Local firms move operations to Iskandar Malaysia to save cost

Published in Channelnewsasia on 24th September 2012

SINGAPORE: More than 3,500 Singapore businesses have set up shop across the causeway in Iskandar Malaysia over the past six years, with a cumulative investment of more than RM5 billion as at June 2012.

Iskandar Malaysia is a special economic zone in Johor, Malaysia that was launched in 2006. It covers an area of 2,217 square kilometers and is administered by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority, a Malaysian Federal government statutory body.

Over 70 per cent of the businesses are small and medium enterprises.

Fishing equipment supplier Hong Guan started operations in its Iskandar warehouse in May.

Twice as large as its warehouse in Singapore, Hong Guan's 14,800 square feet freehold space cost about S$900,000.

Its local warehouse will shut down next month.

Hong Guan's managing director, Lee Seng Shoy, said: "Singapore will always be our HQ and the brain centre but from a business point of view, we need to be competitive and cost is always a factor. We foresee Iskandar helping us contain our costs and that is something we're leveraging on so we hope that by moving to Iskandar on the logistics side, we are actually enjoying the best of both worlds."

Similarly, Global Capital & Development wants to replicate on a larger scale in Medini, a core development zone in the Iskandar Development Region.

Global Capital & Development, the developer of Medini, is supported by a consortium which includes the Khazanah-backed Iskandar Investment Berhad.

It hopes companies in Singapore and Medini can work together as a single entity to bid for projects.

Global Capital & Development's CEO, Keith Martin, said: "We have Pinewood Malaysia Studios, Medini Media Village and straightaway we went and spoke to the Media Development Authority of Singapore and Mediapolis in Singapore. If you now add up the sum of those parts, it's a much greater proposition. And within a one hour driving radius, we have everything we need to take a TV or film production from a draft script to a full finished product."

With increasing business activity in Iskandar, other firms are moving in with the aim of gaining first-mover advantage.

Shanker Iyer, Chairman, The Iyer Practice's chairman, Shanker Iyer, said: "We think it could be two or three years before this place really starts to get up and running. Initially our main activity would be to offshore some of our less important activities from Singapore to Iskandar. That is actually becoming a need now, because the rising cost of doing business in Singapore, the immigration challenges now, the reduction in S-passes - it's beginning to affect firms like us."

But most acknowledged that concerns remain, such as crime, and the lack of a critical mass of human capital and supporting businesses.
But the authorities are confident the situation will improve.

Iskandar Regional Development Authority's chief executive, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, said: "As we have seen today, there has been increased bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore, and from which the greatest beneficiary is definitely going to be Iskandar Malaysia. We would like to create an environment where both Singapore and Iskandar will see themselves as one destination, not only for investment but for people to work as well as other offerings."

Into its sixth year of development, the Iskandar region in Johor, Malaysia has seen annual investment growth of 8 per cent with Singapore firms accounting for 5 per cent of total foreign investment.

- CNA/ck

Johor Sales!!!!

http://www.bigsale.com.my/

Today, stumbled upon this gem when I deviated from my usual searches on Nusajaya. I guess this is probably a convenient way to check out the latest deals at the comfort of your home or mobile. 

Do share your lobangs (opportunities) if you have any. Everyday is GJBS! (I think most Singaporeans will know what this means...lol!)

UMobile Introduces 42mbps Network Services In Johor Bahru

This is good news. I believe by the time I move into HH 2 years from now, the infrastructure would be ready for my enjoyment. Things are looking up by now. :)

http://www.bernama.com.my
Published on 18th August 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) — UMobile Sdn Bhd has expanded its 42-Mbps (megabits per second) coverage in Johor Bahru as part of its expansion plan across the nation.

In a statement today, UMobile said currently the service was mainly available in the city area with other cities in the region set to enjoy it within this year.

Its chief executive officer, Dr Kaizad Heerjee, said for the remainder of the year, the company would continue to grow and expand its 42Mbps offering to other places like Klang Valley, Penang, Seremban and Port Dickson.

