Iskandar Malaysia
Encyclopedia
Iskandar Malaysia , formerly known as Iskandar Development Region (IDR) and South Johor Economic Region (SJER) is the main southern development corridor in Johor
, Malaysia. The Iskandar Malaysia was established on 30 July 2006. The project is administered by Iskandar Regional Development Authority
(IRDA) and was named after the late Sultan of Johor
, Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.
and towns of Pontian
, Senai
, Pasir Gudang
and the construction of a new administrative capital in Nusajaya. Johor Bahru District
is included in its entirety, as are parts of the district of Pontian
. Five local planning authorities have jurisdiction over the covered area, including Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru
(Johor Bahru City Council), Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru Tengah
(Johor Bahru Tengah Municipal Council), Majlis Perbandaran Pasir Gudang
(Pasir Gudang Municipal Council), Majlis Perbandaran Kulai (Kulai Municipal Council), and Majlis Daerah Pontian (Pontian District Council).
which found that the development of such a zone would be economically, socially and developmentally beneficial. The National SJER Planning Committee (NSPC), hearing Khazanah's findings, put it in charge of developing a sustainable, holistic approach to development in the region. Iskandar Malaysia was singled out as among the high-impact developments of the Ninth Malaysia Plan
, put into action by the Prime Minister of Malaysia
in March 2006 to cover the period of 2006 to 2010. In November 2006, the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Johor, Abdul Ghani Othman
and Khazanah revealed the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP).
Iskandar Malaysia is modelled after the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone
, it is envisaged to capitalize on its current synergies with Singapore
as it aims to complement each other as an economic hub.
, and Tanjung Langsat
— is prioritized for development in the CDP, with particular focus on Nusajaya. The CDP originally included "Free Access Zones", but these were dropped from the plan in 2007.
Johor Bahru City Centre is Flagship Zone A, including development of a new financial district
, the central business district, the waterfront city of Danga Bay, a mixed development
in Tebrau Plentong and the Malaysia/Singapore Causeway.
Flagship Zone B is Nusajaya, with planned development of the new Johor state administrative centre
, Medini Iskandar Malaysia, a medical hub, an "educity", a resort for international tourism
and an industrial logistic cluster
and Residence Horizon Hills
, Bukit Indah
.
Flagship Zone C, the Western Gate Development, focuses on the Port of Tanjung Pelepas
(PTP), providing a second transportation link for Malaysia/Singapore, a free trade zone, the RAMSAR World Heritage Park and the Tanjung Piai.
Flagship Zone D, the Eastern Gate Development, focuses on the Pasir Gudang Port
and industrial zone, Tanjung Langsat Port, the Tanjung Langsat Technology Park and the Kim-Kim regional distribution centre. In the final Flagship Zone, Senai-Skudai, development is focused on the Senai International Airport
, hubs for cargo and knowledge, a multimodal centre and the MSC Cyberport
city.
of skilled, monied foreigners to help develop an international lifestyle attractive to foreign workers and investors.
SSDT 1:Improve inter-agency coordination in social development of government and non-governmental agencies
SSDT 2:Enhance social capital
SSDT 3:Empower individual and privately-owned Bumiputra
companies
SSDT 4:Increase property values of Bumiputra land through development
SSDT 5:Distribute the benefit of improved property values by promoting mutual fund
s
SSDT 6:Emphasize education and professional training
SSDT 7:Integrate Bumiputra companies into the clusters of major public and private corporations and research institutions
of residents with emphasis on functional, liveable communities that promote social wellbeing. Among the components of this plan are factors designed to integrate various members of society into a cohesive whole while also ensuring that the needs and wishes of special populations are met, such as reducing marginalization
by mixed-cost housing communities, promotion of a sense of communal belonging, ensuring that adequate rental homes are provided for transient
populations, monitoring the housing requirements of those with special needs
, and ensuring that accessible housing is available to the disabled
. Residential plans also include guiding residential development to minimize crime and maximize energy efficiency, through the application of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) guidelines and the implementation of a "Green Building
" rating.
, "Basic Zoning Districts" and "Special Overlay Zones".
There are several dozen primary "Basic Zoning Districts" governing the use of land in commercial, residential, industrial and other sectors, including determining the density of development and what mixed use may or may not be allowed. Initially, the "Basic Zoning Districts" also included a "Free Access Zone (FAZ)" which would have permitted work, business, entertaining & residence between Johor and Singapore, but these zones have subsequently been disallowed. Also governed by the "Basic Zoning Districts" are such special use zones as green space, wetlands, cemeteries and governmental developments.
