Iskandar Malaysia
إسکندر مليسيا
马来西亚依斯干达
Growth corridor and metropolitan area
From top, clockwise:
Johor Bahru CBD skyline, Kulai, Sungai Johor Bridge, Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex, Pasir Gudang, Iskandar Puteri
Flag of Iskandar Malaysia
Flag
CountryMalaysia
StateJohor
RegionJohor Bahru District
Kulai District
Pontian District
Kota Tinggi District
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,085,546
Time zoneUTC+8 (Malaysian Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)not applicable
Postcode
79xxx-82xxx, 86xxx
Area codes+607 (07-2, 07-3, 07-5, 07-6, 07-7 and 07-8)
Websiteiskandarmalaysia.com.my

Iskandar Malaysia, formerly known as Iskandar Development Region (IDR; Malay: Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar) and South Johor Economic Region (SJER), is the main southern development corridor in Johor, Malaysia. It was established on 8 November 2006.[1] Iskandar Malaysia, which is formed by major cities such as Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri and Pasir Gudang, is part of the Johor Bahru Conurbation. It also lies within the original Indonesia–Malaysia–Singapore growth triangle, along with Singapore and Riau, Indonesia.

History

The investment corridor of Iskandar Malaysia (IM)[2] grew out of a 2005 government requested feasibility study by the Khazanah Nasional which found that the development of such a zone would be economically, socially and developmentally beneficial.[3] 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.[3] IM was singled out as among the high-impact developments of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, put into action by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia (Abdullah Badawi) in March 2006 to cover the period of 2006 to 2010.[4] In November 2006, the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Johor, Abdul Ghani Othman and Khazanah revealed the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP).

In 2007, the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM) was established to meet annually and review cooperation and developments in IM.[5] During the 16th meeting of the JMCIM on 14 July 2023, it was announced that that a task force, led by the Ministry of Trade & Industry from Singapore and Ministry of Economy from Malaysia, would be formed to study the feasibility of setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).[5] At the end of the 10th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat on 30 October 2023, it was reported that while the finer details (e.g. location and scope) of the SEZ plan are being worked upon, a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) on the SEZ is expected to be signed on 11 January 2024.[6][7][8]

Area

The development region encompasses an area of 4,749 km2 covering Johor Bahru District, Kulai District and part of Pontian District. 5 local government authorities have jurisdiction over the covered area, including Johor Bahru City Council, Iskandar Puteri City Council, Pasir Gudang City Council, Kulai Municipal Council, Pontian Municipal Council.

The population of Iskandar Malaysia is slightly over 2 million in 2020.

Population by local government area

The population table is based on the official census of 2020 for the local government areas within Iskandar Malaysia.

Local government area Local government body Population
Johor Bahru Johor Bahru City Council 858,118
Iskandar Puteri Iskandar Puteri City Council 575,977
Pasir Gudang Pasir Gudang City Council 312,437
Kulai Kulai Municipal Council 294,156
Pontian Pontian Municipal Council[note 1] 44,858
Iskandar Malaysia 2,085,546

Comprehensive Development Plan

Physical Development Plan

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 zones, "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.[9] 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 "Iskandar Puteri 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 Sultan 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 Berhad, a commercial investment holding company created to oversee and encourage regional development.[10] 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,[11] exemption from Foreign Investment Committee rules, and flexibilities under the foreign exchange administration rules, including those restricting the numbers of "foreign knowledge workers".

Doubling sizes

On 22 February 2019, Iskandar Malaysia growth corridor doubled in size and will include at least two new districts which is Kluang and Kota Tinggi. The region was 2,217 sq/km previously and will cover an area of 4,749 sq/km, which includes parts of Kota Tinggi, Kluang and Pontian.[12]

Major projects 2006-2025

Transportation

Air

Senai International Airport in Senai, Kulai District.

The region is served by Senai International Airport which is located in Senai.[13] Six airlines, AirAsia, Firefly, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Jin Air and Xpress Air, provide flights internationally and domestically.[14]

Train

Johor Bahru Sentral Station in Johor Bahru.

The region consists of Johor Bahru Sentral, Kempas Baru and Kulai Station.[15][16]

Sea

Puteri Harbour International Ferry Terminal in Kota Iskandar, Iskandar Puteri.

For cargo ports, the region consists of Johor Port in Pasir Gudang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Iskandar Puteri.[17]

For passenger service boats, the region consists of Johor Bahru International Ferry Terminal in Stulang, Johor Bahru, Kukup International Ferry Terminal in Kukup, Pontian District, Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal in Pasir Gudang and Puteri Harbour International Ferry Terminal in Kota Iskandar, Iskandar Puteri.[13]

Road

Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal in Larkin, Johor Bahru.