“We are making steady progress nationwide with the implementation of our 42Mbps service,” he said.

http://www.u.com.my
Published on 18th August 2911

~ Johor Bahru leads the way as a “42Mbps city” with the fastest internet speed at the lowest rate and largest data volume ~

Kuala Lumpur, 18th August 2011 – U Mobile Sdn Bhd, Malaysia’s most dynamic and innovative telco service provider today announced the availability of its 42Mbps coverage in Johor Bahru, giving internet users within the state the fastest internet speed with the largest volume at the lowest rate available.

Currently there are over two hundred U Mobile sites in Johor Bahru offering fast speed mobile internet which are available in most of the commercial and residential areas, including Taman Molek 1, 2 and 3, Taman Gembira, the Free Trade Zone, Taman Delima, Desa Harmoni, Bukit Kempas, Stulang Laut, Jalan Ibrahim Sultan and many more. Customers of U Mobile in these areas will experience fast internet that are three to five times speedier compared to existing offerings that are currently available in the market.

To enjoy its 42Mbps services, U Mobile is offering a package plan to internet users within the city which include the fastest download speed of up to 42Mbps at an affordable rate starting from RM68 month with the largest data volume of up to 20GB per month. All this comes with a 7-day money-back guarantee for its postpaid customers. Speaking about the expansion, Dr. Kaizad Heerjee, CEO of U Mobile Sdn Bhd said, “We’re making steady progress nationwide with the implementation of our 42Mbps services. In Johor Bahru, we began with only a few selected areas and now I’m proud to say that we have covered most of the city area and are bringing the most cutting edge communication services to the residence in Johor Bahru. As for the rest of the major cities in the region, they will be able to enjoy the 42Mbps coverage within this year.

Our strategic partnership with ZTE as announced earlier this year for a three-pronged development strategy will see consistent and steady upgrades from 42Mpbs to 84Mbps and eventually 100Mbps across Malaysia. We are on track, on target and are progressing well within the planned time frame. I believe that we are leading in this space and will continue to innovate and grow to meet the demands of today’s changing consumer demands,” he added.

For the remainder of the year, U Mobile will continue to grow and expand its 42Mbps offering across the nation including the Klang Valley, Penang, Seremban and Port Dickson while continuing to offer a selection of innovative and exciting offerings with surprising affordability in keeping up with the demand of today’s technology-savvy generation of consumers.

To celebrate the announcement, U Mobile recently held a roadshow in Johor Bahru to launch the availability of its 42Mbps offering within the state. For more information, please visit http://www.u.com.my/

M'sia govt to tackle cost of living in new Budget

By Rozanna Latiff

KUALA LUMPUR: Budget 2012 will focus on tackling the rising cost of living, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday.

He acknowledged that the global increase in prices had begun to affect the majority of the population to varying degrees, but promised that the government would find ways to slow its effects.

"We will devise the best strategies to ease the rakyat's burden while managing the country's economic development," he wrote on www.1malaysia.com.my.

These strategies, he said, included plans to expand people-focused initiatives such as the 1Malaysia Clinic, Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia and, most recently, the 1Malaysia Rakyat Menu, a programme encouraging food vendors to offer a package menu with a maximum price of RM2 for breakfast and RM4 for lunch at participating restaurants.

"The government will continue to provide subsidies for daily travel, meals and health bills." Najib said that while many Malaysians were feeling the pinch, many were unaware that prices were rising dramatically throughout the world because of a combination of factors, affecting poor and developing countries the most.

These factors included the rise in prices of fuel and food in 2007 and 2008 as well as unpredictable weather conditions as a result of climate change, leading to poor crops and a shortage of essential produce such as wheat and sugar.

Najib said production shortfalls in major exporting countries such as Russia, Canada and Australia led to lower exports, causing panic buying in the market and forcing prices up.

"Malaysians must face the fact that world prices are unlikely to return to the levels of five years ago." He said the cabinet had agreed to make tackling the rising cost of living the seventh National Key Result Area (NKRA) on July 27, exactly two years after six NKRAs were identified as the core of the Government Transformation Programme to improve the government delivery system and address the needs of the people.

The six NKRAs are reducing crime, fighting corruption, expanding access to quality and affordable education, raising living standards of low-income households, improving basic rural infrastructure and improving urban public transportation.