"Special Overlay Zones" are areas that require exceptional treatment. For example, the "Johor Bahru CBD" allows exceptions to general commercial plot ratio and height because the zone is the commercial and financial centre of Iskandar Malaysia and the capital city of Johor. Similarly, the "Nusajaya Central Planning Area" is given special handling. Other "Special Overlay Zones" cover environmentally sensitive areas, historic areas, coastland, development around highways and rail stations and the "Water Catchment Zone" around the Sutlan Iskandar Dam.
(formerly the South Johor Investment Corporation Berhad), a commercial investment holding company created to oversee and encourage regional development. The CDP promotes the "Strategic Catalyst Development" goals of developing waterfront areas, promoting tourism, expanding healthcare and iconic areas, and mixing commercial and residential development.
It also incorporates a "Business Incentives and Support Package" (ISP) discussed by Prime Minister Badawi on 22 March 2007 which allows special incentives to encourage investment in certain concentrated hubs in the flagship zones. The specific zones involved were revealed in October 2007 and at that time included only Medini Iskandar Malaysia, which is a mixed-development zone incorporating leisure, residential, financial and high-end industrial components. Incentives include tax exemptions for qualifying companies for income from qualifying activities, exemption from Foreign Investment Committee rules, and flexibilities under the foreign exchange administration rules, including those restricting the numbers of "foreign knowledge workers".
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
, Malaysia. The Iskandar Malaysia was established on 30 July 2006. The project is administered by Iskandar Regional Development Authority
Iskandar Regional Development Authority
Iskandar Regional Development Authority is the body responsible for the direction, policies and strategies in relation to development within the Iskandar Malaysia, having regard to the general framework of national and Johor State policies...
(IRDA) and was named after the late Sultan of Johor
Sultan of Johor
Sultan of Johor is a hereditary seat and the nominal ruler of the Malaysian state of Johor. In the past, the sultan held absolute power over the state and was advised by a bendahara...
, Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.
Scope
The development region encompasses an area of 2,217 square kilometers and includes the city of Johor BahruJohor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
and towns of Pontian
Pontian, Johor
Pontian is a district in southwest Johor. It is located 62km from Johor Bahru, the state capital of Johor. It is also located at Miles 37 from Johor Bahru. The name Pontian is also used in the names of two towns in the district, Pontian Besar and Pontian Kechil, of which the latter serves as its...
, Senai
Senai
Senai is a transit town situated 25 kilometres northwest of Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Apart from the Senai International Airport, it is also the base for several major multinational electronics manufacturers...
, Pasir Gudang
Pasir Gudang
Pasir Gudang is an industrial town located 35 km east of Johor Bahru in Malaysia . It is the eastern end of the Johor Bahru metropolitan area. The population is around 100,000. It is connected by the 4 lane Pasir Gudang Highway, a trunk road, and a railway line to Johor Bahru...
and the construction of a new administrative capital in Nusajaya. Johor Bahru District
Johor Bahru District
This article refers to a district in the state of Johor in Malaysia. For other uses, see Johor Bahru The Johor Bahru district is located in the southern part of Johor, separated from Singapore by Straits of Johor. It covers an area of 1,871 km² and has a population of over 1.2 million...
is included in its entirety, as are parts of the district of Pontian
Pontian, Johor
Pontian is a district in southwest Johor. It is located 62km from Johor Bahru, the state capital of Johor. It is also located at Miles 37 from Johor Bahru. The name Pontian is also used in the names of two towns in the district, Pontian Besar and Pontian Kechil, of which the latter serves as its...
. Five local planning authorities have jurisdiction over the covered area, including Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru
Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru
Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru or Johor Bahru City Council is a local authority which administrates Johor Bahru city centre and other areas of the Iskandar Malaysia area. This agency is under Johor state government...
(Johor Bahru City Council), Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru Tengah
Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru Tengah
Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru Tengah or Johor Bahru Tengah Municipal Council is a local authority which administrates Central Johor Bahru District and other areas of the Iskandar Malaysia area. This agency is under Johor state government...
(Johor Bahru Tengah Municipal Council), Majlis Perbandaran Pasir Gudang
Majlis Perbandaran Pasir Gudang
Majlis Perbandaran Pasir Gudang or Pasir Gudang Municipal Council is a local authority which administrates Pasir Gudang and other areas of the Iskandar Malaysia area. This agency is under subsidiary of Johor Corporation and Johor state government...
