Filed under: Uncategorized
Throughout history, a bond between Singapore and her neighbour-Johor Bahru- have been forged. On top of the water pact, which is fulfilled by the state of Johor for decades, Urbanisation is another bonding point.
Just as how Singapore see Malaysia as a huge hinterland, Malaysia saw gains to be made from Singapore’s economic climb to success through the years. In this current time manifested itself in the huge Urban development projects undertaken in Johor Bahru. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry under the article “SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA-CREATING A WIN-WIN PARTNERSHIP”, ‘companies are already looking at ways to create a win-win partnership in SJER (South Johor Economic Region) projects’. In this same article, it is mentioned that ‘more than half of Singapore’s S$1.3billion investments in Malaysia in 2005 are located in Johor’ and ‘One notable example is the Tanah Sutera Development Sdn Bhd, a consortium of prominent Malaysian and Singaporean companies including Lee Rubber Co Pte Ltd, Pelangi Bhd, Keppel LandLtd and CapitaLand, which is developing the 323-acre Taman Sutera and 1000-acre Taman Sutera Utama.’ (1) This reveals the impact Singapore has on the urbanisation of Malaysia as there is nothing small scale about developmental projects with the size of ’323-acre’ and ’1000-acre’. The same could be said of Singapore, which have always relied and used Johor as a means to increase its economic prowess and development, especially the crucial issue of water supply where more than 40% comes from Johor.
On a more micro level, the level of the people, the significance is huge. From a Singaporean and personal perspective, the above urbanisation project gave me my home as I am a resident of the Sutera Utama Skudai (2) neighbourhood where there is a significant number of Singaporeans in its population. Majority of the neighbours, Singaporeans and Malaysians would travel to Singapore for work in the morning and return to Malaysia at night. A car-ride to the Malaysian custom takes a mere 15mins illustrating its close proximity from Singapore. Travelling to Singapore in the morning rush-hour, you would be shocked to count (easily) thousands of vehicles, mostly motorcycles entering Singapore. Many are Malaysians, but there is a portion of Singaporeans too. And they are Singaporeans that (1) find the cost of living in Singapore too high, (2) are practical and wants to stretch their dollar. In areas of housing, a beautiful two story terrace from Sutera Utama offering car porch, garden, park facilities, 24 hr security patrol etc cost around 477K RM (~201K SGD)(3)(4) is impossible to get in Singapore. And a cylinder of gas costing 26.50RM and in Singapore, 37.50SGD (~88.85RM) is a huge difference. This stark difference in quality of life for Singaporeans is definitely alluring. Months back, Taman Sutera built a Vivo-like mega shopping mall just for Sutera Utama residents. Advertisement for the Sutera Mall on buses would reach as far as the Malaysian customs.
However ironically, despite the project being participated by Singaporean companies itself, the media in Singapore seems to jeopardise it with its negative portrayal of Johor almost like Crime Haven and on the TV new resport of the price hike in Johor, many users interviewed by the reporters said they do not find topping up fuel in Malaysia attractive/workable anymore. This is backed by laws where Singapore cars are not allowed to enter Malaysia unless their oil tank is 3/4 filled. Other problematic issues include, Singaporeans living in Malaysia driving Malaysian cars into Singapore. It seems Singapore is not ready and encouraging of Singaporean residing in Malaysia despite them participating in projects that build infrastructure that make Malaysia more attractive and comfortable for Singaporeans. Then could the ‘Singapore-Malaysia Partnership’ be merely on the official, level where the ‘win-win’ situation is out of the common Singaporean’s grasp?
Citations
(1) “Singapore and Malaysia-Creating a Win-Win Partnership”, retrieved from http://app.mti.gov.sg/default.asp?id=148&articleID=4461 on 13th October 2008.
(2) “Tanah Sutera”, retrieved from http://www.tanahsutera.com/ on 13th October 2008.
(3) “1.00 SGD to MYR”, retrieved from http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi on 13th October 2008.
(4) “Casania, 2-sty terrance”, retrieved from http://www.iproperty.com.my/property/development.asp?pid=1227 on 13th October 2008.
More to read up:
“Malaysia my second Home”- http://www.malaysiamy2ndhome.net/Malaysia-my-second-home-MM2H.htm
“IIB targets RM500m Investments”- http://www.idrjohor.com/news/iib-targets-rm500m-investments-2/#more-341
My Neighbourhood, Sutera Utama Skudai
Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment
