Economy

Just 1 km across the water from Singapore, Johor Bahru (JB) has long been in the shadow of its glamorous neighbour, but now both the local and federal governments are stepping up efforts to transform the city of 1m people into a vibrant 21st-century metropolis. JB is in the midst of a major makeover, both as one of the five development zones...

The Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) was launched in 2008 and covers the whole of Sabah. It is now entering its third phase of development, which is likely to create more opportunities for foreign investors, particularly in the areas of tourism, hydrocarbons and palm oil-related ventures.

Since Iskandar Malaysia, one of five regional growth corridors in the country, was first mooted a decade ago, it has attracted investments in property development, not just in residential but also in industrial, commercial and hotels.

Developing Sabah’s infrastructure – from the provision of basic services such as electricity, water and sewers to crucial transport links such as ports, airports and roads – has long been vital to the state’s development but, given its mountainous terrain and relatively small population, is also a major logistical challenge. As in the rest of...

One of the largest of Malaysia’s 13 states, Sabah is banking on an economic development strategy that aims to make the most of its strategic position in the South China Sea, the beauty of its landscape and the riches of its natural environment. The plan centres on the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), one of five economic development zones...

The year 2015 will be remembered as the moment when the Malaysian government embarked on an ambitious and uncharted course to replace oil revenues with a consumption tax known as the goods and services tax (GST), which is set at 6%. According to the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), the introduction of the GST is expected to bring in a revenue stream...