Iskandar Malaysia in danger of becoming ‘sleeping city’, says rep

JOHOR BAHRU (Nov 26): Without an economic accelerator, Southern Johor is at risk of becoming a "sleeping city", said Stulang DAP assemblyman Chen Kah Eng.

Chen was addressing the issue of affordable housing in Johor, specifically with reference to the Straits of Johor Development Corridor (KPSJ) 2025 Master Plan.

"Any affordable housing project has to be integrated into the economic development of the area so that residents of these types of properties can have access to employment opportunities and (other facilities) for their daily lives," Che said at a press conference on the submission of a Pakatan Harapan Focus Paper on urban development at the state assembly yesterday.

Chen said affordable housing should be developed near areas such as Educity Nusajaya, private hospitals, business and tourism zones and other economic growth zones.

"Having affordable housing and medium-cost housing projects that integrate with economic development will also encourage businesses to be located in the area for easy access to human capital and amenities," he added.

Chen gave the example of Tianjing Eco City in China, a township built in 2008, which had turned into a "sleeping city" even though the project, developed with Singapore, consisted of animation and film studios, eco and information technology and environmental protection parks.

"After seven years, only 4,000 people lived in the city in comparison to an initial estimation of 80,000," he said.

According to Chen, one of the factors for the failure to meet its target of 80,000 residents was the fact that it was far from Tianjing city and people bought the residential units for investment rather than to live there.

Chen fears that if a similar trend happens in the development plans for Iskandar and KPSJ are still focused on property development, an excess supply of housing would exist.

"Without an economic accelerator, there will be little take-up of these residential properties, resulting in a 'sleeping' Iskandar," Chen added.

The KPSJ 2025 Master Plan is geared to make the area bordering the Straits of Johor into a "sustainable and vibrant waterfront city" with more high-cost condominiums, integrated commercial complexes and other high-priced properties.

"This underscores the fact that the Johor government is continuing with its strategy of making property development as the state's engine of growth," Chen said. -- The Malaysian Insider