The Malaysian Insider

Conclusion- the IRDA project,like PKFZ, will be a typical Malaysia Boleh MEGA failure. Otherwise why would Najib give very special tax incentives for those investing/working there?

A cheap skate by offering such a low tax to those working in Iskandar even though only for special sectors. KERA di HUTAN DI BERI SUSU ANAK DI RUMAH MATI KELAPARAN. Come on Najib, the pillar of Malaysia is the middle income group be it Goverment servent or Private sector. It seems they have be neglected for so long. Income taxs cut do not directly benifits them. Is 9k the correct tax exempted amount for individual without any increase tax exempted amount for their childrens? . Goverment seems to care about the rich and the poor and obviously forgot those in the middle. Najib first people later or is it people first Najib later? One malaysia clinics? what a joke Mr Najib.

This project is going to outshine PKNZ.

Politics and office politics is always a bane to such a massive development like Iskandar. Everyone wants to have their fingers in the pie. Najib crack your whip if you want to see things moving as it should be on the ground. Who cares how it is moving on paper. You cannot afford it to fail just like the way PKFZ did; too much interference by politicians, civil servants, office politics and last but not least massive cost over runs ( you know what I mean)

Another PKFZ project in the Offing??

Very interesting developments as time goes by....

"It also calls into question Khazanah Nasional’s acumen in picking senior officials to drive this ambitious project."
He,he, he, sebelum tu MAS now IRDA ...just like what the doctor aka http://anotherbrickinwall.blogspot.com/ prescribed.

Black Midas and Amokh, you are next!!!!

GOBLOG!

as usual HANGAT HANGAT TAHI AYAM.........well this is Malaysia Boleh........not surprising

If Iskandar is not run by the best brain in the country, it will remain a third world development. Just look at Putrajaya and Cyberjaya, aren't these two similar to the ghost towns without soul ?

we are witnessing the birth of another mega billion-ringgit project which will, by all accounts, fail miserably. another white elephant for proud Malaysia to showcase to ASEAN and the world. another entry into the laughing stock diary that is our country.

just appoint credible personnel to handle the project, is that so hard to accomplish? is Malaysia really drained of candidates with respectable business acumen and visionary foresight? i think not. there are plenty of capable men and women who would do this project some justice.

here's a hint: broaden your headhunting net and give the non-bumiputras a try. or select from a pool of trusted, reliable leaders that have potential. judging from Malaysia's track record, projects tend to falter and die when the government gets involved in the blueprints.

Malaysia masih belum matang. stupid leaders make stupid followers.

Iskandar is a big fat meat to share... so, who ever in the CEO seat, it is a hot seat, have to face all those UMNO warlords....

don't call umno warlords, "warlords". that sounds like a compliment. they're just petty theives. UMNO petty thieves.

UMNO vultures are hovering in the sky waiting to swoop down on this big piece of meat. No honest captain can take care of IRDA if UMNO is still in power.

Another PKFZ in the making. Once politicians are involved, you can be sure that it will become a free-for-all for cronies to put their filthy hand in the cookie jar. Put a civil servant there and you might as well just bank in the money into these crooks accounts. The whole project was a hare-brain scam initiated without much thought and preparation. Just watch our hard earned money flowing into their pockets.

With the recent incentives announced by the PM in the Budget, it looks like they are serious in making Iskandar project a success. However, the most important missing link is the CEO and if they still insist that this post must go to a Malay and not the best and qualified person then the project will be doomed.

RATM - this is not about race its about politics. giving non bumi or what not is not the problem here, I believe Harun Johari have an excellent track record irrespective of bumi or not. The problem with IRDA is appeasing the Johor civil servant.

Iskandar development is big white elephant. Its designed to waste the peoples money and give UMNO's home base and the rajahs and sultans the opportunity to rob the bank. Nothing good will come out of it. Just take the other infamous white elephant that OKT is in charge off.

HahaHa, another mega project scandal in the making? Wow, attractive beef to share?

to solve a problem you need the correct formula.

singapore - a small but sucessful country
us - a big but sucessful country.
malaysia - the citizen are smart but the system ????????????????????????????
our system kill our potential/ chase away top brain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sad.

Mega White elephants for sale by auction. Cyberjaya, Putrajaya ( not very jaya so far) PKFZ and lastest Iskandar Corridor ( serves best nasi kandar by the coridors).
Foreign investors welcome but must have 90% local bumi equity.
Built with taxpayers money but going cheap cheap.

Iskandar will never be a success if the government still insist the CEO should only be a Malay even though there are other people Malaysian or otherwise who are more qualified to implement such a huge project which will be delayed time and time again with additional costs running into billions.

The only way Iskandar is going forward is to appoint a CEO from Singapore. Period.

As Iskandar is designed as the country's showcase economic corridor, let not constraint the selection of the new CEO. Only the best and most qualified candidate should be the CEO of Iskandar, regardless of his/her race and religion. Then and only then can Iskandar compete with the other economic zones in the region.

I hope it will not turn into another white elephant in Malaysia.

Iskandar is dead meat. Pm by introducing RPGT has effectively killed iskandar and the economy. he has no midas touch

What are the reasons for his resignation? People can only speculate at this point of time. It can be any one of combination of the following:-
1) The CEO finds that the job is too big for him, a hot seat that he can't handle.
2) The work environment, notwithstanding the fact that he is the CEO, is too political for him to cope.
3) There is just too much hanky panky going on for his liking and too overwhelming for him to cope with. He doesn't want to be another ex-CEO personality of the PKFZ fiasco.
4) Too much political interference for him to deal with such that he is responsible & accountable for all decisions made by outside parties with vested interests, and he has no say whatsoever. That means his position is a VERY RESPONSIBLE - anything goes wrong he is responsible.

