s vehicle to propel growth and reposition the State as a regional logistic and tourist hub.

SJDA, to be created by an act of Parliament, will be co-chaired by the Prime Minister and the Johor Menteri Besar.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the investment arm of the Federal Government, will bankroll the development blueprint.

“The idea is to turn this region of about 1,970 sq km into a site of world-class facilities and services,” says Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

This growth corridor will stretch from the proposed new bridge and Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex here to Gelang Patah on Johor’s southwestern coast.

The corridor will include Bandar Nusajaya, where the new Johor administrative capital is being built. The township has also been earmarked for a theme park, medical city and branch campuses of international universities.

The proposed logistic hub featuring the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Senai Airport and Johor Port in Pasir Gudang will also be covered under the SJDA.

Also included will be Danga Bay — the integrated waterfront city taking shape along Lido Beach here — and Cybercity, which will be Johor’s version of the Multimedia Super Corridor.

“The SJDA development masterplan, when fully realised over five years, should see Johor become a magnet for creative talent from around the world,” says Ghani.

At the same time, waterfront projects with commercial, recreational and residential properties are also planned for Lido Beach.

“SJDA will co-ordinate all this development to avoid duplication and minimise waste.”

Lately i Saw news about LRT in Johor , cited in a Chinese Newspaper ...

Expertise on this field ( land development ) argued that South Johor do not need an LRT due to its undensed population in the city area. An alternative solution suggested was to create comtemporary KTM commuter train instead of LRT. Secondly ... the proposed LRT route designed will not be able to cater the majority needs.

Lately i Saw news about LRT in Johor , cited in a Chinese Newspaper ...

Expertise on this field ( land development ) argued that South Johor do not need an LRT due to its undensed population in the city area. An alternative solution suggested was to create comtemporary KTM commuter train instead of LRT. Secondly ... the proposed LRT route designed will not be able to cater the majority needs.
well sould I be surprised? let's waste more time at the traffic rather than something contributes... it's nothing fresh to us anymore...!!! :sleepy: :sleepy:

well sould I be surprised? let's waste more time at the traffic rather than something contributes... it's nothing fresh to us anymore...!!! :sleepy: :sleepy:

shut up biatch!!

shut up biatch!!
huh? did I say something offensive here? I apology if I did... all I'm trying to say is trafffic congestion has been taking waaaay tooooo much of our time that we can actually invert it into something worthful for the city... almost any of the major cities in M'sia is facing this situation when it comes in the long run, an effecient public transportation does help to boost the economy, even if the cost is high... :)
ps: and when I said "effecient", I meant "well-planned", not w/ some hugh bucks that were wasted for nothing... it's not something that provides a better urban look, but also a solution to the problems our city and people suffer for decades...

This is much better.

I really don't understand Malaysian traffic. I've lived in other cities where the roads are worse and there are more cars, but the flow is so much faster.

Modesto's spices up Johor Baru dining scene

By Chuah Bee Kim
bt@nstp.com.my


April 27 2006


MODESTO'S, the Italian food and beverage (F&B) chain, has opened an outlet at The Zon shopping complex in Johor Baru.

The opening of the RM500,000 restaurant, owned by Heritage Group of Restaurants and Clubs, is expected to help jazz up the mundane night life in Johor Baru.

It will be Modesto's 11th outlet in South-East Asia, making this the firm's first foray into the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

The outlet seats 160 people in a relaxing ambience.

A deal was sealed with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the firm's managing director Modesto Marini and The Zon complex general manager Selina Ng recently.

Also present at the signing were Heritage Group chairman Bob Wong and director P.Y. Wong of Naluri Corp Bhd, which owns and manages The Zon.

"It is our intention to offer both the residents of Johor Baru and guests of The Zon the best in F&B and entertainment all contained in the safe and convenient environment of The Zon," said P.Y. Wong.

He said The Zon draws more than one million Singaporean shoppers and visitors annually. He added that the newly opened Modesto's will attract even more Singaporeans to The Zon.

Bob Wong told reporters that the group is eyeing a slice of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market and is venturing into Abu Dhabi in June.

"Abu Dhabi will be a stepping stone in our move to capture the Middle East market," he said.

He said Modesto's will open 10 outlets in the UAE but nine of the outlets will be Easy Pizza outlets and only one will offer the fine-dining concept.

The firm, which has outlets in Bangsar Baru, Damansara Heights and other parts of Kuala Lumpur, rakes in RM30 million in annual turnover and expects the Johor Baru outlet to generate RM3 million a year.

Cool! I love Modesto's!

Corporate: RM10 bil plan for Southern Corridor
March 7, 2006
By Leela barrock
THEEDGEDAILY (http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_d2d51a2f-cb73c03a-1f47ae80-64b0763c)



The government is planning to develop the Southern Corridor of the peninsula under the soon-to-be unveiled Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), sources say.
Up to RM10 billion is likely to be allocated for three major investments and several other smaller pockets in this area, which should spur development even beyond what has been envisioned under the plan, the sources add.
The first prong of the plan, with the largest federal government allocation of RM6 billion, will involve the development of large tracts of land in southern Johor.

Sources say the South Johor Development Authority (SJDA) will develop vast areas between the two existing links to Singapore. The government's investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd will take a 40% stake in SJDA, the Johor government will take 30% and Ekovest Bhd, through subsidiary Danga Bay Sdn Bhd, will take the remaining 30%.

Included in these plans are the developments of the Bandar Nusajaya township and the waterfront city of Danga Bay, a development owned by Ekovest. Other proposals include expanding the ports, developing the Senai Airport and linking all of them to form a major transport hub.

Bandar Nusajaya will eventually become the state government's administrative capital. "The idea is to manage the development of the area so that everything becomes seamless. Right now, approvals for projects are rather haphazard and there is no cohesion," says a source.

The south Johor development will be complemented by the "bullet train" project from Kuala Lumpur to Johor. This proposal was initially believed to have been mooted by the YTL Group. However, it is understood that Khazanah may lead this project.

"YTL's estimated investment was RM1 billion. Khazanah's may be more or less, depending on how much the new proposal varies from the original," the source says.

With the bullet train, the entire corridor along the West Coast of the peninsula will be opened up further.

Another facet of the 9MP will be the construction of the long-awaited second Penang Bridge. While the second bridge will fall under the 9MP, it will eventually become part of plans to develop the Northern Corridor, sources add.

There has been some question as to whether or not the second Penang Bridge would see the light of day or if the government would decide that expanding the existing bridge would be sufficient.

The beneficiaries

Sources say other than the direct beneficiaries such as Ekovest, the other possible winners in the 9MP would be those government-linked companies such as the UEM Group. UEM, almost 100% owned by Khazanah, will most likely lead the development of the bullet train and parts of the SJDA project.
Of course, the Bandar Nusajaya township is already owned by UEM subsidiary Bandar Nusajaya Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Prolink Development Sdn Bhd). Bandar Nusajaya is the ambitious township development in Gelang Patah, near Johor Baru, adjacent to the second link between Singapore and Malaysia launched in the heyday of the 1990s. The group was then controlled by Tan Sri Halim Saad. There were then plans to build a theme park and marina in Nusajaya as well.

Sources say these plans may be revived as Johor tries to reposition itself as a transport hub. "The ports are already there and there is an airport, though Senai could be better. It is a matter of somebody making sure that every proposal makes sense and is cohesive. Somebody has to keep an eye on the big picture to make sure that all the parts will fit eventually," a source explains.

A key player in the Southern Corridor could also be Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary who controls the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor Port and also Senai Airport.

Another UEM subsidiary, UEM Builders Bhd (formerly known as Intria Bhd), already owns the existing Penang Bridge. UEM Builders also has some experience in the construction of railways — admittedly a somewhat less salubrious experience. It has taken over the Ipoh-Rawang double tracking project, which is 85% completed, from DRB-Hicom Bhd in 2005. However, work on the project has not gone into full swing as the company has not reached an agreement with the government on the takeover terms.

Quote...The south Johor development will be complemented by the "bullet train" project from Kuala Lumpur to Johor. This proposal was initially believed to have been mooted by the YTL Group. However, it is understood that Khazanah may lead this project.

"YTL's estimated investment was RM1 billion. Khazanah's may be more or less, depending on how much the new proposal varies from the original," the source says.

With the bullet train, the entire corridor along the West Coast of the peninsula will be opened up further...unquote

Interesting...YTL probably would have proposed a similar train to its KLIA express, but what is Khazanah's proposal..extension of KTM electrification/double tracking or a whole new track & train. KTM is narrow gauge rails so can't be 'bullet' train so a completely new rails & train what r the possibilities :)

Cool...Shinkansen in Malaysia...Wee!!! :)

hopefully it can run between 300-400km/perhour

If the high speed train will be built .. more 'kampung' people will die when crossing the rail track :) :)

If the high speed train will be built .. more 'kampung' people will die when crossing the rail track :) :)

How about "kampung chicken"? or "kampung haiwan" :) :) :) :jk:

will the 'bullet train' pass through Melaka City?? Melakans can hardly have chance to get on train to travel to parts of peninsula Malaysia...

i dont think few billion enough for bullet train, taiwan cost about 60billion to built their 300KM bullet train project.

From the Johor State Official Website :

JOHOR BAHRU: Terminal pengangkutan awam terbaru di bandar raya ini, JB Sentral yang dibina bersama dengan Kompleks Kastam, Imigresen dan Kuarantin (KIK) akan mula beroperasi akhir tahun ini.


