13-9-2023 (SINGAPORE) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called upon Singapore to take action to alleviate traffic congestion at the Johor Causeway, emphasizing that Malaysia has made substantial efforts to tackle the issue.
The Prime Minister commended the dedication of Malaysian Immigration, Customs, and related agencies in addressing the congestion problem. He expressed satisfaction with the support received from these agencies and noted significant improvements in the situation.
“I visited Johor Baru a few weeks ago, and now it’s Singapore’s turn to do its part in easing the traffic,” Anwar stated during a talk session at the 10th Annual Asia Summit held in Singapore on Wednesday.
Regarding his recent announcement regarding the establishment of a special economic zone in Johor, Anwar clarified that the congestion at the Johor Causeway would not affect those commuting from Singapore to work and reside in Malaysia, as it would primarily involve the second link.
Anwar’s announcement highlighted the designation of the Forest City project as a special financial zone, aiming to stimulate the economy in Iskandar Malaysia. Incentives for this zone include multiple entry visas, expedited entry for Singaporean workers, and a flat income tax rate of 15% for knowledge workers.
These incentives supplement the measures previously introduced for Forest City. Anwar emphasized the unique geographical proximity of Johor to Singapore and suggested that Malaysia and the island republic could complement each other rather than compete.
During his visit to Singapore, Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, participated in two special sessions at the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2023. The first session, titled ‘A Conversation with Prime Minister of Malaysia,’ was moderated by Haslinda Amin, Bloomberg’s anchor and chief international correspondent for South-East Asia. This was followed by another session titled ‘Malaysia’s Investment Outlook: A Conversation between the Prime Minister and Global Investors,’ moderated by Robin Hu, the chair of Asia at the Milken Institute.
The Milken Institute, headquartered in California, is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank dedicated to advancing measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. During his visit, Anwar also met with his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, to discuss bilateral matters.
