Joint committee on IDR to hold first meeting

The Straits Times, July 23, 2007



THE first meeting of Singapore and Malaysia's joint ministerial committee (JMC) to smooth cooperation for Malaysia's Iskandar Development Region (IDR), Johor's new 2,217-sq-km economic zone, will be held in Pulai, Johor, today.

Singapore's team will be led by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan and Transport Minister Raymond Lim, with about 12 other government officials.

The team from Malaysia will include Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Effendi Norwawi - who co-chairs the JMC with Mr Mah - and Johor Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman.

This meeting will be the first formal sit-down after the JMC was established in May by the Singaporean and Malaysian prime ministers.

In its two-hour pow-wow this afternoon, the JMC will set the terms of reference for itself, review the progress of the IDR and set out a plan of work in four areas: enhancing transport links, tourism, environmental issues and facilitating immigration clearance.

The outcome of this afternoon's discussion will be watched closely by citizens in both countries as many Malaysians have been vehemently critical of Singapore's presence on the JMC, claiming that the Republic will meddle in the IDR and compromise Malaysia's sovereignty.

Singapore has made it very clear that Malaysia alone will take the lead on the JMC, which is not a decision-making body.


CHEONG SUK-WAI