Johor-Singapore SEZ will transcend political cycles, says Rafizi

• The JS-SEZ must “never depend on the sitting administration of the day, or the whims and desires of individual politicians”, Minister of Economy Datuk Seri Mohd Rafizi Ramli said.

KUALA LUMPUR (May 19): The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), as a bilateral initiative, must transcend political cycles, Minister of Economy Datuk Seri Mohd Rafizi Ramli said on Monday.

The JS-SEZ must “never depend on the sitting administration of the day, or the whims and desires of individual politicians”, Rafizi said in his keynote address at the JS-SEZ Partners Dialogue: Advancing Facilitation event. The zone will continue to be a national priority in the coming years, he said.

“My time here is temporary, and there will eventually be another minister of economy to replace me,” he said. “The last thing we need is for all the momentum, attention, and excitement to go to waste.”

The comment comes at a time when he is facing what analysts say is an uphill battle against Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for the deputy president post of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Rafizi has publicly vowed to resign from the Cabinet if he fails to retain the deputy presidency. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi thanked Rafizi as the architect of the JS-SEZ and for his support to the state at the same event.

Early indicators are encouraging for the JS-SEZ, with foreign direct investment interest in Johor showing strong momentum, Rafizi said on Monday.

Rafizi also reiterated that coordination between federal and state authorities, particularly Johor, and collaboration with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry have been central to maintaining the project’s momentum.

Malaysia and Singapore formally signed an agreement in January 2025 to create the zone that aims to attract 100 projects worth RM100 billion within its first decade and create some 100,000 new jobs in high-value economic sectors.

To support the JS-SEZ, the government has announced incentives, including a special corporate tax rate, to lure investors to set up shop in the zone that stretches from Kulai and part of Pontian to Pengerang.

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