(Pasir Gudang Municipal Council), Majlis Perbandaran Kulai (Kulai Municipal Council), and Majlis Daerah Pontian (Pontian District Council).
Background
The special economic zone of Iskandar Malaysia grew out of a 2005 government requested feasibility study by the Khazanah NasionalKhazanah Nasional
Khazanah Nasional Berhad is the investment holding arm of the Government of Malaysia entrusted to hold and manage the commercial assets of the government and to undertake strategic investments. Khazanah was incorporated under the Companies Act 1965 on 3 September 1993 as a public limited company...
which found that the development of such a zone would be economically, socially and developmentally beneficial. The National SJER Planning Committee (NSPC), hearing Khazanah's findings, put it in charge of developing a sustainable, holistic approach to development in the region. Iskandar Malaysia was singled out as among the high-impact developments of the Ninth Malaysia Plan
Ninth Malaysia Plan
Ninth Malaysian Plan abbreviated as '9MP', is a comprehensive blueprint prepared by the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department and the Finance Ministry of Malaysia with approval by the Cabinet of Malaysia to allocate the national budget from the year 2006 to 2010 to all...
, put into action by the Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
in March 2006 to cover the period of 2006 to 2010. In November 2006, the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Johor, Abdul Ghani Othman
Abdul Ghani Othman
Dato' Hajji Abdul Ghani Bin Othman . is the current Menteri Besar of the state of Johor in Malaysia. He has been in office since 1995. Born in Sungai Mati, Ledang, Muar, Johor, Malaysia. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation...
and Khazanah revealed the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP).
Iskandar Malaysia is modelled after the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone
Pearl River Delta Economic Zone
The Pearl River Delta Economic Zone , which consists of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan, Zhuhai, Jiangmen, and parts of Huizhou and Zhaoqing, has been the most economically dynamic region of the Chinese Mainland since the launch of China's reform programme in 1979.The 2008-20...
, it is envisaged to capitalize on its current synergies with Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
as it aims to complement each other as an economic hub.
Flagship Zones
Under the plan, five "Flagship Zones" in the 221,634.1 hectares (2,216.3 km²) of land covered are identified as developmental focal points. Four of these Flagship Zones are found in the "Special Economic Corridor" (SEC) of Nusajaya-Johor Bahru-Pasir Gudang. The corridor—which includes the significant ports of Tanjung Pelepas, Pasir GudangPasir Gudang
Pasir Gudang is an industrial town located 35 km east of Johor Bahru in Malaysia . It is the eastern end of the Johor Bahru metropolitan area. The population is around 100,000. It is connected by the 4 lane Pasir Gudang Highway, a trunk road, and a railway line to Johor Bahru...
, and Tanjung Langsat
Tanjung Langsat
Tanjung Langsat is a main industrial area and port in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia.An onshore oil terminal is being built, with 130 000 cu meter of oil storage already built , and another 400 000 cu meter to be ready in march 2010....
— is prioritized for development in the CDP, with particular focus on Nusajaya. The CDP originally included "Free Access Zones", but these were dropped from the plan in 2007.
Johor Bahru City Centre is Flagship Zone A, including development of a new financial district
Financial District
A Financial District is the central area in some large cities where banks, insurance companies and other large corporations have head offices. Financial districts are often home to skyscrapers...
, the central business district, the waterfront city of Danga Bay, a mixed development
Mixed-use development
Mixed-use development is the use of a building, set of buildings, or neighborhood for more than one purpose. Since the 1920s, zoning in some countries has required uses to be separated. However, when jobs, housing, and commercial activities are located close together, a community's transportation...
in Tebrau Plentong and the Malaysia/Singapore Causeway.
Flagship Zone B is Nusajaya, with planned development of the new Johor state administrative centre
Administrative centre
An administrative centre is a term often used in several countries to refer to a county town, or other seat of regional or local government, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located....
, Medini Iskandar Malaysia, a medical hub, an "educity", a resort for international tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and an industrial logistic cluster
Business cluster
A business cluster is a geographic concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers, and associated institutions in a particular field. Clusters are considered to increase the productivity with which companies can compete, nationally and globally. In urban studies, the term agglomeration is used...
and Residence Horizon Hills
Horizon Hills
Horizon Hills, situated in Nusajaya, Iskandar Malaysia is Gamuda Land’s first township out of the Klang Valley. Jointly developed with UEM Land, the township spans over 1,200 acres....
