29 Feb 2024 05:48PM(Updated: 29 Feb 2024 05:53PM)KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s economy ministry has been asked to coordinate meetings at the working committee level to follow up on several proposals related to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said this on Wednesday (Feb 28) during a Johor state development meeting in Putrajaya, which he chaired.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof, several ministers and the chief secretaries of the ministries involved.

Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi, members of the state’s executive council and relevant state department heads were also present at the meeting.

It was the first such meeting involving the state government and 13 related ministries. It focused on comprehensive coordination for high-impact development projects in Johor.

“The meeting discussed the current progress status of JS-SEZ and the Special Financial Zone (SFZ),” Anwar said in a post shared on his social media platforms on Wednesday.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, said that various programmes and projects to upgrade infrastructure and public facilities were also discussed during the meeting.

“These include the Senai to Sedenak expressway, Sedenak to Simpang Renggam, and Senai to Desaru. Flood mitigation plans for the Segamat, Kota Tinggi and Batu Pahat districts. Construction of the Sultanah Aminah 2 hospital and upgrading works for Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Sultan Iskandar Building and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex,” he said.

“Proposals for traffic dispersal, traffic management and congestion in Johor Bahru city and the direction of (the) Iskandar Rapid Transit (project), Johor’s water supply involving Sungai Pontian Besar, Sungai Sedili Besar, Sungai Gembut, Air Layang 2 and Sungai Johor,” he added.

The prime minister said all these projects are high-impact initiatives for the people, especially the residents of Johor who will enjoy long-term benefits.

The federal government has approved a total of 510 projects in Johor this year with a cost of RM4.7 billion (US$988 million).

Onn Hafiz said the effort was the result of close cooperation between the Johor state government and the federal government, which is targeting economic growth for the country and recognising Johor’s potential to become a new economic hub.

“Thank you to the federal government. Profound thanks also to the Cabinet ministers who previously visited Johor to look at the situation in the state firsthand,” he said in a post on his Facebook page on Wednesday night.

“Hopefully all these plans will be realised as best as possible.”

He said the meeting’s attendees agreed that the high-impact development projects in Johor discussed on Wednesday should be completed as soon as possible, with the ministries and the state government to conduct regular monitoring.