Sedenak will be the sixth flagship in Iskandar Malaysia after Johor Bahru City Centre, Iskandar Puteri, Tanjung Pelepas and Tanjung Bin, Pasir Gudang, Tanjung Langsat and Senai, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a statement dated 22nd of December 2021 after chairing a virtual meeting of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) members in Putrajaya which was also attended by the Co-Chairman and Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Ir. Haji Hasni Mohamad and other Cabinet Ministers.
Currently, most development in Iskandar Malaysia is concentrated in the southern part of Johor, and IRDA has embarked on a programme to develop Mukim Sedenak, located in northern Iskandar Malaysia to accelerate growth in the area and adjacent districts, according to the meeting.
“Sedenak will focus on the agrotechnology industry, high technology, research and development as well as low carbon activities.”
“The Sedenak development will also benefit the local community as well as strengthen the access between Johor and other states.
“This will contribute towards making Johor a food supplier hub and an international gateway for Malaysia,” he further stated in the statement.
Iskandar Malaysia has reportedly implemented various initiatives to maintain or improve the income and living standards of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with a total of 5,000 ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ members in the Iskandar Malaysia region who have received assistance in the form of salary matching grants, business start-up grants, training and capacity building in 2021.
“Through the ‘Iskandar Malaysia Employment Grant’ (IMEG), a total of 252 companies have retained or hired a total of 1,811 new employees, including women, the unemployed, the disabled and retirees.”
“Meanwhile, a total of 1,425 entrepreneurs have participated in various training programmes while 117 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have received grants to support their business operations under the Iskandar Malaysia Dynamic Entrepreneur Programme,” said Sabri.
A total of 140 B40 participants has participated in the Iskandar Malaysia Urban Farming Programme (IMURFARM) and managed to record an average income of RM2800 per harvest while 730 participants of the IM Makmur programme recorded an average income increase of 25% to 65% through income generation schemes.
IMRENT (rent payment grant), IMSTART (business start-up grant) and IMYES (youth entrepreneur grant) are among the financial assistance and training for certain groups under the inclusive economy agenda in Iskandar Malaysia.
IRDA also suggested the need to continue the development of transit homes for people who have just started working, starting a business or family for the purpose of further intensifying assistance for the people.
Observing the trend of the current generation who are more interested in renting than buying a house, this home rental scheme allows them to live in safe and affordable housing while they stabilise their resources for a stronger future.
“The scheme has proven successful through the Rumah Iskandar Malaysia, located in Gelang Patah, Johor, where almost all 1500 apartment units have been inhabited and utilised by the people.”
The COVID-19 pandemic also continues to put pressure on Iskandar Malaysia’s sustainability agenda and initiatives.
Therefore, the IRDA Authority Members agreed for the region to continue and expedite key initiatives such as Iskandar Rapid Transit (IRT), Iskandar Malaysia Urban Observatory (IMUO), Iskandar Malaysia Smart City, Low Carbon Society, Green Community Programme and Carbon Reduction and Iskandar Malaysia Ecolife Challenge (IMELC), he ended the statement, saying the initiatives promote a comprehensive approach to sustainability in economic, social and environmental terms.
