Iskandar Malaysia a project for Singapore to grow, says Mahathir

source: thestar via malaysia-today
JOHOR BARU: The Iskandar Malaysia project is a platform for Singapore to expand its sovereignty, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He explained that the project was intended to lure Singaporeans and Malay land would be sold to them for 10 times its worth.

“After the land is sold, the Malays will be driven to live at the edge of the forest and even the forest itself.

“In the end, the area in the Iskandar Malaysia will be filled with Singaporeans and populated with only 15% Malays,” he said yesterday during a forum and dialogue on the recent general election organised by Johor Umno grassroots and MyKMU.net.

Meanwhile, former Parit Sulong MP Datuk Noraini Ahmad (Datuk Ruhanie Ahmad, kuda-kepang.blogspot.com –ed.) said the project was designed to ease the creation of “Singapura Raya” where Singapore wanted to expand its land area.

Earlier in a statement as Perdana Global Peace Organisation chairman, Dr Mahathir condemned the move to allow American oil and gas company Halliburton to set up its RM200mil manufacturing plant in Iskandar Malaysia.

He said more than a million Iraqis had died when the United States invaded Iraq, and firms such as Halliburton had benefited from American control of oil flow in West Asia.

Dr Mahathir said the Government should not allow such companies to channel their ill-gotten profits to Malaysia.

Agence France-Presse - 5/18/2008 4:59 AM GMT
Project could force Malays from key state: Mahathir
Wealthy Singaporean investors may force ethnic Malays from a Malaysian state being touted as a key economic zone, former premier Mahathir Mohamad has warned.

Malaysia launched an ambitious project in 2006 to transform the idyllic southern Johor state into a metropolis to woo foreign investment and compete with neighbouring Singapore for manufacturing and logistics businesses.

Mahathir said the 17.7 billion-ringgit (4.8 billion-dollar) Iskandar Malaysia project was aimed at luring Singaporean investors and could see Malays forced out.

"After the land is sold, the Malays will be driven to live at the edge of the forest and even in the forest itself," Mahathir said in a weekend speech in Johor, the Star newspaper reported.

"In the end, the area in Iskandar Malaysia will be filled with Singaporeans and populated with only 15 percent Malays."

Mahathir has been a vocal critic of Malaysia's government since Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi aborted some of his projects, including a plan to build a bridge linking Johor and Singapore

Ex-Malaysian Leader Calls For Ban On HALLIBURTON
(AP) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday slammed the government's move to allow U.S. oilfield services provider Halliburton Co. to begin operating in Malaysia, saying the country doesn't need "blood money."

"It is appalling that we have allowed this war-profiteering company to invest in Malaysia," he said in a statement, referring to Halliburton's contracts in Iraq for the U.S. government. "Are we so void of our humanity that we have to allow these war criminals to come in and thrive in our economy?"

Mahathir, who remains a respected figure in the Islamic world after his retirement in 2003 after 22 years in power, urged the government to ban Halliburton from using their "ill-gotten profits to operate in any way" in Malaysia.

Halliburton recently launched a 200 million ringgit ($62.5 million) manufacturing center in the Iskandar Malaysia economic hub in southern Johor state.

Mahathir, a vocal critic of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, accused Halliburton, once led by Vice President Dick Cheney, of raking in billions of dollars in profits from the Iraq war.

Halliburton's stock price surged from $10 before the war to around $46 now after the company won a series of contracts in Iraq amounting to nearly $20 billion, he said.

"Do we really need the blood money of a neo-conservative entity that has played a role in the murder of innocent Iraqis to fund our development?" he said.

He described Cheney and President Bush as "war criminals" who should be put on trial for the Iraq war. Mahathir now heads the Perdana Global Peace Organization, a private group.

Iskandar Malaysia chief Ikmal Hijaz Hashim has defended Halliburton's investment, saying it will create jobs and benefit the country. The Iskandar hub is among five massive development programs nationwide by the government to woo investment and spur growth in rural areas.

WiEF: Iskandar Malaysia hits 70pc investment target, says IRDA ceo

Taken from NST - By : Hamidah Atan in Kuwait
ISKANDAR Malaysia, the country's southern economic corridor, is progressing well. More than 70 per cent of the US$14.9 billion (RM47 billion) investment targeted by 2010 had already been achieved, Iskandar Regional Development Authority chief executive officer Datuk Ikmal Hijaz Hashim said.

He was speaking to Malaysian journalists on the sidelines of the fourth World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) , of which Malaysia is the chair. Speaking after a parallel session on "Infrastructure And Real Estate Development" where he was one of the presenters, Ikmal said commitments had been received for investments valued at more than US$10.4 billion.

