Johor Malays the poorest, says Malay Chamber head

Harakahdaily,

Jan 16: The Malay Chamber of Commerce has said that Malays in Johor are currently the poorest in the country due to Iskandar Malaysia, although the community had been the richest back in 1800s.

According to its president Syed Ali Alattas, cost of living in Johor has escalated due to the government’s land privatisation policy in the economic region where large-scale lands have been sold to foreigners.

“The development of Iskandar is pushing Malays backwards, making them more marginalised economically,” he was quoted as saying by news portal The Malaysian Insider.

This, he claimed, created a difficult situation for the state’s Malay majority to cope with rising costs of living.

In 2006, former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched Iskandar Malaysia, covering an area of 2,217 square kilometres, which includes Johor Bharu and adjoining towns of Pontian, Senai, Pasir Gudang, as well as construction of the Nusajaya as capital.

His predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad had scoffed at the project saying it was an opportunity for Singapore to expand its sovereignty.

Singapore has remained as the biggest investor in Iskandar.

The chamber further claimed that Malays owned only 24,000 of the half-a-million acres of land allocated for Iskandar.

Syed Ali said his organisation had urged prime minister Najib Razak to rethink the government’s policy and ensure 30 percent of Nusajaya would be reserved for Malays.

Johor is seen as a major battleground for votes at the soon-to-be-held general election, with many observers saying Pakatan Rakyat could make a historic upset in the UMNO stronghold.