As Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship draws to a close, Johor’s cross-border projects and IIB’s initiatives stand as tangible examples of how national ambitions were translated into regional progress.
00:00Johor recorded the highest FDI when it comes to investments into Malaysia.
00:05I would like to take Medini Johor as an example, as a clear example of how cross-border development can be done successfully.
00:13So this is actually a very important and interesting model that could be followed by other countries in ASEAN.
00:19Every year, a different country takes the helm of ASEAN.
00:22And this year, it's Malaysia's turn.
00:24Kuala Lumpur set the agenda for a region of more than 650 million people, home to one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
00:34Malaysia has chosen the theme Inclusivity and Sustainability.
00:38It's about making the bloc more united, more competitive and more resilient for the future.
00:44A big part of that agenda is about keeping ASEAN central, ensuring the region remains strong and relevant in a world of competing powers.
00:52Malaysia has made it clear.
00:55The bloc must not become a battleground for rival superpowers.
00:59Instead, it wants ASEAN to lead on cooperation and trust.
01:03Foreign Minister Mohamed Hassan has gone further, saying ASEAN should set a new standard for global governance built on inclusivity, diversity and future-oriented planning.
01:14And sometimes, the best way to understand ASEAN cooperation is to look at how it plays out on the ground.
01:20FMT sat down with Iskandar Investment Berhad CEO, Itzam Hashim, to discuss where Johor fits in Malaysia's ASEAN agenda.
01:29Let's now turn to ASEAN, Malaysia's chairmanship this year in particular.
01:34What kind of strategic partnerships do you think can be had to kind of spotlight Malaysia's role and in particular vis-a-vis Johor?
01:40I would like to take Medini Johor as a clear example of how cross-border development can be done successfully.
01:48So what Malaysia and Singapore is doing, but many do not know that Singapore also started the initiatives, Singapore, Johor and Riau, which is part of Indonesia.
01:57We could see the success being translated into a cross-border economic programmes and initiatives between Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore in Johor.
02:07Malaysia is also championing greater economic integration, linking markets and making borders easier to cross.
02:16Medini has always been focusing on capitalising on this cross-border transaction advantage between Singapore and Johor.
02:25But last year was monumental when we launched the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.
02:31I think the cross-border collaboration between two countries is actually paramount because we know both economies have its limitations.
02:41So with Johor and Singapore combining their strength together in ensuring that the cross-border, the movement of the people, the goods, the capital are being simplified,
02:51we are actually really seeing the fruit of the hard labour.
02:58Integration is not only about capital and goods, but also about people.
03:03The new Rapid Transit System Link, Dubai 2026, is designed to cut commuting time dramatically for the thousands who cross the border daily.
03:11We can see that many Malaysians cross the border to work in Singapore.
03:16So those days it used to take about four hours to travel.
03:20But with this new collaboration with the simplified process and system, especially at the border,
03:25we can see that the travelling time has been cut by almost three hours.
03:30So now it only takes about one to one and a half hours to go to work to Singapore.
03:33But ASEAN's growth can't just be about today's wins. It has to be able to adapt to tomorrow's challenges.
03:42You'd mentioned earlier that all sectors, all quarters need to work together to make JSSEZ a success.
03:48What specific milestones or steps do you think need to be taken in the immediate future to ensure that we're future-proofing this?
03:56I think regular engagement is very much needed. When we talk about collaboration, we need to have more dialogue
04:03within the federal government, state government, as well as the private sectors.
04:06Because the growth is non-linear, so we have to see what is needed. We have to be able to adapt.
04:13That kind of adaptability is what Malaysia hopes to embed into ASEAN,
04:17keeping the region flexible enough to stay competitive in a shifting global economy.
04:22Sustainability and inclusivity are also central.
04:26At the regional level, ASEAN is pushing the ASEAN power grid to share cleaner energy,
04:31while also developing frameworks for carbon trading and carbon storage.
04:36On the local level, Malaysia and Singapore signed two memoranda of understanding
04:40on carbon credits and carbon capture alongside the SEZ launch,
04:45a sign that climate action and economic growth can move together.
04:48We have a very strong 650 million population, majority of them younger population.
04:55The region has recorded one of the highest GDP growth in the world.
04:59The numbers of middle class segment has been growing significantly in all countries in ASEAN.
05:05The value proposition is already there, but the importance of dialogue is key at the moment,
05:11to showcase our strength and the benefits that ASEAN have to offer to the investors.
05:17Inclusivity means making sure communities feel the benefits too,
05:21through skills, jobs and social infrastructure.
05:25Together, these initiatives make inclusivity and sustainability more than just slogans.
05:30They are becoming ASEAN's proof points for the future.
05:33I think the opportunity and the value proposition is very strong.
05:38I very much would like to welcome anyone who are interested to invest in Johor
05:42and to see Johor as a place for them to grow.
05:46It's not just about bringing in investments, but it's also about us hosting them as a growth partner.
05:52So, I'm very happy to host anyone who would like to come.
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