Ikmal said the ambitious project was well-positioned in view of its strategic location. A comprehensive development plan that stretches until 2025 had also been laid down and this would further promote and facilitate economic development.

An international destination resort on 1,200 hectares, a cyber city, golf village, creative park and a heritage district are among the distinctive features planned for Iskandar. It would also see 1.46 million high-value jobs created by 2025. "There are already many industries operating in the region, including petrochemical, tourism and services. All this will be strengthened with healthcare services, education, financial and creative industries," said Ikmal.

Eighteen months after its launch, Iskandar is now entering Phase 3 of its development. "In July, Johor's new state administrative centre will be completed. This will add vibrancy to the area," Ikmal said.He also said that Iskandar remained one of Malaysia's favourite places for foreign direct investments. Twenty-six developers are already involved in the project. "We have big names such as UEM, Sime UEP Properties Bhd and Gamuda."

The Iskandar Regional Development Authority will launch a security blueprint to make the region safe for investors as well as local residents. "Besides the deployment of more security personnel and police officers, the government will invest about RM300 million to build 30 police stations in the area." Ikmal said consultants would be appointed to carry out a study on the blueprint, which was expected to be ready within four months.

Meanwhile, UEM Group international business senior director Datuk Rosli Sharif said through WIEF, the group was able to showcase its capabilities as well as past, present and future projects in Malaysia such as the Nusajaya, North-South Expressway, second Penang Bridge, and the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex. They also showcased projects outside the country, including the construction of highways in India and Qatar. UEM is a platinum sponsor for the forum. "By participating in WIEF, we hope to be able to attract potential business partners, especially from countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Qatar."

PM acknowledges he is a cause in BN-Umno polls setback, pledges to work towards rehabilitating the party despite calls for his resignation

PM to work towards rehabilitating the party
JOHOR BARU: Acknowledging that he was one of the causes of the setbacks suffered by Umno and Barisan Nasional in the 12th general election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday said he felt responsible to now work towards rehabilitating the party despite calls for his resignation.
The Umno president also pledged to revive BN and Umno by delivering on his past promises.
Abdullah's stand came just after a pledge of support for him from all of Johor's 26 division chiefs, putting to rest rumours that Umno leaders in the state were going to ask him to step down.
There had been calls the past few days from certain Umno quarters for him to resign from the government and the party over the ruling coalition's poor showing in the general election last month in which the BN, for the first time in its history, lost control over five states and a two-thirds majority in parliament. "I admit I was one of the causes for these losses. I also understand that there are many things that need to be done. There are many reforms and changes that need to be done, such as reforming the judiciary, fighting corruption, reducing crime and improving the public delivery system.
"There are also other issues that need to be tackled that are related to inter-racial relations and religious freedom.
"These are some of the promises I made in the 2004 BN manifesto and I must implement them," Abdullah said after a meeting with Johor Umno leaders here. Some of these matters were already being worked on, such as the economy and reforming Government-linked companies, he said.
"I am responsible for doing all these. Some of it has or is being done while others take a bit more time."Abdullah also hinted at changes in Umno as some of the policies that it helped put forward in the BN had led to the ire of voters.
"The party can be very strong, but the rakyat can throw it away over something which they cannot accept. Some of these things include issues concerning inter-racial and inter-religious relations."Responding to fresh calls on Thursday from Kedah and Penang Umno leaders for him to resign, Abdullah said that was their view.
"Not all of them feel that way. But never mind. I have said before that I will not remain for very long.
"But I have a mandate from the people to continue, and I have a responsibility to rectify the issues that led to our losses." Before the start of the press conference, Johor Umno State Liaison chief Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman pledged the support of all the state's 26 division chiefs for Abdullah, putting to rest rumours that they were also going to ask him to step down.On a related matter, Abdullah said Umno would look into suggestions that the system to choose general election candidates be reviewed as disgruntlement among its division leaders over the party's choices was a factor in the BN's losses.
"This system is based on consultation and has been the time-honoured practice. On the one hand, they (grassroots leaders) want the senior leadership to decide but when we decide, they don't agree with the choice.
"It is complicated but we will do our best," Abdullah said.
Bigger, better units in housing scheme [in Iskandar Malaysia] – nstonline

To establish the rule of the Shari’ah is to do the work of the prophets – waliwibowo
If along with the work which you are doing, you could also enforce the Shari’ah you would be doing the work of the prophets (peace and blessings upon them), and would be rehabilitating the desolate house of Islam and restoring its glory. After that, whatever progress you make will be in the area of prophetic perfections.