Kompleks yang bernilai kira-kira RM141 juta itu terletak di belakang Stesen Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Johor Bahru dan akan mempunyai laluan pejalan kaki bagi menghubungkannya dengan Kompelks KIK yang baru.

Pengurus Projek Gerbang Selatan Bersepadu, Ng Ah Kow, berkata projek berkenaan kini 50 peratus siap dan akan mula dibuka kepada orang awam menjelang akhir tahun ini.

"Terminal penumpang ini akan menawarkan standard baru dalam sistem pengangkutan awam di pusat bandar raya Johor Bahru," katanya.

Dilengkapi 12 laluan bas, 950 tempat letak kereta dan yang paling penting stesen untuk sistem transit aliran ringan (LRT), terminal berkenaan adalah penyelesaian terhadap masalah tempat letak kenderaan dan kesesakan lalu lintas di bandar raya ini.

Selain itu, empat landasan kereta api sedia ada akan ditambah kepada enam bagi memenuhi permintaan daripada penumpang kereta api.

Ng berkata, dengan pembukaan JB Sentral, Stesen KTM sedia ada yang berusia hampir 100 tahun akan dijadikan muzim peringatan kereta api.

"JB Sentral dan Kompeleks KIK yang baru akan disambungkan bagi membolehkan penumpang daripada Singapura selepas pemeriksaan imigresen memilih bentuk pengangkutan awam yang mereka inginkan bagi meneruskan perjalanan," katanya.

Sebelum ini, Menteri Besar, Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman pernah menyatakan laluan LRT di bandar raya ini, akan menghubungkan Tampoi, Pandan dan Johor Bahru dengan JB Sentral akan menjadi stesen utamanya.

Abdul Ghani berkata, kerajaan negeri sedang bekerjasama dengan sebuah konsortium yang terdiri daripada pelabur Korea Selatan dan tempatan bagi membangunkan sistem LRT itu.
Oleh Johan Afandi
Sumber : Berita Harian Jumaat 05 Mei, 2006

I dunno what are the 'bullet trains' you guys are talking about but basically there are a few systems in the world.

Notable ones are TGV (france), Shinkansen (Japan) and ICE (Germany).....all capable of doing at least 300kmph. Xeoc is right that 1 billion (esp if it is in Ringgit) is not enuf for such a system but I dun think the Taiwanese spent 60 billion (unless it is Ringgit). ;)

Of course there are also the Maglev which the current commercial maker would be Transrapid of Germany. ;)

9th Plan boost for Johor
By Adeline Paul Raj
May 8 2006
BusinessTimes (http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Monday/Frontpage/BT566066.txt/Article/)

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Monday/Frontpage/BT566066.txt/Article/Current_News/BT/Images/dailyn1/joho2.jpg


ANALYSTS see Johor as having the greatest potential for development under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), with the UEM and MMC group of companies being the main beneficiaries.


This is mainly why shares of UEM World, UEM Builders and MMC Corp have performed extremely well and seen a strong surge in volumes of late, dealers said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in telling reporters recently that the implementation of 9MP would be a priority, paid special attention to the Southern Johor Economic Region (SJER).

He outlined plans to re-name the area the Southern Johor Corridor as it was important and would benefit the people of Johor tremendously.

"(These were) very strong words and hints from the Prime Minister," said UOB Kay Hian Research in a report recently.

Some RM12.2 billion has been allocated to develop the SJER, and this will go toward building up Nusajaya, the Danga Bay waterfront, a transport hub and a high-speed rail link connecting Johor Baru to Kuala Lumpur.

Nusajaya, a massive 9,720 hectares piece of land, will be a key focus of interest, says research house CLSA.

UEM World owns 6,480ha of it, known as Bandar Nusajaya, which will house Johor's new administrative centre as well as several universities, a theme park, industrial estates and residential developments.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd, UEM World's controlling shareholder, was appointed to execute the SJER masterplan, giving it a huge incentive to get things going, CLSA noted.

"Good execution would mean significant land bank value upside (for UEM World)," CLSA said in a recent report.

It said Nusajaya is possibly the largest and arguably the best-located real estate project in Malaysia.

Other owners of large tracks of undeveloped land in Johor include Mulpha International (567ha next to Nusajaya) and Tebrau Teguh ( 405ha in the city) and a Gamuda-UEM joint venture (486ha), said UOB Kay Hian.

UEM World's share price is backed by a return on net asset value (RNAV) of RM2.33 a share, the research house said. "For every RM1 per sq ft rise in land price, the RNAV rises 40 sen a share, or 17.2 per cent," it added.

It believes UEM World is a front-runner for RM3.6 billion of the SJER development.

Being also a favourite to clinch the RM2.6 billion second Penang bridge project, UEM World's order book could easily double in the next 12 months from RM3.4 billion currently, UOB Kay Hian said.

It expects the company to make a sharp turnaround in earnings to RM139.7 million this year and RM216.2 million in 2007, from a loss of RM103 million in 2005.

This is based on expectations of a turnaround in the construction (via UEM Builders) and cement manufacturing segment, higher Nusajaya property sales and a bigger stake in its pharmaceutical company, Pharmaniaga.

UOB Kay Hian has a "buy" call on UEM World with a target price of RM2.33. This represents a 51 per cent upside from its last traded price of RM1.54.

UEM World and its 51.7 per cent-owned subsidiary, UEM Builders, were averaging 44.3 sen and 50 sen a day respectively in the first two months of this year before doubling in the following months. UEM Builders last closed at RM1.17.

Meanwhile, analysts expect MMC Corp, a high-growth infrastructure and energy group, to benefit from increased economic activities in the SJER.

MMC has a monopoly of Johor's seaports through the Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Johor Port.

"Strategically located, the ports' throughput volumes will increase substantially on rising levels of economic activities in the SJER," UOB Kay Hian said.

Its target price for MMC is RM4, some 47 per cent away from its last traded price of RM2.72. MMC's volumes and price have risen significantly since April 26.

I dunno what are the 'bullet trains' you guys are talking about but basically there are a few systems in the world.

Notable ones are TGV (france), Shinkansen (Japan) and ICE (Germany).....all capable of doing at least 300kmph. Xeoc is right that 1 billion (esp if it is in Ringgit) is not enuf for such a system but I dun think the Taiwanese spent 60 billion (unless it is Ringgit). ;)

Of course there are also the Maglev which the current commercial maker would be Transrapid of Germany. ;)
yah i mean ringgit, 345km track cost rm60billion 12 station design speed 300km/h . currently i study at taiwan.

Agreed! how do we defined " bullet train " here in Malaysia ?

my dream stations KL - seremban - PEKAN LUBOK CHINA - malacca - batu pahat - JB :soon:

Johor can become outsourcing hub: Andrew Sheng
By Siti Nurbaiyah Nadzmi
May 20 2006
BusinessTimes

Singapore would need to outsource as the cost of services and labour soar
and Johor should seize the opportunity, says Andrew Sheng


JOHOR, being just next door to an established international financial centre like Singapore, has the advantage of becoming an outsourcing hub.

Datuk Seri Panglima Andrew Sheng, who is the Tun Ismail Ali Professor of Monetary and Financial Economics of Universiti Malaya, said Singapore would need to outsource as the cost of services and labour soar, and Johor should seize the opportunity.

He said Johor could do this by lowering the cost of logistics between Johor Baru and Singapore.

Sheng said it is essential that Malaysia generally improve connectivity nationwide, especially the broadband access in rural areas.

He said while the Government's priority after independence is to provide basic infrastructure such as roads and utilities, the focus now should be on empowering with broadband access to the Internet.

"If we want to compete in the knowledge-based economy we have to provide the people with Internet access and by that, a broadband service, especially to SMEs to market their products and services globally," he said.

Sheng said currently the broadband usage growth in Malaysia is only 5-7 per cent while in other countries it is growing at the rate of 30-50 per cent.

He also said Malaysia, which has great advantages in many areas, is suffering from the "last mile problem".

"We have all the right policy, right strategies and right infrastructure but lacking in execution and implementation," he said.

Sheng said Malaysia can offer niche services at lower costs, outsource jobs not just in manufacturing, but also services like accounting, secretarial, creative work like animation, studio recordings and book production.

These, however, need focussed implementation, constant benchmarking to international standards, global partners; and widespread and stable broadband services.

Sheng also stressed that to succeed in the knowledge based economy, all concerned, like academicians, businessmen and civil servants should work together as a team.

Sheng was in Johor Baru on Thursday to deliver a lecture on "The Development of Global Financial Centres", which was attended by over 200 people from the State civil service and private sectors.

The lecture, opened by Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, was organised by Bank Negara Malaysia, Johor Economic Planning Unit and Universiti Malaya.

New projects to boost RB Land profits significantly
By Dalila Abu Bakar
BusinessTimes
May 29 2006


http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Monday/Nation/BT569169.txt/Article/Current_News/BT/Images/dailyn1/rbland.jpg

The six new projects, which are targeted for completion within the next
three to four years, will start contributing to the company's 2007 profits

PROPERTY developer RB Land Holdings Bhd, which has nine projects in hand worth more than RM6 billion in Peninsular Malaysia, will see a significant boost in its profits beginning in its financial year 2008.


Executive chairman Datuk Shamsudin Md Dubi said six of the nine are new projects and have a combined gross development value (GDV) of more than RM1 billion.

Its three ongoing projects - Seremban 2 in Negri Sembilan, a mixed development in Shah Alam and a condominium project in Subang - have a combined GDV of about RM5 billion.

Shamsudin said the Seremban 2 project has been making about 75 per cent to the company's profit and contributing between RM180 million and RM200 million to its revenue annually.

