00:00Johor is having a moment.
00:02Last year, the state drew about a quarter of Malaysia's approved investments,
00:07a sign of the buzz around the Johor Singapore Special Economic Zone.
00:11But here's the real question, who actually benefits?
00:14Malaysia and Singapore want at least 20,000 new jobs in the zone within five years.
00:20These are expected to come from manufacturing, logistics, data centers, energy, tourism,
00:26business services, and professional sectors. Economist Yusof Sari says the first wave of jobs
00:33will likely come from sectors that can scale quickly using Johor's existing industrial base,
00:38ports, logistics networks, and proximity to Singapore.
00:42But these will not only be high-skilled jobs for engineers or specialists.
00:47Many could be mid-skilled jobs that require lower qualifications such as certificates,
00:52diplomas, technical training, or industry exposure.
00:56That means Johorians can benefit, but only if training programs are matched early to what
01:01investors actually need. If the JSSCZ is successful, it should improve purchasing power,
01:08create upward mobility, and help workers afford a decent standard of living.
01:13Then there is the data center boom. The Johor chapter of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing
01:19says data centers are helping turn Johor into a regional AI and digital infrastructure hub.
01:26That creates demand for specialized workers in facility management, engineering systems, cooling
01:32technology, energy optimization, and digital operations. It could also create opportunities for local SMEs in
01:39logistics, maintenance, automation, packaging, industrial software, and professional services.
01:46But if local firms are not supported, the highest value work could go to multinationals and outside
01:53vendors, while Johor businesses remain stuck in lower value parts of the supply chain.
01:58And jobs only matter if people can get to them. Transport expert Wan Agilwan Hasan says transport is not
02:05just a supporting feature of the JSSCZ. It is a core enabler.
02:10When public transport is reliable, affordable, predictable, and seamlessly connected with first
02:17mile and last mile options, people naturally diversify their travel choices. Behaviour follows
02:22incentive, not slogans. The objective should therefore be to create a transport system where choosing public
02:29transport becomes the most convenient options rather than the only alternative.
02:33If jobs grow faster than Johor's roads, buses, utilities, and last mile links, workers may struggle
02:40to reach the opportunities being created. Under Budget 2026, Puchajaya has allocated RM3.4 billion
02:47for JSSCZ infrastructure, including roads, water, electricity, broadband, and flood mitigation,
02:55to help Johor absorb the expected growth. But connectivity is the other half of the equation.
03:01The RTS link, scheduled to open on January 1, 2027, will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to
03:08Woodlands North in Singapore. The 4-kilometer shuttle can carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour each way,
03:15giving commuters a faster alternative to the causeway. The federal government is also putting forward the
03:21elevated autonomous rapid transit system as a solution to the last mile connectivity challenge,
03:26while reducing congestion in Johor Bahru city center. But Johor also needs reliable buses, first and last
03:33mile links, roads, utilities, broadband, and flood mitigation. Then comes another pressure point,
03:41property. Property expert Consil Stan says investment and job growth will likely increase demand for homes,
03:47shop lots, and industrial properties near business and industrial clusters.
03:53Assisting property owners might be benefiting from the potential rising in property demand,
03:58as well as developers who are holding land banks in Johor. Higher income professionals and cross-border
04:05workers are likely to gain the purchasing power advantages too. Conversely, younger workers or first-time
04:12homebuyers might be squeezed in this case. In addition, local small businesses might be affected adversely.
04:17The JSSEZ's success will not be measured by investment numbers alone. That means the real test is not
04:24whether major firms come in, but whether their presence helps local businesses move up the value chain,
04:30creates jobs Johorians can't take up, and raises wages enough to improve daily life.
04:36Natasha Beast FMT
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