Freeze on IDR land deals lifted
11/03/2007 The Star

JOHOR BARU: The freeze on all land transactions within the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) has been lifted with immediate effect.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who announced this, said landowners in the IDR could proceed with the sale of their land, which was frozen since July last year.

“Hopefully, this will help to boost development in the region,” said Ghani, who is co-chairman of the Iskandar Region Development Authority (IRDA).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the freeze last July before the unveiling of the IDR master plan.

The freeze was to curb landowners within the IDR from engaging in speculative land transactions.

There are some 101,171ha of land located within the IDR growth triangle covering Kulai-Senai in the north, Pasir Gudang-Tanjung Langsat in the east and Tanjung Pelepas-Gelang Patah-Pontian in the west.

Ghani said it was vital to speed up land sales especially those involving large tracts within the IDR to ensure that proposed developments took place.

He added that Senai Airport Terminal Services (SATS) was finalising the acquisition of 202ha in Senai-Seelong from a plantation company.

Ghani said this would allow SATS to develop Senai Airport into a leading logistic and cargo hub in the region.

On a recent statement by Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo in Parliament that the republic would like to take part in the IDR development, Ghani said: “Johor and Singapore have always been complementing each other economically for so long and we can always further strengthen our ties.”

He said Johor also welcomed Singapore’s participation in developing the transportation system within the IDR, adding that it would benefit both parties.

Asked whether Johor would allow Singapore Mass Rapid Transport to take part in the proposed monorail project in the city, Ghani said: “We will consider all aspects.”

He said the IRDA would like to improve transport connectivity not only between Johor and Singapore but also countries in the region involving sea and air.