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Johor Sultan defends business activities, ‘strategically necessary’ reclamations

KUALA LUMPUR — It is a strategic necessity for Johor to continue its land reclamation activities just off the coast of Singapore, said the Malaysian state’s Sultan Ibrahim Ismail, who also defended his business activities by saying his monthly state allowances of RM27,000 (S$10,139) were not enough to live on.

KUALA LUMPUR — It is a strategic necessity for Johor to continue its land reclamation activities just off the coast of Singapore, said the Malaysian state’s Sultan Ibrahim Ismail, who also defended his business activities by saying his monthly state allowances of RM27,000 (S$10,139) were not enough to live on.

The Sultan said controversial property developments were on track, and added the state is the future for ordinary Malaysians and Singaporeans who are being priced out of housing elsewhere.

In an interview with The Star newspaper, the Sultan said the reclamation activities must be continued because while there is plenty of land in Johor, the coastline is strategic.

“People only talk about reclamation by Johor, but not many are aware that land reclamation in Singapore reportedly started as early as the 1820s during the colonial era,” he said. “Singapore has reclaimed over 70 sq km of land from 1960 to the present ... (and) with continuing land reclamation, Singapore’s land area will increase by about another 100 sq km by 2030.

“To put it bluntly ... if Johor does not carry out reclamation, Singapore will and it has been doing so ... Johor has to do this because it is strategically necessary.”

In defending his business interests, the Sultan said he believes it is healthy for royalty to engage in legitimate businesses and that he has never tried to hide his business dealings.

“I have to earn my living like everyone else. I cannot depend on my allowances of RM27,000 a month. I must earn a living, like ordinary Malaysians,” he said.

The Sultan also noted that the Johor royal family has a long history of doing business, starting with gambier and black pepper in the 1800s.

In addition to his business dealings, the Sultan welcomed the controversial 1,386 ha Forest City property project and said housing development in the state would benefit Malaysians and Singaporeans who find housing in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore too expensive.

He added that Chinese investors should not be singled out for criticism.

“The Chinese investors have the confidence and foresight to believe that their money is well spent,” said the Sultan, referring to Guangdong-based developer Country Garden Holdings, which has partnered with Johor state-owned Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor for the Forest City project.

“It is their risk, but they believe in the strategic position of Johor.”

Forest City is a mixed development to be built on four reclaimed islands between south-west Johor and north-west Singapore.

The Sultan also addressed concerns that Johor is facing an excess of housing supply, saying the fear of a glut is only an assumption.

“Some people talk about a glut in high-rise property units in Johor Baru. The Chinese developers are not going to build 80,000 units simultaneously. Only 8,000 units are being built now,” he said. “Not all these house buyers are from China as there are also locals, especially from Penang and Kuala Lumpur. There are also Singaporean buyers.”

“The future is in Johor because Singaporeans, not just Chinese, will be buying homes in Johor. Homes are already beyond the reach of ordinary Singaporeans over there,” he added.

The Sultan said Malaysia and Singapore could become like Hong Kong and the mainland city of Shenzhen, where people work in one place and live in another.

“Once the links are in place, it will become the norm for Singaporeans to live in Johor and work in Singapore,” he said. AGENCIES

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