He said the new projects which are targeted for completion within the next three to four years will start contributing to the company's profits beginning its financial year 2007.

"However, significant impact will only be felt in our financial year 2008," Shamsudin told Business Times in an interview.

RB Land is a 70 per cent subsidiary of Road Builder (M) Holdings Bhd. For its financial year ended June 30 2005, RB Land posted a net profit of RM27.66 million on a revenue of RM289.34 million compared to a net profit of RM6.44 million on a revenue of RM116.41 million a year before. For its nine months to March 31 2006, the company turned in a net profit of RM27.47 million on a revenue of RM269.86 million.

Shamsudin foresees a better profit for the current year due to sound contribution from Seremban 2 project.

"The net profit for nine months of this year is already about that of last year. So, we are expecting a better performance this year," he said.

Shamsudin said the company's property business has been contributing about 90 per cent to its revenue while the rest comes from its hotel business. RB Land owns 100 per cent of Holiday Villa Subang.

The six new property projects are located in Cheras in Kuala Lumpur, SS2 in Petaling Jaya, Kepong and Segambut in Selangor; and Taman Perling and Permas Jaya in Johor Baru.

Johor to convert 2,000ha of land into Food Valley
Monday May 29, 2006
TheStar

JOHOR BARU: The state plans to convert more than 2,000ha of land in Pantai Timur and Sedili Kecil, Kota Tinggi into an agricultural zone.

Dubbed Food Valley, the first phase of the project will see 404ha used for organic farming, 1.6ha for green house farming and another 60.7ha for aquaculture.

State Agriculture, Agriculture-based Industry, Regional and Rural Development, Cultural, Arts and Heritage committee chairman Ahmad Zahri Jamil said work on the first phase was scheduled to begin later this year and is projected to cost some RM133mil.

“It will be a joint venture between local groups and aquaculture experts from Australia,” he said, adding that the Food Valley would help Johor reach its target of yielding 60,000 tonnes of agricultural produce per year by 2010, up from the current 2,000 tonnes.

Ahmad Zahri said with organic farming, they hoped to produce vegetables for the high-end market.

He added that they hoped to rear sea bass via aquaculture, which will then be exported to the USA as they fetched a good price there.

Ahmad Zahri said another 202ha will be reserved for Johor Plantech for tissue culture research.

Two companies interested in building Johor monorail

Source: TheStar Online Thursday June 1, 2006

JOHOR BARU: Two local companies with foreign partnerships have expressed interest in the state monorail system project estimated to cost more than RM1bil.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the state government was considering the proposals handed in by the companies’ interested in building the monorail.

“We are considering and looking into all areas of the proposals, such as the most suitable technology, the project cost, funding, and routes.

“We hope that we will be able to firm up the details and design by end of this year or early next year,” Abdul Ghani told reporters after launching a seminar here on Thursday.

He added the project should be completed in three years time (2009).

The monorail is expected to ferry passengers from the heart of the city to Tebrau, Senai, Skudai and Nusajaya – densely populated areas where people need public transportation.

Abdul Ghani said the project would be implemented with support from the Federal government, adding that the state government would request for funding from the allocation set aside for upgrading transportation systems in cities.

:) :)

aih abdul ghanti again.......i nv believe his speech.... :bash:

one of the jb 2020 masterplan pic
http://www.chinapress.com.my/data/2005-10-04/local/1004lj01.jpg

Khazanah to invest in south Johor

By Shahriman Johari
ashahriman@nstp.com.my


June 2 2006


MALAYSIA'S state investment agency, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, plans to invest in Johor, particularly in the southern part of the state that has received special attention from the Government.

The Government may also unveil its masterplan for development of the South Johor Economic Region (SJER) in the second half of the year.

Khazanah managing director Datuk Azman Mokhtar said broadly, the agency plans to intensify local investments.

"Among targeted investments are the South Johor Economic Region and investments in new agriculture," he said.

He was speaking to reporters at his office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, after giving an update on Khazanah's operations.

Yesterday also marked his second year at the helm of the agency.
Azman did not give details on Khazanah's possible investments in Johor, but said the agency's task is mostly as a planner.

The Government is budgeting some RM12.2 billion to develop the SJER under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, and this will go towards building up Nusajaya, a state administrative centre, the Danga Bay waterfront, a transport hub and a high-speed rail link connecting Johor Baru to Kuala Lumpur.

The development in Johor would also complement Singapore's plans to build casino resorts, Azman said.

"There is strong complementarity between us and Singapore,” he said.
Nusajaya is a massive 9,720ha piece of land and Khazanah’s unit, UEM World Bhd, owns 6,480ha of it.

Meanwhile, Khazanah said its net growth expanded by a fifth to RM40 billion over the last two years.

The value of its investment portfolio has grown by 28 per cent to RM65 billion over the same period. Khazanah also made 12 new investments over the two years, resulting in gains of RM318 million.

It has spent about RM3.2 billion since January last year buying stakes in overseas firms, including Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd in India, Parkson Retail Group Ltd in Hong Kong, MobileOne in Singapore and PT Bank Lippo in Indonesia.

Titan grows by leaps and bounds
By ADELINE PAUL RAJ
December 15 2005
BusinessTimes

http://www.btimes.com.my/Monday/CEOAward/20051214203450/pix_col


Titan is Malaysia’s largest integrated producer of olefins and polyolefins and
the second-largest polyolefins producer in South-East Asia in capacity terms

TITAN Chemicals Corp Bhd, the country’s first publicly-listed petrochemical company, has grown by leaps and bounds in its short 16-year history in Malaysia.

The company was created in 1988 at the invitation of the Malaysian Government, keen to see the petrochemical and polymers business develop into a vibrant, thriving industry.

It was set up as a joint venture between Datuk T.T. Chao, a pioneer of Taiwan’s plastics industry, and Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB). Chao and PNB together hold more than 50 per cent of Titan.

The Chao Group, run by Taiwanese businessmen, also controls Westlake Chemical Corp, a US-based chemicals maker.

Titan started operations in 1989 with a RM300 million facility in Johor.

Today, its investments have increased 20-fold and Titan is now the single largest investor in Johor, where it runs a massive RM6 billion petrochemical complex.

The complex, located in Pasir Gudang and Tanjung Langsat, houses eight integrated process facilities. Work is currently underway to facilitate a RM600 million expansion.

It is from this complex that Titan churns out the most comprehensive chemical portfolio of polyethylene and polypropylene — collectively known as polyolefins, which are the raw materials used in making a vast variety of plastic products.

These include products deemed essential to modern life such as automotive parts and components, electrical appliances, medical paraphernalia, kitchenware, packaging and containers.

Today, Titan is Malaysia’s largest integrated producer of olefins and polyolefins. It is also the second-largest polyolefins producer in South-East Asia in capacity terms.

The company has a nameplate capacity of over two million MTA of olefins, polyolefins and other associated products, which is set to increase once expansion work at the petrochemical complex is completed in 2007.

Listed on the main board of Bursa Malaysia Bhd on June 23 this year, Titan will soon be included as a component of Bursa Malaysia’s 100-stock strong benchmark index, the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index.

Project to stop floods in JB locales
By TEH ENG HOCK
TheStar


JOHOR BARU: The constant flash floods around Jalan Ayer Molek and Jalan Stulang Darat here will be a thing of the past once a flood mitigation project is completed by the end of this year.

Johor Baru City Council mayor Datuk Abdul Latiff Yusof said the RM10mil project in Jalan Ayer Molek would channel rainwater into the sea with the help of four pumps.

“Each device has the capacity to pump 5,000 litres of water per second,” he added.

The project was delayed because Tenaga Nasional cables had been hindering construction, but the cables had since been moved last month.

“Now the task is to deepen and widen drains to channel the water into the sea and build the pump house.”

Abdul Latiff said flash floods along Jalan Stulang Darat would also be alleviated with the construction of a water retention pond in Taman Pelangi.

“With the pond, we can slowly release the rainwater, thus preventing flooding,” he said, adding that the project might be ready even before the end of the year.

On another matter, Latiff said the council has reverted to using overhead cables for street lamps along some roads to check cable thefts.

“We used to hang the cables overhead, but the new practise is to have them underground as this is more orderly.

“But to overcome the thefts, we now have to go back to installing overhead cables.”

RM400m to curb crime in Johor
Wednesday June 7, 2006
By MEERA VIJAYAN
TheStar

JOHOR BARU: The state government has announced that it will be spending almost RM400mil on measures to curb crime in the state.

These include the installation of more close circuit televisions (CCTV) and increasing the number of police patrol cars.

The police force will also be beefed up to lower the current ratio of one police personnel to 1,800 residents.

“We have a rather unusual ratio as the international ratio is 1:250,” said Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

He was speaking to reporters after a two-hour meeting with Dep-uty Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Musa Hassan and Johor Baru City Council mayor Datuk Abdul Latiff Yusof.

Abdul Ghani said he hoped some of the manpower from the increase in police personnel under the Ninth Malaysia Plan would be channelled towards the state.

“We will concentrate on fortifying three main zones, including the southern, central and eastern part of Johor,” he said.

Plans are underway to add ICT- based facilities and equipment to assist the police force particularly in connecting policemen to their command control centre.

Besides that, he said the state would also concentrate on eradicating crime syndicates before they could grow.

“We need more proactive measures now to deal with the syndicates,” he said.

Abdul Ghani said that it was also possible that auxiliary policemen would be deployed if necessary to raise the level of safety.

