Iskandar Malaysia

Since 2006, the Federal Malaysian government has developed the South-Johor Economic Region as a major corridor for economic development. A vision, known as Iskandar Malaysia, has been facilitated through a Comprehensive Development Plan underpinning strategies to boost the physical and economic development of the Johor Bahru metropolitan area. The latter borders Singapore; the two cities, separated by a one km. sea channel, are linked by two bridges. Thousands of people cross the Johor Straits to enjoy better wages (in Singapore) and cheap goods (in Malaysia). The paper provides an analysis of the Iskandar Malaysia Vision. A key message is the need for future plans to consider both cities, Johor Bahru and Singapore, as part of an emerging transnational urban region.

► Explain and discuss main assumptions, strategies and region makers behind Iskandar Malaysia.
► Provide a cross section of Malaysian urban planning.
► Frame Johor Bahru metropolitan area in its wider regional domain which includes Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
► Review Growth Triangle theory and propose a new approach to understand transnational influences in the region which is based on Hall’s Mega City-Region theory.
► Highlight similarities and differences between Putrajaya and Nusajaya.