ADUN SPEAKS | The Johor state government has finally acknowledged that the state economy is in the doldrums mainly due to the border-crossing remaining closed. The large number of Malaysian workers in Singapore and Singaporeans crossing the border for shopping, entertainment, and tourism is critical for the Johor economy.
Unfortunately, the state government did not show any urgency in opening the border much earlier. Knowing the urgency of the matter, steps should have been taken to shorten the quarantine period, reduce the cost of the Covid-19 test, and keep interruptions to cross-border traveling to a minimum. Unfortunately, this matter was left to the federal government to handle.
The state government should set up a task force to review the opening of border-crossing as soon as possible. The focus should be to reduce the time period and cost of following the SOPs while crossing the border.
Lab testing facilities must be at the site of entry in view of the number of people crossing so that results can be received much faster. Cost too can be cross-subsidised by all parties concerned.
Unfortunately, some of the major investments have pulled out or are remaining dormant. Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia studios have closed after spending millions.
The IRDA was effective in relocating FDIs to the Iskandar region since its inception and hope remains that the agency can attract investments. So far, investments from China seem focused on property development and therefore we need more investments from other countries and multinational companies (MNCs) focused more on non-property sectors.
Educity, the educational hub in Iskandar needs exuberance and cross-border education. It looks quiet and lacks vibrancy. IRDA should create an atmosphere for these institutions to be visible, dynamic, and internationally-recognised.
Many educational institutes in Educity look scaled-down and quiet. Educity should build a reputation for research and development and creative technology which will, in the process, attract more international students from across the causeway and abroad. IRDA has a human capital blueprint to develop a skilled workforce which has not been publicised.
The state government needs to develop infrastructure for the digital economy. Since the pandemic has altered social interactions, communication, business transactions, and work-life, digital platforms can enable businesses to continue their businesses online and virtually.
Development agencies like IRDA should lead the shift to the digital and gig economy. Government agencies should play a crucial role in raising awareness and digital skills of small and medium-size businesses in the state. The state government must also help traders embrace e-commerce to become digital entrepreneurs with new future skills, and to develop an economy with a new digital framework.
The Johor government has also announced the establishment of a state economic reform committee for this purpose. Can we hear what they have announced and introduced thus far?
S RAMAKRISHNAN is the Bekok assemblyperson. - Mkini
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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