Johor govt urges immediate release of JS-SEZ master plan

KUALA LUMPUR (July 2): The Johor state government has urged the federal government to immediately announce the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) master plan to maintain the state’s economic momentum.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said in a Facebook post that the plan was first expected by end-2025, later pushed to March 30, 2026, but has now been delayed yet again. He said it should not be further postponed or delayed until the Malaysia-Singapore leaders’ retreat at the end of the year, as the master plan does not require Singapore’s approval, with input from Malaysian and Singaporean agencies already received.

He stressed that the master plan is important to give investors clarity on sectors, investment zones, incentives, infrastructure, talent development and coordination between agencies, adding that further delays should be avoided.

Onn Hafiz, who is contesting the Machap (N.26) seat in the upcoming Johor state election, made the remarks a day after Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the JS-SEZ master plan, which has been completed and approved by the Cabinet, will only be officially launched after the state elections.

The launch is expected to be jointly officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and is now targeted for the fourth quarter of the year.

Although the announcement has been delayed, Akmal said implementation is already ongoing. The JS-SEZ, formalised in January 2025, aims to develop Johor and Singapore into a major cross-border economic hub covering Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Pasir Gudang, Sedenak and Desaru, focusing on manufacturing, logistics, digital industries, energy and talent development.

Johoreans will vote on July 11, 2026, in a state election covering all 56 state assembly seats.

The incumbent Barisan Nasional is contesting all 56 seats together with its coalition partner Pakatan Harapan. Perikatan Nasional is contesting 33 seats, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’s Bersama 15 seats and Muda four seats.

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