“We encourage members of the public, particularly in the private sector, to work closely with the police in fighting crime,” he said adding that businessmen could install CCTV and police posts on their premises.

Abdul Ghani said that at the moment the state government was in the process of doing the design and planning and the implementation of the plans would begin by the end of the year.

Stage two of JB clean-up starts
Thursday June 8, 2006
Thestar

JOHOR BARU: The second instalment of “Love our city” programme kicked off at 8am on June 1, with some 100 people chipping in to clean up the area between Jalan Wong Ah Fook and Jalan Ibrahim.

Members from the Calvary Welfare Centre, Johor Baru Hawkers and Small-scale Traders Association and four agencies including Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), Southern Waste Management (SWM), state water concessionaire SAJ Holdings and Fire and Rescue Department took part in the gotong-royong.

MBJB public relations officer Lokman Sulaiman said the programme would be held during public holidays or school holidays.

“We can organise the programme any time the public is free,” he said, adding that a clean city is the responsibility of everyone.

Five ways to boost Johor economy
09-06-2006
The Star


JOHOR BARU: The state will implement five development strategies to strengthen Johor's economy.

Johor Sultan Iskandar Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail said the first was to increase economic growth and development, emphasising on the agricultural, manufacturing and services sectors.

Productivity has to increase for these sectors to be competitive in the world market. Growth in small- and medium-size industries are also encouraged, Sultan Iskandar said in opening the third term of the 11th state assembly at the Sultan Ibrahim Building here yesterday.

Another strategy was to increase the people's knowledge and creativity by upgrading the quality of education, schools and skill training centres as well as through research and development efforts, he said.

The Sultan said development must be fair and balanced, whether it was in towns or rural areas.

He also called for improvement to the quality of life for Johoreans, adding that the environment must be preserved.

Transportation, health, housing, water and communication facilities must also be expanded and public safety ensured.

Arts and culture must also be developed to be enjoyed by the people, he said.

Sultan Iskandar also stressed on the need to strengthen the government administration to be more efficient, effective, responsible, sincere and honest when serving the people.

Also present were Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Othman, Speaker Datuk Zainalabidin Mohamed Zin, assemblymen and heads of departments.

Kuwait Finance House eyes Ninth Plan projects
By Roziana Hamsawi
July 5 2006
BusinessTimes


KUWAIT Finance House (Malaysia) Bhd (Kuwait Finance House) yesterday said it was eyeing investments in several projects linked to the country'’s Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

The two growth areas that they are looking at are Penang and Johor, said Kuwait Finance House managing director Salman Younis.

Not wanting to elaborate, he said the project in Penang “is a very large one, while there is a 50:50 per cent chance that we will get one project in Johor Bahru.”

These projects, he added are closely linked to the projects outlined in the 9MP.

Kuwait Finance House has since its inception last August, invested in three real estate projects in Malaysia - all in the Klang Valley — and has just secured another one in Port Klang.

“We are bullish on Malaysia. Not just the real estate business but in all areas including plantation, aviation, industrial warehousing and even education,” he said at a press briefing on Kuwait Finance House’s real estate investments in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

In the real estate business, Salman said four to five more projects are in the pipeline, details of which will be announced in due time.

“Our interest in real estate investment is not confined to Malaysia but also the region especially China, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore,” he said adding that preliminary visits and talks have been made in these countries.

But in Malaysia, he said opportunities especially in the development of commercial and residential properties are tremendous.

“The real estate business may get sick but it never dies. Even after the market goes down, you can be sure it will bounce back. In Kuala Lumpur for one, in just 18 to 20 months, property values have risen between 60 and 80 per cent.”

Salman said Arab investors, flushed with liquidity due to high oil prices, are shifting their focus to Asia due the region’s revived economic growth.

He noted that it is easy to market Malaysian properties to investors from Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) because they are “relatively cheap”.

Since August last year, Kuwait Finance House has invested close to RM1 billion in property projects in Malaysia through its US$600 million (RM2.19 billion) Asia Baitak Real Estate Fund.

About RM1 billion also has been invested in the capital market through bond papers, said Salman.

The Kuwait-based bank, capitalised at US$100 million (RM365 million), is the first foreign Islamic bank to operate in Malaysia.

Project Name: LAGENDA TASEK
Developer Name: SURIA BISTARI DEVELOPMENT SDN BHD
Launch Date: July 2006

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6725/52547hv.jpg

Work on highway to begin next year
Saturday July 15, 2006
By MARSHA TAN
TheStar

JOHOR BARU: Construction works on the much-anticipated Permas Jaya second bridge, better known as the Coastal Highway costing more than RM50mil, is expected to begin next year.

While the idea of the highway was mooted way back in 1998, State Housing and Works Committee chairman Datuk Baderi Dasuki told reporters the project would be built with an allocation under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

“We are currently at the design stage. The 20km highway will definitely help contain the increasing traffic volume.

“Once started, it should be completed within 30 months,” said Baderi, adding that the Public Works Department would handle the project.

Baderi was speaking to reporters after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony with YMN Properties Sdn Bhd over the privatisation of a housing project costing RM74.8mil in Taman Setia Indah on Wednesday.

Present at the signing ceremony was State Secretary Datin Paduka Norsiah Haron.

The second bridge, Baderi said, would link, via the coastal area, Permas Jaya to the North-South Expressway via the Eastern Dispersal Link.

It would also serve as an alternative road, he added, for commuters to travel between Pasir Gudang and Johor Baru.

On an unrelated matter, Baderi said there were only five abandoned housing projects involving 3,000 houses in Johor Baru, with the bulk to it in the Larkin area.

“This is relatively low, but we are looking at ways to revive the projects.

“We have to see if the developers can continue building the units, or whether to blacklist them and find new developers,” he said, adding that the projects had been abandoned for five years.

Earlier, Baderi said YMN Properties would develop 26.34ha with 1,401 housing units.

AUSTIN SUITES
@ Austin Perdana
Comprehensive amenities in close proximity
10 km/15 minutes from JB city centre

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/nazrey/5646556.jpg

Project Name: AUSTIN PERDANA
Developer Name: MAH SING PROPERTIES SDN BHD (http://www.mahsing.com.my/)
Launch Date: July 2006

Johor to appeal for another 9MP project
Tuesday July 25, 2006
By MEERA VIJAYAN
TheStar


JOHOR BARU: The Johor government is “generally happy” with projects to be tendered in the state under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, but will appeal for yet another one to be considered during the mid-term review.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the state received approval for half of the projects it proposed, but would appeal for the upgrading of a link from the Segamat district to the North-South Expressway to be reconsidered.

He said the project would bring Segamat closer to the wave of economic growth in the state.

“I will not be surprised if the construction of the link opens up investment possibilities in the area,” he said, adding that the project was estimated to cost RM250mil.

Of the 21 approved projects, Abdul Ghani listed four big projects that would involve some RM280mil, including the upgrading of the Ulu Tiram-Kota Tinggi roads to four lanes and flyovers on Jalan Tampoi.

“Once the projects are implemented, I am sure it will spur the growth of Johor’s economy,” he said, adding that the projects would provide more employment possibilities for contractors.

On another matter, Abdul Ghani revealed that the monorail project for the state would be in the form of a joint venture between Jalur Mudera Sdn Bhd and the Johor Education Foundation.

The companies have been given six months to come up with a detailed study on several aspects, including the costing and the route.

Abdul Ghani said that from what he understood, the companies concerned would be able to fund the project through their own sources as well as through operations.

Danga Bay to spur south Johor growth

BY DANNY YAP

JOHOR BARU: Danga Bay Sdn Bhd (DBSB) expects real estate prices in Malaysia's premier integrated waterfront city project – Danga Bay – to rise significantly in the next few years. This will be buoyed by the RM12bil allocation to support development in the South Johor Economic Region under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

Convinced of the project's commercial viability, DBSB and the Johor government's development arm, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor, have invested a substantial amount in the bay and its surrounding areas.

DBSB is a privately held company in which Ekovest Bhd executive vice-chairman Datuk Lim Kang Hoo is a substantial shareholder and director.

Lim is also a director in Limbongan-Ekovest Management Sdn Bhd, the project manager of Danga Bay, in which Ekovest holds a 49% stake and the Johor government 51%.

Lim said since the 9MP announcement on the south Johor development, there had been a flood of foreign investors and established developers wanting a slice of the planned mega projects in the area.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2006/7/25/business/b_p1dangabay.jpg

“We are in talks with several world-class developers for some of the projects,” he told StarBiz.

Lim said Limbongan-Ekovest Management, as project manager appointed by the Johor government, would assist in the development of the mega projects. They will be mostly for consulting work related to design and construction.

“We hope to get about 8% to 10% of each project's gross development value for our consultancy work under Phase 1 which is centred mainly in the bay area,” he said.

The project management company welcomed international and established developers to bid for the mega projects, he added.

“We want Danga Bay to be internationally recognised and are prepared to work with the best developers in the world to make the bay a favoured destination for business and leisure.”

Lim said Phase 1 would have over 15 mega projects worth RM5bil to be completed within five to six years.

It will have a financial and commercial hub, hotels, and residential properties comprising apartments, condominiums, villas, water chalets and houses.

Lim said DBSB saw the potential of the bay six years ago and had kick-started much of the initial commercial and retailing developments seen today, which included several residential suites, a hotel and restaurants. It had also cleaned up the waterfront.

“DBSB has shown its commitment to the development of Danga Bay, which is why the Johor government has entrusted us, via Limbongan-Ekovest Management, to assist with future project developments,” he said.