, Bukit Indah
Bukit Indah
Bukit Indah is a mature township located in the heart of Nusajaya, Iskandar Malaysia, Johor. The township was developed by SP Setia Berhad. Bukit Indah, which was launched in 1997, has a population of over 60,000 with over 10,000 houses.The township is the winner of the Johor State Landscape Award...
.
Flagship Zone C, the Western Gate Development, focuses on the Port of Tanjung Pelepas
Port of Tanjung Pelepas
The Port of Tanjung Pelepas is a port for container ships located on the eastern mouth of the Pulai River in south-western Johor, Malaysia. Receiving its maiden vessel on 10 October 1999 on a three-month trial operation, it set a world record as the fastest growing port with of containers handled...
(PTP), providing a second transportation link for Malaysia/Singapore, a free trade zone, the RAMSAR World Heritage Park and the Tanjung Piai.
Flagship Zone D, the Eastern Gate Development, focuses on the Pasir Gudang Port
Johor Port
Johor Port is located at Pasir Gudang in the southeast of Johor in Peninsular Malaysia. Built by the Johor Port Authority and run by Johor Port Berhad in 1977, it is the first port in Johor and is designed as a multi-purpose port that caters to practically all types of cargo. It is the first port...
and industrial zone, Tanjung Langsat Port, the Tanjung Langsat Technology Park and the Kim-Kim regional distribution centre. In the final Flagship Zone, Senai-Skudai, development is focused on the Senai International Airport
Senai International Airport
Senai International Airport , officially known as Sultan Ismail International Airport , is an airport located in the town of Senai, near Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The airport is the secondary hub for Firefly.-History:Opened in 1974, it serves the state of Johor as well as people from the southern...
, hubs for cargo and knowledge, a multimodal centre and the MSC Cyberport
MSC Cyberport
MSC Cyberport Johor is a public-private partnership spearheaded by the State Government of Johor, Malaysia to create a Global Information and Communication Technology Business Hub with a World-Class Living Environment for ICT companies from all over the world within the Iskandar Malaysia...
city.
Economic growth
The economic growth plan of the CDP consists of two components, a Strategic Economic Thrust (SET) for immediate implementation and a Future Growth Scenario, 2005-2025, for long-term application. Both of these were developed in mind of the region's economic strengths in manufacturing and services, with 60% of value-added manufacturing derived from electrical and electronic (E&E), chemical and chemical products (petrochemical, plastics, oleo chemicals) and food processing sub-sectors. A number of service and other manufacturing areas have emerged in support of these. The SET focuses on such factors as strengthening existing economic sectors and encouraging diversity, through incentives, stronger international ties, and proper allocation of resources and space. The Future Growth Scenario is aimed towards strengthening the economy internally and internationally by such factors as improvements in global transportation and developing manufacturing and service clusters. Also promoted by the Future Growth Scenario is the encouragement of the immigrationImmigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
of skilled, monied foreigners to help develop an international lifestyle attractive to foreign workers and investors.
Strategic Social Development Thrusts (SSDT)
The CDP also includes a prioritized seven Strategic Social Development Thrusts (SSDT).SSDT 1:Improve inter-agency coordination in social development of government and non-governmental agencies
SSDT 2:Enhance social capital
Social capital
Social capital is a sociological concept, which refers to connections within and between social networks. The concept of social capital highlights the value of social relations and the role of cooperation and confidence to get collective or economic results. The term social capital is frequently...
SSDT 3:Empower individual and privately-owned Bumiputra
Bumiputra
Bumiputera or Bumiputra is a Malay term widely used in Malaysia, embracing indigenous people of the Malay Archipelago. The term comes from the Sanskrit word bhumiputra, which can be translated literally as "son of land"...
companies
SSDT 4:Increase property values of Bumiputra land through development
SSDT 5:Distribute the benefit of improved property values by promoting mutual fund
Mutual fund
A mutual fund is a professionally managed type of collective investment scheme that pools money from many investors to buy stocks, bonds, short-term money market instruments, and/or other securities.- Overview :...
s
SSDT 6:Emphasize education and professional training
SSDT 7:Integrate Bumiputra companies into the clusters of major public and private corporations and research institutions
Residential enhancement
Part of the CDP includes attention to quality of lifeQuality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
of residents with emphasis on functional, liveable communities that promote social wellbeing. Among the components of this plan are factors designed to integrate various members of society into a cohesive whole while also ensuring that the needs and wishes of special populations are met, such as reducing marginalization
Marginalization
In sociology, marginalisation , or marginalization , is the social process of becoming or being made marginal or relegated to the fringe of society e.g.; "the marginalization of the underclass", "marginalisation of intellect", etc.-Individual:Marginalization at the individual level results in an...
