The East Coast Region Development Council (ECERDC) took multiple initiatives to revive the economy of Johor after the country has been in intensive care due to the pandemic. According to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), on 7 December 2021, the Chairman of Johor ECER Implementation and Coordination Committee (ICC), Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, talked about the various development plans for the region.
The government expects to improve tourism, food security and encourage the development of agro-food production through these developments. These 5 development projects have been set in Johor Budget outline 2022.
-
Jemulang Dairy Valley (JDV) Development
Jemulang Dairy Valley (JDV) started development in December 2021. Once the development is complete and running at full capacity, it is expected to produce 5.1 million litres of fresh milk, increasing Malaysia’s dairy production by 11%.
The project is a collaborative effort of the state government, ECERDC and Johor State Secretary (Inc) (SSI). They are yet to appoint a company that would spearhead the project, which is expected to be finalised by June this year.
-
Tanjung Penyabong Development
Baidzawi Che Met, the Chief Executive Officer of ECERDC announced that the council is initiating the Tanjung Penyabong waterfront facilities development to attract tourists. This will add to the tourism industry revenue, a key contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Malaysia.
The project was awarded ‘Special Commendation Government (Public Space) Placemaker Awards ASEAN’ by Nextdor Property Communications in November 2021 as a recognition of the impact the project will have in meeting visitors’ needs and improvement of public space.
-
Kampungstay Development
Kampungstay is another tourism-focused development initiated by the ECERDC. In the Air Papan area, the project will build:
- 10 chalets
- Multi-purpose halls
- 2 restaurants
It will also renovate homes to encourage community-based tourism in Malaysia. The project expects to be completed in May this year. Upon completion of construction, Baidzawi believes that it will have a positive impact on the local community. Homeowners can provide Kampungstay experience and tourism related services to visitors and foreign tourists to generate income.
-
PETA Rainforest Discovery Centre
ECERDC is constructing the PETA Rainforest Discovery Centre in Endau-Rompin National Park in Johor. It will be an Education Centre in the forest reserve with bird watching towers linked with a treetop walkway.
Expected to be completed in April 2023, this is yet another project to revive the economy through tourist attractions. It will also create more employment opportunities for the local community and the tourism industry, especially in the Orang Asli area.
-
Endau-Mersing Fish Processing Park
The last of the various projects discussed at the meeting was the Endau-Mersing Fish Processing Park. It will create a platform to cater to micro, small and medium enterprises to produce fish-based downstream products to in turn boost the Mersing fisheries sector. The project has already been 53% completed, and will soon be in operation once the other half of the construction is finished.