Lim said Danga Bay, spread over 1,850 acres with about 25km of waterfront, was a perfect setting that could be turned into a commercial zone to rival Singapore's development across the Johor Straits and Tebrau Straits, and attract the island's residents to invest in the bay.

“Currently, we are looking at property projects valued at RM400 per sq ft in Danga Bay, which is still very cheap compared with property projects in Singapore,” said Lim, noting that property developments in Sentosa Island were now valued at S$1,007 per sq ft.

Lim said it could take a further 10 to 15 years to develop subsequent phases in the outer bay.

“The future development of these areas hinges on their potential commercial viability and investor interest,” he said.

On Ekovest's interest, Lim said besides projects in Johor, the infrastructure company had bid for projects in east and west Malaysia as well. However, he declined to elaborate.

On talk that other mega projects like the YTL group's proposal for a RM5bil bullet train project linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore could further fuel the prospects of Danga Bay, Lim said: “It would be good for Johor and we hope it happens.”

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2006/7/25/business/p1-dangabaych.JPG

SP Setia sees good prospects for property projects in Johor
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
By DANNY YAP
TheStar


PETALING JAYA: SP Setia Bhd sees good prospects for property developments in south Johor following the Government’s decision to transform the region into a major economic hub.

SP Setia group managing director and chief executive officer Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin said the allocation by the Government and expected flow of foreign investment totalling about RM15bil would provide further impetus to fast track the state's economy to the next growth level.

''We are very happy with the government allocation and positive sentiment towards the region,'' he told StarBiz.

As a developer, SP Setia believed strongly in the potential of the Johor property market, especially the South Johor Economic Region (SJER), he said.

He said SJER was a boon for developers with substantial prime land bank in the area.

''Of particular interest to developers are the urban redevelopment plans slated for Johor Baru city and Port of Tanjung Pelepas, which will see existing industries upgraded to meet green standards and new standards being introduced to residential communities,'' Liew said.

He said an emerging zone that would spawn the development of new townships was also on the cards.

In this respect, Liew said SP Setia's 1,509-acre Bukit Indah project in Bandar Nusajaya was one of the prime beneficiaries of the increased economic activity due to projects such as the Johor's new administrative capital, extension of Senai international airport and the Nusajaya Educity, which was expected to house at least four foreign universities with total enrolment of over 20,000 students.

Started in 1997, the Bukit Indah project still had close to 600 acres of undeveloped land bank that could benefit from the Government's recent pump priming activities, he said.

Liew said another project – Setia Tropika – located within the Tebrau corridor and forming part of the SJER, was another possible beneficiary.

Spanning 740 acres and with a gross development value of RM2bil, the project had transformed the development landscape of Johor Baru with its chic contemporary designs, he said.

''Setia Tropika will enjoy direct access to the North-South Expressway upon completion of the RM15mil link road being built by our subsidiary Setia Indah Sdn Bhd,'' Liew noted. Its central location also afforded easy access to Johor Baru city centre and the causeway located 6km and 10km away respectively.

Asked if there would be a flood of investors buying properties in SJER, especially from Singapore, he said: ''We believe that property demand in SJER is set to grow concurrently with the multiplier effects of the logistics infrastructure and introduction of commercially and investor-friendly incentives.''

On SP Setia's investment strategy in Johor, Liew said the company would capitalise on its yet-to-be developed land bank in the state, riding on the expected increase in economic activities.

He said SP Setia had successfully established a strong following in the Johor Baru market with its signature projects that showcased award-winning landscaping, innovative lifestyle concepts and quality homes at accessible pricing.

''Our Bukit Indah and Setia Tropika projects will underpin our growth in Johor. We are also actively scouting for more strategic land bank in Johor to further expand our presence and take advantage of the boost in infrastructure spending and economic activity,'' said Liew.

Asked what was further needed to attract more investors to Johor Baru, he said the state government must put in place first-class logistics infrastructure, introduce more attractive incentives and maintain its low-cost lead to become a choice investment and tourism destination.

Other developers that have invested in the SJER include UEM World Bhd in Nusajaya and developers in Danga Bay.

Mah Sing: Fund will make Johor projects more attractive
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
TheStar

PETALING JAYA: Mah Sing Group Bhd, which has three projects in Johor, welcomes the Federal Government’s move to allocate RM5bil for infrastructure projects in the South Johor Economic Region (SJER).

In a statement yesterday, the company lauded the Government’s decision to transform the region into a major economic hub that would make Johor a metropolis along the lines of Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

Mah Sing said its projects, Sri Pulai Perdana in Skudai, Austin Perdana in Tebrau and Sierra Perdana in the Tebrau-Plentong growth corridor, were located within the SJER.

''As per our business strategy, these pieces of prime land already enjoy existing infrastructure and amenities.

''Our projects would be even more attractive to home buyers and investors when key infrastructure projects such as the 11km coastal road from Permas to Pasir Gudang are completed,'' president and group chief executive Datuk Leong Hoy Kum said.

Leong said the company was well-positioned in Johor, given its strong branding.

''We look forward to the announcement of the details on the SJER come Aug 14,'' he added.

AUSTIN SUITES
@ Austin Perdana
Comprehensive amenities in close proximity
10 km/15 minutes from JB city centre

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/nazrey/5646556.jpg

Project Name: AUSTIN PERDANA
Developer Name: MAH SING PROPERTIES SDN BHD (http://www.mahsing.com.my/)
Launch Date: July 2006


Mah Sing goes green in Tebrau
Chris Prasad
PropertyTimes (http://www.nst.com.my/Weekly/PropertyTimes/News/Focus/20060805131030/Article/index_html)

In fact, the project dubbed Sierra Perdana is touted to be “so green” that it will carry the tagline “Adventure park living”, referring to the extensive landscaping, dedicated parks and safari-themed grand entrance it promises.

According to a company statement, Sierra Perdana will be a first for Johor and is envisioned to be a uniquely designed gated-and-guarded
community with “dedicated green space and breathtaking views” that will offer a balance between living space and nature.

To be launched later this year, the scheme will play host to some 4,000
terrace and semi-detached houses at prices starting from as low as
RM109,000.

All the units, said MSP, will feature tastefully designed interiors fashioned to take advantage of, and blend with, Sierra Perdana’s landscaped exteriors

To date, the company has already completed on-site showhouses for its
single-, one-and-a-half- and double-story terraces, which it said has been
“positively received by many buyers” who registered their interest when
they were unveiled last month.

In addition to the residences, the project will comprise community shops in practical designs. Besides this, Sierra Perdana is close to established amenities such as schools and shopping centres.

The developer is also confident that the project’s location, 18km from Johor Baru’s city centre, represents a good investment opportunity for buyers as it stands to benefit from key Government infrastructure projects
being undertaken in the area.

Among these is the proposed 11km Coastal Highway – to be developed under the South Johor Economic Region (SJER) plan – which will cut through the project and reduce travelling time to the city when it is complete by 2009.

MSP chief executive Datuk Leong Hoy Kum indicated that because of the massive potential of the SJER, the company is actively sourcing for more land in the area for the development of more lifestyle townships.

MSP has already made a name for itself in Johor through projects such as Sri Pulai Perdana and Austin Perdana. To date, the company has sold over 4,000 houses in the State and has some 376.5 acres of undeveloped land with a potential gross development value of RM750 million.

Last month, the company launched Austin Suites, a serviced apartment project within its Austin Perdana enclave. The scheme offers a variety of layouts for two-, three- and three-plus-one-bedroom units, priced from RM99,830.

In the Klang Valley, MSP is involved in a number of new developments,
including Perdana Residence in Selayang, One Residence in Cheras and Kemuning Residence in Shah Alam.

Johor mall operator relaunches loyalty card
05-08-2006
The Star
By ZAZALI MUSA


JOHOR BARU: Selasih Ekslusif Sdn Bhd sees its revamped loyalty programme boosting membership for The Zon Privilege Card to 30,000 by year-end.

The card, to be launched today, was an enhanced version of the Privilege Card which currently had 8,000 members, general manager Ong Chean Chang said.

Present cardholders would automatically be issued the new cards, he told StarBiz in an interview on Thursday.

＾Existing and new cardholders can look forward to enjoying the benefits the new card has to offer,￣ Ong said.

He said benefits offered under the new programme included 10% discount and points redemption at The Zon Department Store, inclusive of its store, supermarket and duty-free sections, during sale and non-sale periods.

Ong said cardholders would receive exclusive invitations to Member Sale previews, exclusive promotions during their birthdays and special member prices.

He said the company had also tied up with other outlets within The Zon complex in Stulang Laut to enable cardholders to enjoy discounts when they patronised these outlets.

Selasih Ekslusif, which manages The Zon Department store at The Zon Mall, is owned by DFZ Capital Bhd, which in turn is a subsidiary of Naluri Corp Bhd.

Besides Malaysians, the company was also targeting Singaporeans for the loyalty programme, Ong said, adding they would probably comprise 10% of the total membership.

The Zon Department Store, re-launched in May after an extensive RM6mil makeover, occupies five levels covering 150,000 sq ft of retail space.

AUSTIN SUITES
@ Austin Perdana
Comprehensive amenities in close proximity
10 km/15 minutes from JB city centre

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/nazrey/5646556.jpg

Project Name: AUSTIN PERDANA
Developer Name: MAH SING PROPERTIES SDN BHD (http://www.mahsing.com.my/)
Launch Date: July 2006


Mah Sing 2Q net profit up 47% to RM16.5m
By Surin Murugiah, 15 Aug 2006 5:29 PM
THEEDGEDAILY


Mah Sing Group Bhd's net profit rose 47% to RM16.5 million in the second quarter (2Q) ended June 30, 2006 from RM11.23 million a year earlier on the back of improved sales and better margins from its projects.