by mixed-cost housing communities, promotion of a sense of communal belonging, ensuring that adequate rental homes are provided for transient
Transient laborer
Transient laborers are people who offer their services for outdoor, usually home improvement work, for a fee. The term is chiefly American.Jobs include painting, driveway paving, snow removal, and other outdoor tasks. They may travel door-to-door to find work, usually in warm weather, and have a...
populations, monitoring the housing requirements of those with special needs
Special needs
In the USA, special needs is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. For instance, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International...
, and ensuring that accessible housing is available to the disabled
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
. Residential plans also include guiding residential development to minimize crime and maximize energy efficiency, through the application of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) guidelines and the implementation of a "Green Building
Green building
Green building refers to a structure and using process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition...
" rating.
Physical Development Plan (PDP)
The Physical Development Plan (PDP) was designed to guide the development of land within Iskandar Malaysia to help promote the CDP's overall goals of economic development and quality of life. To that end, the CDP includes two major subdivisions among land zonesZoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
, "Basic Zoning Districts" and "Special Overlay Zones".
There are several dozen primary "Basic Zoning Districts" governing the use of land in commercial, residential, industrial and other sectors, including determining the density of development and what mixed use may or may not be allowed. Initially, the "Basic Zoning Districts" also included a "Free Access Zone (FAZ)" which would have permitted work, business, entertaining & residence between Johor and Singapore, but these zones have subsequently been disallowed. Also governed by the "Basic Zoning Districts" are such special use zones as green space, wetlands, cemeteries and governmental developments.
"Special Overlay Zones" are areas that require exceptional treatment. For example, the "Johor Bahru CBD" allows exceptions to general commercial plot ratio and height because the zone is the commercial and financial centre of Iskandar Malaysia and the capital city of Johor. Similarly, the "Nusajaya Central Planning Area" is given special handling. Other "Special Overlay Zones" cover environmentally sensitive areas, historic areas, coastland, development around highways and rail stations and the "Water Catchment Zone" around the Sutlan Iskandar Dam.
Commercial Development
The commercial focus of the CDP is on six services identified as "pillars", including creative, educational, financial, healthcare, logistics and tourism. The CDP included the establishment of the Iskandar Investment BerhadIskandar Investment Berhad
Iskandar Investment Berhad , formerly known as South Johor Investment Corporation Berhad was formed on 2 November 2006...
(formerly the South Johor Investment Corporation Berhad), a commercial investment holding company created to oversee and encourage regional development. The CDP promotes the "Strategic Catalyst Development" goals of developing waterfront areas, promoting tourism, expanding healthcare and iconic areas, and mixing commercial and residential development.
It also incorporates a "Business Incentives and Support Package" (ISP) discussed by Prime Minister Badawi on 22 March 2007 which allows special incentives to encourage investment in certain concentrated hubs in the flagship zones. The specific zones involved were revealed in October 2007 and at that time included only Medini Iskandar Malaysia, which is a mixed-development zone incorporating leisure, residential, financial and high-end industrial components. Incentives include tax exemptions for qualifying companies for income from qualifying activities, exemption from Foreign Investment Committee rules, and flexibilities under the foreign exchange administration rules, including those restricting the numbers of "foreign knowledge workers".
See also
- Northern Corridor Economic Region
- East Coast Economic RegionEast Coast Economic RegionEast Coast Economic Region ' is a new economic development corridor in Malaysia based on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia - which covers states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the north of Mersing district of Johor...
- Johor BahruJohor BahruJohor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
- Ninth Malaysia PlanNinth Malaysia PlanNinth Malaysian Plan abbreviated as '9MP', is a comprehensive blueprint prepared by the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department and the Finance Ministry of Malaysia with approval by the Cabinet of Malaysia to allocate the national budget from the year 2006 to 2010 to all...
- Sabah Development CorridorSabah Development CorridorThe Sabah Development Corridor or SDC is a new development corridor in Sabah, Malaysia. The SDC was launched on 29 January 2008....
- Sarawak Corridor of Renewable EnergySarawak Corridor of Renewable EnergyThe Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy or SCORE is a new development corridor in central Sarawak state, Malaysia. SCORE was launched on 11 February 2008. It is one of the five regional development corridors being developed throughout the country...