Iskandar Puteri houses Gelang Patah, GP Sentral, Kota Iskandar, Taman U, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah terminals. Johor Bahru houses JB Sentral, Larkin Sentral, Taman Johor Jaya and Ulu Tiram terminals. Kulai houses Kulai Terminal. Pasir Gudang houses Masai and Pasir Gudang terminal. Pontian houses Pontian Public Transportation Terminal.[18] Grab operates in the city.[19]

The internal roads linking different parts of the region are mostly federal roads constructed and maintained by Malaysian Public Works Department. The five major highways linking the Johor Bahru Central Business District to outlying suburbs are Tebrau Highway and Johor Bahru Eastern Dispersal Link Expressway in the northeast, Skudai Highway in the northwest, Iskandar Coastal Highway in the west, and Johor Bahru East Coast Highway in the east.[20] Pasir Gudang Highway and the connecting Johor Bahru Parkway cross Tebrau Highway and Skudai Highway, which serve as the middle ring road of the metropolitan area. The Johor Bahru Inner Ring Road aids in controlling traffic around the city center of Johor Bahru.[20] Access to the national expressway is provided through the North–South Expressway and the Senai–Desaru Expressway. The Johor–Singapore Causeway links the city to Woodlands, Singapore with a six-lane road and a railway line terminating at the Southern Integrated Gateway.[20] The Malaysia–Singapore Second Link, located west of the metropolitan area, was constructed in 1997 to alleviate congestion on the Causeway. It is linked directly to the Second Link Expressway, Johor Bahru Parkway, the railway station, and the North–South Expressway.[13] Further expansion of other major highways in the city were currently ie process.[21]

Iskandar Malaysia Bus Service (BIM) was a joint venture between the Johor State Government and the Iskandar Malaysia Public Transport Corporation (PAIM), under the supervision of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) that operated 16 routes in 2014.[22]

Route Destination Via Operator
IM01 Larkin - Giant Jalan Suria Utama Maju
IM02 Giant Tampoi - Plaza Angsana - Giant Tampoi Causeway Link
IM03 Taman Ungku Tun Aminah - Bandar Uda Tampoi
IM04 AEON Tebrau - Desa Cemerlang Johor Jaya
IM05 Gelang Patah - Pendas CIQ, Tanjung Kupang
IM06 Bukit Indah - Lima Kedai - Kota Iskandar Maju
IM07 Gelang Patah - Kota Iskandar Medini Causeway Link
IM08 Taman Flora Heights - Today's Market
IM09 Today's Market - Megah Ria - Today's Market
IM10 Taman Sri Skudai - Taman Ungku Tun Aminah S&S
IM11 Taman Senai Utama - Johor Jaya Ulu Tebrau, Ulu Tiram, AEON Tebrau
IM12 Masai - Taman Desa Rakyat Kota Masai Maju
IM13 Kampung Pasir Putih - Masai Pasir Gudang
IM14 Masai - Nusa Damai Bukit Dahlia
IM15 Pasir Gudang - Kota Masai Taman Pasir Putih
IM16 Taman Ungku Tun Aminah - Taman Tampoi Utama Taman Impian Emas, Kempas S&S

See also

Metropolitan areas of Malaysia

References

  1. ↑ New township planned for Malaysia's Iskandar economic zone Archived 21 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Richard High, 4 July 2008, KHL Group
  2. ↑ https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/an-overview-of-malaysias-investment-corridors/
  3. 1 2 Iskandar Regional Development Authority & Iskandar Malaysia Information Pack, 23 February 2007, Khazanah Nasional, pg 3, retrieved 3 March 2009
  4. ↑ Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan, Ministry of Information Malaysia, retrieved 4 March 2009
  5. 1 2 "Singapore, Malaysia to study setting up special economic zone in Johor". CNA. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "'We have great hopes': Singapore, Malaysia to develop border economic zone". South China Morning Post. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Singapore and Malaysia eye special economic zone on border". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Smoother trips for people working on both sides of Causeway with Johor-Singapore special economic zone: PM Lee". CNA. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Free Access Zone under IDR scrapped, MEERA VIJAYAN, 5 April 2007, The Star (Malaysia)
  10. ↑ Iskandar Regional Development Authority & Iskandar Malaysia Information Pack, 23 February 2007, Khazanah Nasional, pg 4, retrieved 3 March 2009
  11. ↑ IRDA Announces 10 Year Tax Relief For Developers In Node 1 of Iskandar Development Region, Iskandar Malaysia, 9 October 2007, Malaysia
  12. ↑ "Iskandar Malaysia growth corridor doubles in size". Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 Simon Richmond; Damian Harper (December 2006). Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. Ediz. Inglese. Lonely Planet. pp. 247–253. ISBN 978-1-74059-708-1.
  14. ↑ "Malaysia's new airline in $1.5bn deal with Bombardier". BBC News. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "From Singapore to KL by train". The Malaysia Site. Archived from the original on 28 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "Singapore to Malaysia in just 5 minutes? It's now possible". The Straits Times/Asia News Network. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 5 July 2015. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "Profit From Malaysia's Petrochemical Industry (Pasir Gudang-Tanjung Langsat, Johor)" (PDF). Malaysian Industrial Development Authority. 2011. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "Larkin Bus Terminal". Express Bus Malaysia. Archived from the original on 28 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  19. ↑ Daniel Tay (22 August 2014). "Uber secretly arrives in Johor Bahru with free rides in hand". Tech in Asia. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 "Flagship A: Johor Bahru City". Iskandar Regional Development Authority. Iskandar Malaysia. Archived from the original on 27 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  21. ↑ "Chapter 15: Urban Linkage System (Section B: Planning and Implementation)" (PDF). Iskandar Malaysia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  22. ↑ Yumpu.com. "Sistem Perkhidmatan Bas Iskandar Malaysia". yumpu.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  1. ↑ Only Mukim Serkat, Sungai Karang, Jeram Patu and Bandar Pekan Nanas are within the Iskandar Malaysia boundary.
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