In a statement on Aug 15, Mah Sing said of the group's revenue of RM150.21 million in 2Q, 83% was from the property division and 17% from the plastics division.

For the first half, its net profit jumped 53% to RM31.51 million from RM20.62 million a year earlier, translating into earnings per share of 21.44 sen.

Mah Sing attributed the higher profits to improved sales and better margins from its projects at Aman Perdana and Damansara Legenda in the Klang Valley, and Austin Perdana and Sri Pulai Perdana in Johor Bahru.

It said return on equity (ROE) for the first half was 11% and was confident of maintaining the 19% ROE for 2005.

"From just one project in 2000, the group has increased the number of projects to eight in 2006. At the same time, gearing has improved tremendously from 1.22 times in 2001 to just 0.27 times as at June 30, 2006," it said.

Mah Sing group managing director Datuk Leong Hoy Kum said it may acquire another two parcels of land in the Klang Valley and was exploring opportunities in Johor Bahru. It recently bought two pieces of land in the Kemuning area.

He said the property market was in a state of healthy consolidation with more genuine buyers and fewer speculators.

Leong said in the Klang Valley, the group intended to focus on semi-detached homes and bungalows, continuing a strategy it had adopted since 2004. He said such homes are in short supply, accounting for only 4% of the total residential supply in the Klang Valley.

He said in Johor Bahru, Mah Sing would build lifestyle townships of quality homes at good locations and affordable mid range pricing.

Project Name: LAGENDA TASEK
Developer Name: SURIA BISTARI DEVELOPMENT SDN BHD
Launch Date: July 2006

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6725/52547hv.jpg

Lagenda Tasek (http://www.ijmproperties.com/projectdetail.php?projectid=lagendatasek&&type=Residential)

http://www.ijmproperties.com/global/php-bin/include/gd/gd.php?gd=2&src=http://webadmin.ijmproperties.com/img/project/315.jpg&maxw=500

http://www.ijmproperties.com/global/php-bin/include/gd/gd.php?gd=2&src=http://webadmin.ijmproperties.com/img/project/318.jpg&maxw=500

http://www.ijmproperties.com/global/php-bin/include/gd/gd.php?gd=2&src=http://webadmin.ijmproperties.com/img/project/319.jpg&maxw=500

Don't know whether the Johor state government included the effort to reduce the crime rate in JB into the Master Plan or not!

40 reported cases of snatch thieves in 2 months time (hope the data is correct)! Some of the victim even paralysed or died!

Besides huge projects and better development on the way, hope the authority will put effort to curb the high crime rates.

Don't know whether the Johor state government included the effort to reduce the crime rate in JB into the Master Plan or not!

40 reported cases of snatch thieves in 2 months time (hope the data is correct)! Some of the victim even paralysed or died!

Besides huge projects and better development on the way, hope the authority will put effort to curb the high crime rates.
u wrong
is 40 reported cases of snatch thieves in 21 days .....

u wrong
is 40 reported cases of snatch thieves in 21 days .....

SHAME SHAME SHAME!! I hope they make the culprits do community service like paint my house.

Going wireless in JB
Wednesday September 13, 2006
BY TEH ENG HOCK
TheStar


JOHOR BARU: Imagine being able to check your email in the middle of a park, or doing your banking online while you are riding in a bus.

All this will come true in as Johor Baru gears up to become a “wireless” city.

“Just imagine, you can surf in an outdoor park, or in the middle of nowhere,” MSC Cyberport Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Ganesh Ku-mar Bangah told The Star recently.

He expects the whole Southern Johor Economic Region (SJER), spanning 2,217sq km, to go wireless in three years time.

The SJER stretches from the Causeway and northwards to the Senai airport and from the Port of Tanjung Pelepas in the west coast to Johor Port in Pasir Gudang in the east.





http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2006/9/13/southneast/ms_pg03ganesh.jpg

Ganesh Kumar outlining the plans to make JB a wireless city.





“The technology is already here, but at the moment the business model is not so viable,” said Ganesh.

According to him, two programmes would be rolled out under the wireless city plan.

The first adopts the popular Wi-Fi, or wireless fidelity interface, which uses radio-frequency technology that allows laptop or computer users in the vicinity of a ‘hotspot’ to access the Web or corporate networks.

“We will be able to cover the whole of JB city with Wi-Fi in three years. But at the same time we would also be rolling out WiMAX,” said Ganesh.

WiMAX, or Worldwide Inter-operability for Microwave Access, is a more powerful version of Wi-Fi that can provide wireless Internet access with a range of up to 50km.

“With WiMAX, you can have a higher bandwidth and longer range (of connectivity),” he said.

Ganesh said the MSC Cybercity in Kulai is scheduled to have WiMAX coverage in three years, and within five years, the technology will encompass the rest of Johor Baru.

Asked whether it was viable to make Johor Baru a wireless city considering the poor uptake of broadband and dial-up Internet services, Ganesh said this was due to a mismatch in supply and demand.

“Many work in Singapore, so they say they do not need a line here. And those who want to apply for a line may not even have a telephone line.

“Telekom cannot set up a (phone) exchange because some developers did not allocate land for them to do so.

“These developers are not interested in the lifestyle of people after they sell their houses,” he said.

“It is just a matter of time. Our neighbours are so much more advanced. It is an impetus for the technology gap to be narrowed,” he said.

A broadband stakeholder group was set up on Wednesday in the state, chaired by Johor International Trade and Industry, Energy Water and Communication Committee chairman Tan Kok Hong.

Tan said the state wanted to encourage more people to go online, adding there were only about 60,000 broadband accounts registered in the state under TM Net.

“Let’s not talk about making it compulsory for developers to provide this or that. But the government and the private sector are working together to help the people get connected.

“Some developers have made their homes broadband-ready,” he added.

More projects in JB with launch of FAZ
Monday November 13, 2006
By T. THILAGESH
TheStar


http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2006/11/13/southneast/ms_pg03long.jpg

Long (second from left) launching the Vista Vision
eyespecialist centre in Johor Baru recently.

JOHOR BARU: Luxury condominiums, duty free centres, entertainment outlets and even hotels will be built to cater for the influx of Singaporeans expected to visit the state with the setting up of the Free Access Zone (FAZ).

State Tourism and Environment Committee chairman Freddie Long said the FAZ, part of the South Johor Economic Region (SJER), would be located near the newly-built Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) and Tanjung Puteri Customs complex for heavy vehicles.

“This area is set to become a “happening spot” that will lure Singaporeans and other tourists,” he said at the launch of the Vista Vision eye-specialist centre here recently.

Long said that presently some 24,500 Singaporean tourists entered the state daily.

Long added that Singaporeans make up 58% of tourist arrivals in Malaysia.

Under the proposed FAZ, foreigners can live in designated areas and travel to work in Singapore without having to go through local immigration and Customs checks.

The residents would use smart cards to facilitate movement in the FAZ.

Besides Johor Baru town, a FAZ zone will be set up in Nusajaya.

In Johor Baru, the zone will cover 29.37ha while 416.42ha will be set aside in Nusajaya.

Activities in the FAZ will be allowed to operate round-the-clock.

With no imposition on duration of stay, the FAZ is aimed at attracting international-related economic activities.

Hope it would be like Melbourne of Malaysia sometime!

Project to remove property overhang in Johor
14 November 2006


MUCH excitement has been generated from the recently announced Iskandar Development Region (IDR) – the next engine of growth to spur new business activities and generate greater wealth for the people.

With the ambitious target of attracting some RM47bil in new investment over the next five years and creation of 800,000 jobs, the Government’s vision is to create a global investment and economic hub with an initial estimated investment of RM17.7bil by the Government and private sector.

Covering the logistic triangle of Senai Airport (in the north), Port of Tanjung Pelepas (west) and Johor Port in Pasir Gudang (east), major projects include the transformation of Bandar Nusajaya into the state’s new administrative centre, development of an Educity and tourist resorts.




http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2006/11/13/business/b_p15austin.jpg

Austin Perdana township developed by Mah Sing group in Tebrau




An analyst with a foreign research house said the IDR stood out in two areas – having a strong drive behind the initiative through a newly set up statutory body, the South Johor Authority that would be headed by a minister; and having two designated free access zones (FAZs) in Johor Baru and Bandar Nusajaya.

The FAZs, with plans for high-end residential, retail, hotels, F&B and entertainment outlets, are areas where foreigners can have access to without the usual immigration procedures or time restrictions.

Besides construction companies, developers will be among the biggest winners of the rapid development in south Johor.

Property developers are excited by the prospects of new development opportunities in the IDR and are eager to build their presence in the robust growth region.

They said the generation of more economic activities and employment opportunities would go a long way to alleviate the severe property overhang in certain areas in Johor.

The strong growth rate will also generate wealth, thus allowing buyers to commit to purchasing properties.

The substantial allocation for infrastructure will also improve the accessibility of the more remote parts of Johor and make them attractive for property development.

The initiative will certainly drive demand for property from Malaysian and foreign buyers. Currently, Malaysians make up the bulk of buyers for projects in south Johor, with only 5% comprising foreign purchasers.

The ratio looks set to change with the ease of entry into south Johor through the creation of the FAZs with no immigration and customs check for foreigners. This will spawn greater interest for international businessmen and expatriates based in Singapore to reside in the IDR.

