Iskandar Malaysia - The Rise of A New Metropolis

MIEA Johor Convention 2009 shall be held in Johor Bahru with the followings:-

Theme : Iskandar Malaysia - The Rise of A New Metropolis

Date : 31^st October & 01^st November, 2009 (Saturday and Sunday)

Venue : The Puteri Pacific Johor Bahru Hotel (Permata Ballroom) Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

CPD points : 10 points applied - Board of Valuers, Appraisers & Estate Agents Malaysia

Fees : RM400 - Registered Estate Agents / Registered Valuers

RM200 - Public

*RM100 (optional) Fellowship Dinner on 31^st October, 2009 (Saturday)

Organisers : MIEA Johor Branch and Institute of Estate Agents Singapore

Main Sponsor : Johor State Government

Corporate Sponsor : Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB)

The objectives of this convention are as follows:

a) To work together with the Federal and Johor State Government in promoting Iskandar malaysia as a strong and sustainable metropolis of international standing.

b) To provide progress updates on the developments taking place in Iskandar Malaysia especially to the target groups, i.e. individuals companies and organizations related in real estate industry.

c) To provide information and platform to clear certain negative perceptions pertaining to Iskandar Malaysia.

d) To provide opportunity for key players/developers from each of the 5 zones to highlight on their current and future developments

e) To provide great business opportunities for all real estate practitioners/investors to get in touch directly with all the key players in Iskandar Malaysia

In view of the abovementioned objectives, the programmes have been arranged as such:

During the first day of Convention, speakers representing all the key players in Iskandar Malaysia according to the 5 highlighted zones from Zone A to E are invited to give talks on the progress updates, current and future plans in their respective fields.

On second day, we shall further examine some of the more important property related issues in the context of Johor. Issues to be discussed shall include investment trend and environment, property investment opportunities, Malaysia My Second Home, foreigner property ownership, Integrated Resort in Singapore, Dare To Sell and marketing Malaysia internationally.

Limited seats available, max 300 participants from both Malaysia and Singapore on a first come first serve basis. For enquiries and registration, please contact the following:

Malaysian Institute Of Estate Agents, Johor Branch

No. 8, Jalan Dedap 17,

Taman Johor Jaya,

81100 Johor Bahru,

Johor, Malaysia.

Tel: +607-3558877

Fax: +607-3550033 / 3535160

Email: limboonping@gmail.com / ann.pslek@gmail.com

Contact Person: Mr. Lim Ah Leck @ +6016-7203399

Is Iskandar Malaysia (formerly IDR) a MYTH or VISION?

I gave a talk on the topic matter pertaining to "Johor Property Market Outlook 2009" early January 2009. During the talk, I was surprised to find there are still many local Johorean who knew very little on Iskandar Malaysia (IM) and/or hardly have any interests in understanding what IM is all about. From what I've gathered so far, foreigners seem to be more "excited" with IM as compared to locals. I do not wish to elaborate too much on why this is happening, the fact is, there are simply too many white elephants running around in Johor Bahru city over the years.

This time round however, I stand to differ. To me, IM is a bold and yet tactful long term plan for Johor Bahru, i.e. to focus, enhance and improve the level of service industry in Johor Bahru. This is a very tactical approach as I dare to say Johor state has been doing well so far in respect of industrial and agricultural sectors, should we want to go further and make our economy more well-rounded, service is the thing to go for. The same goes to many other foreign economies where the GDP percentage for service sector is ever increasing.

During the talk, one question was asked, " why does Johor State Government want to spending hefty sum of money to build new government buildings in Gelang Patah? Is there a need for it". First of all, I am in no position to answer this question. Secondly, this question to me is now irrelevant. The new Johor State Administrative Centre has already been completed and the state government departments are moving in stages by stages starting early this year. The question we all should be asking right now is "how can we play a role in Iskandar Malaysia?"

Especially during this challenging time, we should all get involve more with IM and explore our business opportunities with all the key players in IM, which my company has done so ever since its inception. We have already benefited and we are very optimistic about it. When's your turn?

South Johor Economic Region #2: Free Access Zone being dropped?

The free access zone plan to allow foreigners from Singapore to freely enter and leave the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) has been dropped, according to Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman early April 2007.

I have no problem at all with this adjustment, and i fully understand that any systems or policies are bound to be change due to many objective factors.

However, i also believe that in reaching a long term plan as in the one like South Johor Economic Region, our policy maker should strive to achieve a long term CONSISTENCY in their decision making process and the implementation of the plannings.

Consistency will bring the foreign investor's mindset to at ease, and it will be due to consistency again which will retain the foreign investors' to jointly development our country for us in long run.

South Johor Economic Region #1: Iskandar Development Region, will it be successful?

Everybody has since middle 2006 talking about South Johor Economic Region a.k.a. Iskandar Development Region (IDR), people has been asking me whether or not it will be a success?

Let me start off by asking you all one simple question, i.e. do you want IDR to be successful? If the answer is positive, then we shall have a good start at the very least.

If you have studied IDR in detail like I did (you can download the whole detailed IDR proposal from http://sjer.com.my/index.php), you will then notice the proposal encompass a comprehensive and thorough development plan in not just economy, but also social economy. Though I find the proposal to be rather seamless, however, implementation is what i really feel the true challenge in the overall planning. Mindset of our government servants involved are required to take a change. It's all about human factor.

The IDR is a gigantic project and vision for all Johorean and our federal government, it will take all the concerted effort we can get in order to make it a success. So, if u ask me the very same old question again, why don't you start asking yourself back, what can you do to help to make IDR a success?