Malaysian Port Expects Spin-Off Benefits, Including Jobs From Substantial Investments

JOHOR BAHARU, MALAYSIA, Jan 6 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Mohamed Sidik Shaik Osman, the chairman of the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, located near this capital of the southern Malaysian state of Johor, says the substantial investment made in the port so far is expected to generate some 10 billion Ringgit (one USD = about 3.4 Ringgit) worth of spin-off benefits over the next 25 years, including jobs for locals.

Ghani said this Tuesday at the launch of a book, “Ecoes of Life” about the Pulai River here, which was jointly published by the port and the Johor branch of the Malaysian nature Society (MNS).

He added that the book contained valuable information which would help enlighten people on the richness of the Pulai River, a priceless natural environment which has been declared a Ramsar site under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

Ghani also said that Malaysia and Singapore, which is linked to this city by a causeway across the narrow johor Straits, would jointly promote the Ramsar wetland site in Johor and the Sungai Buloh Wetland Reserves in Singapore as new eco-tourism attractions.

The collaborative effort was the first initiative under the Ministerial Level Committee for the joint promotion and development of Iskandar Malaysia, a special economic zone in the southern part of Johor being developed by the Malaysian government, covering some 2,200 sq km, or three times the size of Singapore.

Ghani said a foreign consultant had been appointed to conduct studies on wetland preservation, product promotion and target visitors. — NNN-BERNAMA