This will also foster the development of high quality offices and business centres, hotels and serviced apartments as well as high-end residential units.

The proportion of foreigners is expected to increase to 11% by 2025 compared with 6% in 2005, especially in the more skilled professional and managerial category, and this group of professionals will be a strong target group for medium to high-end properties.

Famed for its fiercely competitive market, Johor has seen the convergence of a long list of property companies.

They include Asiatic Development Bhd, KSL Holdings Bhd, Mulpha International Bhd, Ekovest Bhd, Crescendo Corp Bhd, Bandar Raya Developments Bhd, Boustead Properties Bhd, United Malayan Land Bhd, Daiman Development Bhd and Johor Land Bhd.

Asiatic is developing the 2,802-acre Indahpura project, which is close to the Senai Airport, while Boustead Properties is undertaking the 1,061 acre-Mutiara Rini; Crescendo (562-acre Danga Bay); Ekovest (Iskandar Waterfront) and IOI Properties (2,689-acre Bandar Putra Kulai).

Meanwhile, KSL is involved in the 228-acre Taman Nusa Bestari, 710-acre Taman Bestari Indah and Taman Kempas Indah.

Analysts have identified Klang Valley-based SP Setia Bhd, Mah Sing Group Bhd and IOI Properties Bhd as the more successful developers in Johor as these companies have achieved commendable sales despite the highly competitive and soft market conditions there.

Mulpha’s 1,371-acre Leisure Farms, located 11km away from Tuas in Singapore, looks like another potential winner. The high-end landed residential development has 700 acres left for development.

Source : Star (http://www.senaiairport.com/press.asp?rootid=100003&menuid=100003&linkid=131) - Malaysia

MSC Johor Attracts More Than 100 Companies
Updated : 12-02-2007
Media : Bernama


JOHOR BAHARU, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Johor Baharu, which became part of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) through MSC Cyberport Johor about six months ago, has attracted more than 100 companies.

Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said Monday the applications of more than 60 companies had been pre-approved and were in the process of being awarded MSC Malaysia status.

"I am also pleased to note that foreign interest has been encouraging, with more than 60 percent of the applications coming from foreign companies," he said.

Abdul Ghani said this at the signing ceremony of the joint venture agreement between the Johor state government, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd and Cyberport Holdings Sdn Bhd and the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing between MSC Cyberport Sdn Bhd and Malaysia Debt Ventures Bhd (MDV) at Menara MSC Cyberport here.

The building, known as the first MSC Malaysia Cybercentre in Johor, gained its MSC Malaysia Cybercentre status in June last year and the roll-out programme was launched on August 14.

Speaking on the signing ceremony, Abdul Ghani said that MDV would be providing the capital to fuel the growth of companies within MSC Cyberport Johor.

"To support the initiative, the state government will also consider the possibility of outsourcing key e-government implementations, such as the e-local government roll-out in Johor, to companies within MSC Cyberport Johor, which can then be funded by MDV," he said.

Abdul Ghani said the state government does not want MSC Cyberport Johor to become not just the back-office for services but also the catalyst for creation of new intellectual properties that have export potential.

"We are pleased to note that some companies such as H-Display and JCY International Bhd have already announced their intention to set up research and development offices in MSC Cyberport. The state government encourages these companies and would like to support them in the growth," he added.

Work on RM800m Bandar MSC Cyberport to start mid-2007
Updated : 12-02-2007
Media : The Edge


MSC Cyberport Sdn Bhd will start work on Bandar MSC Cyberport ¡V a high-technology township in Kulai, Johor ¡V by mid-2007 under its strategy to establish a global information and communications technology (ICT) hub in the southern corridor.

The 60.7ha township will have a gross development value (GDV) of up to RM800 million. It will be developed in three phases, with the first stage scheduled for completion in early 2009.

Its chief executive officer Ganesh Kumar Bangah said on Feb 12 that it would have hi-tech components including radio frequency identification devices (RFID), fibre optic to homes and broadband TV to cater for knowledge workers.

The facilities will enable Bandar MSC Cyberport to become a business process outsourcing (BPO) and shared services outsourcing (SSO) destination for multinational corporations.

The development is a joint venture between MSC Cyberport¡¦s parent Cyberport Holdings Sdn Bhd and the Johor government¡¦s unit, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd (KPRJ). MOL AccessPortal Bhd, of which Ganesh is CEO, has a 25% stake in Cyberport Holdings.

MSC Cyberport was in talks with property developers to develop the first phase, covering 13.35ha and costing RM200 million, Ganesh told reporters after signing the joint-venture agreement with KPRJ in Johor Bahru.

The township is located off the North-South Highway and Second Link Highway and near the Senai International Airport.

He said the township was part of the company¡¦s MSC Cyberport Johor project, which currently comprises the Menara MSC Cyberport Johor building that has been equipped with high-end technology facilities to cater to software and SSO companies.

Ganesh said 100 ICT companies, mostly Singaporean, were keen to move into these buildings because of the facilities.

¡§Being MSC Malaysia-designated locations, Menara MSC Cyberport and Bandar MSC Cyberport will enjoy the MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantees. They include 10-year tax-free breaks, 100% foreign ownership and freedom of bringing in knowledge workers,¡¨ he said.

MSC Cyberport also signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia Debt Ventures Bhd to assist local and foreign companies intending to move to MSC Cyberport Johor.

Malaysia Debt Ventures, which has RM1.6 billion in funds, will provide loans of between RM2 million and RM120 million with a repayment period of up to 60 months.

Ganesh also said MSC Cyberport was in talks with other venture capitalists to invest in some budding companies in MSC Cyberport Johor.

RM800m Cyberport to turn Johor into ICT hub
By Lau Meisan
February 13 2007
BusinessTimes


http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Tuesday/Nation/BT608771.txt/Article/Current_News/BT/Images/btgrap/ghani13.jpg

JOHOR aspires to become a global information, communication and technology (ICT) hotbed like Silicon Valley and Bangalore, with its own RM800 million MSC Cyberport Township in Kulai.

Phase one of the three phases development of the 60.7ha township, near Bandar Indah Pulai, is expected to be completed in 2009.

As one of the key initiatives within the Iskandar Development Region, the Cyberport Township is designed as a hub for MSC activities complete with residential, logistics and research facilities, to attract new k-economy- based companies.

The Cyberport Township is targeting a total of 100 companies, both global and local, who will bring in an initial investments totalling RM300 million.

Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said: "Recognising the potential of ICT as the next engine of economic growth, the State Government will also provide a support system in terms of human resource needs and financing for the township to thrive.

"The support system will comprise higher learning instituitions, venture capital companies and the "right" infrastructure and this will turn Johor into a hotbed of new products and ideas, which could be marketed globally."

Ghani was speaking to reporters after signing a joint-venture agreement with Cyberport Holdings Sdn Bhd and Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd, which is wholly owned by the State Government, at Menara Cyberport yesterday.

The three parties will develop the 60.7ha Kulai MSC Cyberport Township into a global ICT hub.

"Johor will attract international players with its first world infrastructure and third world cost," said MSC Cyberport Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Ganesh Kumar Bangah.

Ganesh said the development of the Cyberport Township in Kulai, 33 km away from Johor Baru, is to facilitate the space constraints faced by the 30-storey Menara MSC Cyberport in Johor Baru.

About 80 ICT companies - involved in software development, call centre operations, one-stop logistic outsourcing, Internet content creation and distribution - will be operating in the Menara Cyberport by end of the year.

Khazanah-led SPV, UEM in talks on Johor land deal
By Francis Fernandez
February 13 2007
BusinessTimes


http://www.btimes.com.my/Tuesday/Frontpage/BT608692.txt/homepix_right

Others involved in the move to acquire 2,000ha include firms linked to
Robert Kuok, Ekovest and a UAE-owned investment fund, say bankers


A FOUR-member special purpose vehicle (SPV) concern led by Khazanah Nasional Bhd is in an advanced stage of negotiations with UEM World Bhd to acquire some 2,000ha in Johor.

It is understood that the SPV will sign an agreement soon, and that the acquisition will land UEM World an exceptional item gain of about RM500 million.

UEM Land Bhd, a unit of UEM World, is developing a 9,669ha city at its Bandar Nusajaya project in Johor where it plans to build homes, waterfront property, offices, hotels, factories, hospitals and campuses for overseas universities, making it Malaysia's biggest real estate development.

The township includes a new state administrative centre and theme parks, which were previously linked to Japan's Oriental Land - the Japanese partner for Tokyo Disneyland.

Khazanah officials said they will not comment on market speculation.

Khazanah has previously acquired land from UEM World specifically to build a destination resort, which includes a theme park.

"The evaluation process for the destination resort is now being undertaken by Khazanah Nasional," UEM World said in a statement to the stock exchange.

The state-controlled property developer further said that it is in talks with several bankers to raise financing for its projects in Nusajaya.

Senior government officials confirmed UEM World is planning a major relaunch of the Nusajaya project on February 23, but said they were unaware of further acquisitions by the state-owned fund.

UEM World will reveal plans for the Nusajaya project at the relaunch, several people who have been invited to attend the function said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, bankers familiar with the deal said that apart from Khazanah, the other members of the SPV include companies linked to billionaire Robert Kuok Hock Nien, Ekovest Bhd and a United Arab Emirates-owned investment fund.

The 84-year-old Kuok, often billed at the Sugar King of Malaysia, controls a slew of public-listed companies across Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Kuok, estimated to have a wealth of RM21.5 billion in 2006, has plantation-related interests in Indonesia and China.

