Iskandar Malaysia To Create Over 500,000 Jobs

03 May 2013

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the development projects in Iskandar Malaysia are expected to generate more than half a million jobs in the next five to eight years.

He said the investments in various sectors would not only make Iskandar Malaysia as an economic growth centre but also an employment growth centre in industrial as well as other sectors.

"Iskandar Malaysia is seen as able to become a centre that provides employment choices to the rakyat based on their qualification, expertise and skills.

"At present there are various types of investments in the region not only in industrial and manufacturing sectors but also in services sector which is more varied including urban wellness and resort projects in Iskandar Malaysia.

"The project is a joint-venture between Khazanah (Khazanah Nasional Bhd) and Temasek (Temasek Pte Ltd) that represents a sub-sector in the services sector which requires high- and medium-skilled workers," he said.

He said this to reporters at the Jurong East Bus Terminal after boarding a bus in a get-together with Malaysian workers who are working in Singapore.

Without the accompaniment of his bodyguard or his protocol officer, Abdul Ghani, who was dressed in casual attire, spent close to one hour on the bus which departed from Bukit Indah at

6.30am to feel the experience by the people in Johor who commute to that country to work.

He explained that Iskandar Malaysia also offered jobs in higher education and so far 12 universities have established their campuses in the region, out of which half are campuses of foreign universities.

Abdul Ghani said Iskandar Malaysia also offered jobs in tourism sector and creative industry with the presence of Legoland and Puteri Habour theme parks and Pinewood Studio.

In addition, Iskandar Malaysia has its own specialty namely its pleasant environment with various facilities that provide comfortable living hence increasing the people's quality of life.

"Besides job opportunities, we have better quality of life. Hence Iskandar Malaysia is not only a place that give employment choices but also a place to live," he said.

From the visit, Abdul Ghani said a lot of feedback from the younger generation who are working there was because of higher pay due to the foreign exchange.

"In terms of pay, there is not much different between Johor and Singapore but when convert into ringgit from Singapore dollar it's double. That's why they choose to work in Singapore, some even willing to commute as it's worthwhile," he said.

Source: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20130502153835/Article/index_html