He also controls PBB Group Bhd, Hong Kong's Kerry Properties Ltd and the Shangri-la hotel chain in Asia.

It was reported late last week that Khazanah via a SPV is looking to buy a third of Danga Bay Sdn Bhd, which is controlled by Datuk Lim Kang Hoo, Ekovest's dominant stakeholder.

Ekovest itself has an option to buy as much as 30 per cent of the enlarged paid-up of Danga Bay, the company said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia last year.

The call and put option allows Ekovest to buy into Danga Bay at the net tangible asset (NTA) level. Danga Bay's total NTA is around the RM3.80 per share level.

Under the call and put agreement, Ekovest has untill March to decide if it wants to enforce its option.

The RM4 billion Danga Bay project involves a 15-year development of 559ha of waterfront land in Johor, located between central Johor Baru and new developments such as Bandar Nusajaya and the second crossing to Singapore in the western part of the city.

SP Setia selling Johor land for RM107m

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com


SP Setia Bhd is disposing of a piece of 15.3ha commercial land in the Bukit Indah Johor township in Pulai, Johor Bahru, to Raion Capital Bhd (RCB) for RM106.97 million.

RCB is a special purpose vehicle to acquire the land and build AEON's Shopping Centre Complex and then lease to AEON Co (M) Bhd for 15 years.

SP Setia said on Feb 14 that the disposal was part of its strategy to realise the value of its commercial landbank within the Bukit Indah Johor township.

It said the disposal would generate more cash flow to part finance the development of the remaining land in the township and to meet SP Setia Group's working capital.

The proposed disposal would also contribute positively to the group’s future earnings and cash flow.

SP Setia gained 25 sen to RM6.85 before trading was suspended at mid-morning on Feb 14.

RCB, Aeon bina pusat beli-belah di Johor

Oleh Suffian A Bakar


RAION Capital Bhd (RCB), syarikat tujuan khas (SPV) yang ditubuhkan SP Setia Bhd, semalam memeterai perjanjian dengan Aeon Co (M) Bhd (Aeon), bagi membina Pusat Beli-Belah Aeon di tapak seluas 15.1 hektar di Bandar Nusajaya, dekat Johor Bahru, Johor.


Menerusi perjanjian itu, RCB juga akan memajakkan tapak dan pusat beli-belah terbabit sebaik saja selesai pembinaannya kepada Aeon untuk tempoh 15 tahun.

Pada majlis memeterai perjanjian di Kuala Lumpur, semalam, Ketua Eksekutif SP Setia, Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin mewakili RCB, manakala Aeon oleh Pengarah Urusannya, Nagahisa Oyama.

Ia disaksikan Ketua Pegawai Operasi SP Setia, Datuk Voon Tin Yow dan Pengarah Eksekutif Aeon, Masato Yokoyama.

Hadir sama, Ketua Pegawai Komersial Aseambankers Malaysia Bhd, Tracy Ong. AseamBankers adalah penasihat kepada janji niaga terbabit.

Aeon adalah peneraju peruncitan dan pengendali Pusat Beli-Belah Aeon dan pasar raya Jusco yang berpangkalan di Jepun.

Terdahulu, SP Setia menerusi anak syarikat milik penuhnya, Bukit Indah (Johor) Sdn Bhd (Bukit Indah), memeterai perjanjian jual beli dengan RCB bagi cadangan penjualan tanah pada pertimbangan tunai RM106.970 juta.

Liew berkata, menerusi perjanjian itu, Bukit Indah akan melupuskan tanah seluas 15.1 hektar di Bandar Nusajaya kepada RCB, iaitu SPV yang ditubuhkan bagi tujuan pengambilalihan itu.

Katanya, penubuhan RCB juga bertujuan membangunkan sebuah pusat beli-belah di atas tapak berkenaan, yang kemudian disewakan kepada Aeon untuk tempoh 15 tahun.

“Ia sebahagian strategi syarikat untuk meningkatkan nilai komersial hartanah di kawasan sekitar yang akan kami majukan tidak lama lagi,” katanya sambil menambah pusat beli-belah Aeon itu dijadualkan siap akhir 2009.

Beliau berkata demikian pada majlis memeterai perjanjian pajakan antara RCB dan Aeon, semalam.

Liew berkata, kawasan seluas 15.1 hektar itu sebahagian daripada tanah komersial milik Bukit Indah, di Bandar Bukit Indah dalam Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar.

Dalam perkembangan lain, beliau berkata, Kumpulan SP Setia sedang menjalankan kajian daya maju projek di Vietnam, India dan Pakistan, sebelum memutuskan untuk memasuki pasaran hartanah negara terbabit.

Bandar Nusajaya terletak kira-kira 16 kilometer ke barat laut Johor Bahru. Antara kawasan perumahan berhampiran ialah Taman Perling, Taman Permata dan Taman Sutera, manakala jaraknya dengan pekan Tampoi hanya lapan kilometer.

Projek hartanah SP Setia lain termasuk Setia Alam seluas 1,010 hektar dan Setia Eco Park seluas 316 hektar di Shah Alam, Selangor; Pusat Bandar Puchong; Bukit Indah Ampang; dan dua projek mewah Duta Nusantara dan Duta Tropika di Sri Hartamas.

Tmn bkt indah...This is where I live...hihi
15.3 ha is bigger than jusco tebrau city 12.2 ha.
nice...

Malaysia's Abdullah says he wants 'many bridges' to Singapore
Updated : 11-05-2007
Media : Kyodo News


(Kyodo) _ Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Friday he expects "many bridges" to eventually link Malaysia and Singapore to ease congestion.

But he stopped short of saying he is ready to revive a controversial project to replace the current causeway.

Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to mark the 61st anniversary of the founding of the United Malays National Organization, Abdullah said, "One day I believe, between Malaysia and Singapore, there will be many bridges. It will happen."

Malaysia and Singapore are now connected by two bridges -- the first and oldest is the 84-year-old, 1-kilometer causeway spanning southern Johore Strait.

It is estimated 60,000 vehicles ply the causeway, where traffic jams are the norm, daily.

The second, opened in 1998, is widely known simply as "the second link."

Malaysia, under then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, proposed replacing the chronically congested causeway with a new, 1.13 billion ringgit ($332.3 million), bridge, but Singapore did not agree.

Still, just before he stepped down in 2003, Mahathir unveiled plans for a controversial "crooked" half-bridge that curved at an angle to join up with the causeway at the midpoint.

But Abdullah cancelled that project in April last year, annoying Mahathir and leading to many public rows between the two, but doing little to assuage strained ties with Singapore, which was part of Malaysia until it became independent in 1965.

Since Singapore's independence, the two sides have often quarreled over issues such as the supply of water from Malaysia to Singapore, Malaysian-owned railway land in Singapore, pension funds contributed to by Malaysians working in Singapore and a ban on Singapore military flights in Malaysian airspace.

When Abdullah, who is known for diplomacy, took over from feisty Mahathir in October 2003, many expected warmer ties between the neighbors.

But talks to resolve outstanding issues ended in deadlock and were suspended last year.

Still, both sides hope to repair ties and Abdullah and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will meet on Malaysia's northern island resort Langkawi next week.

Lee, who will be accompanied by several ministers, will arrive for a two-day visit from Monday.

Bridges Linking Malaysia, S'pore Possible, Says Abdullah
Updated : 11-05-2007
Media : Bernama


KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today hinted at the possibility of a new bridge linking Malaysia and Singapore in the future.

The prime minister went a step further, saying he believed that several bridges could be built to connect the two neighbouring countries.

"I believe that one day there may be several bridges linking Singapore and Malaysia, just like in places like New York, Manhattan and Korea, although these places are not in different countries," he told reporters after addressing a gathering of Umno members in conjunction with the party's 61st anniversary celebration at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

"Rivers and straits are not a hindrance to having bridges to ensure smooth traffic. It's something that's going to happen," he added.

Abdullah, who is Umno president, was queried whether he viewed the option of building a bridge to replace the Johor Causeway was still on the table or otherwise.

406 projects under 9MP carried out, says MB
Updated : 16-06-2007
Media : The Star

JOHOR BARU: A total of 406 projects worth RM1.8bil under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) has been carried out this year, Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said.

We have 1,650 other projects which are in various stages of planning, tender awarding, design and work specifications, he told the state assembly yesterday.

He said 274 projects under the 9MP have been completed while 244 have yet to start.

Abdul Ghani said the state had identified factors that could hamper the projects, including material shortages and a price war.

To minimise problems, he said copper and steel have been classified as controlled items and the Government would monitor prices to avoid any shortages.

Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Halimah Sadique said owners of abandoned buildings around the city owed the city council RM15.24mil in overdue assessment.

She told the state assembly that among the 52 abandoned projects were Pacific Mall, Lot 1 and Kemayan City.

In general, Halimah said the council was owed RM49mil in overdue taxes.

We have collected RM70mil and action will be taken against those who failed to settle taxes.

everything about johor is kinda weird to me....well populated..good projects in line...but hardly any news bout their progress...forum bout jb is so outdated and dull...looks like jb and johor people are not actively involved and interested in development news and stuff.....but then a number of people says jb is good and developing...don't really understand....jb sounds dead to me.....or more like it's stagnant...or something like that hahahaha....there is probably too much of media hype about their future plans that the current issues regarding their progress is not prominent...i mean even if a good project fails we might not even be noticed cos they always talk about the titles like idr, ecocity, middle east investors blah blah....but hardly any news on how close are these to reality....weirdo....