Otherwise, what else will make a CEO resign so suddenly?

Anyway, I think he is a damn smart CEO given such a position.

With such a massive and expensive project, the problem is who gets what that becomes a problem. The first share of the cake to be share out is the Federal people, and eventually down to state in Johor but certainly not before the royals first. Thence it goes down to senior civil servants and eventually the contractors. No wonder the CEO had to stepped down. just too much pressure. Just cancel the project, lah and use the money to benefit the Rakyat, better.

" Johor politicians feel that the position should be given to a senior official of the Johor civil service, instead of leaving the head-hunting to Khazanah Nasional", what a stupid retarded thinking!
If the Johor MB & politicians think alike, then they should be removed and replace by capable talents.
IRDA is the nation's project, it isn't a state project and a piece of cake (money) for Johor politicians.

Actually, the idea mooted out is excellent. You also don't need to a smart ass to kick-start Iskandar.
We also do not need to look at Middle East, Hong Kong, China... Just have to look across the Causeway.
If we can attract Singaporeans or their PRs to live here and work there, I am pretty sure everything will be just fall into place.

Clear the traffic jams at the CIQ, make it easy for citizens from both countries to go in and out. Crime rate is the domino effect of the local economy. When the local economy thrives and everyone has a good income, nobody would want to take the risk of committing crimes. Even small businesses like Car Wash, Ramli Burgers, the Warongs... will make money and provide jobs to the lower income group. What is so difficult. Its the authorities that make it difficult. My favourite Ramli Burger stall has been operating without a license outside a 7 Eleven for more than 10 years. Why? Because the authorities just refuse to grant him a license. They would raid his stall, make him go to court and fine him. He has appeared in court so often that he even calls the magistrate 'Kak' can you beat that!

It is impossible to deny the fact that Singapore and Johor Bahru are dependant on each other. One without the other will face serious consequences. As a Johor Bahru citizen, I have many relatives that are Singaporeans and for those that reside up in Northern Malaysia, just take a drive to the CIQ at 6.00am in the morning. The number of Johor Bahru citizens who work and study in Singapore will shock you. Even my 2 boys are taking their tertiary education in Singapore. Why? you may ask. Did you know that it is cheaper to get your diploma or degree in Singapore than here? Lets not even talk about comparing the standard of education. The only thing that is expensive in Singapore is the accommodation. Food? SGD2.50, Drinks? SGD0-60 at the college canteen. It's almost the same as what we are paying in Johor Bahru. But we Johor Bahru citizens are lucky that our kids can go back and forth home daily.

If some guy from Shell can't even make it work I really don't know who else can. I know that Iskandar has spent millions on corporate branding, road shows in foreign countries. Cut the crap and just focus on all that is around you.

Johor Bahru Old Man

Umno and Barisan cannot fail this Iskandar project, because it is the only chance to prove that they can remedy the past failures....PKFZ etc etc. Or else, the next general election they will fail miserably. If successfully implemented, it is going to be strong and convincing show for their election campaign.

Why not get top Malay, top Chinese & top Indian to head this project. Then you can say it is 1 Malaysia, and the project will be a resounding success. Leave politicians aside or they will spoil it like PKFZ.

This is not a matter either bumi or non-bumi take a CEO post, but we only want a person with credible and capable most of all apart from political party lead this mega project. PM please remind 1 thing the time you give us lame excuses not more workout anymore!! please response before the ship sink or you will going to face the music on next GE!

IRDA will face similar fate as PKFZ. A-G reports revealed year after year that corruption is rampant in gov't departments. PM would say action will be taken but in reality there was no head roll. Kita sama kita orang, mana boleh pecat! I remember when the minister sent MOE officers to investigate the abuse of power by a school principal. The officers went to the school at 7.30 am but the principal arrived at 10.30 am. They enjoyed a good meal with the principal at the school canteen. They laughed and shared jokes. The officers told the principal not to worry. We are in the same profession. The visit is just show-show lah. If Najib is serious, offer non bumi to head those corrupted govt agencies. You'll see the difference!

what's this talk about bumi and non-bumi? am i missing something here? is there some race superiority complex here..? we malaysians seriously have unity and race issues. i say down with the vernacular schools and lets get our kids in the same school and get them sorted out over this race relations thing. Let them fight and understand each other better at a young age. Otherwise, when they are older, they will make all this stupid racist comments.. all sides are equally at fault here

IRDA should get a credible CEO with the right credentials... be it a negro, mat salleh, japanese, malay or chinese.. open up your mind guys! like it or not we are in the same boat

Let's be sensible and realistic. IRDA is still a young organization despite of its remarkable achievements less than 3 years since its inception. There is nothing wrong with this organization who has assembled the best brain in the country and has the spirit that is bigger than their size. Don't forget that Singapore, Shenzen and Dubai took 30 years to be where there are today. Why can't all Malaysian work together, in the spirit of "Malaysia Boleh" and "1 Malaysia" instead being too critical. Why can't us be more supportive than destructive? What we need most is Political will and coordination among all stakeholders....that is what really missing. Even the Best CEO in the World can't run IRDA effectively if the stakeholders are more busy critising, stabbing on the back instead of coming forward and contribute. Don't let our emotion or previous frustation clouded our thought. We , down south , have been waiting for more than 50 years for this kind of development. Let this young and talented organization do their job. Look at the result and be more forgiving on the means. Our children future is depending on Iskandar Malaysia.

Why compare PKNZ with IRDA? Please read The Public Accountant Committee (PAC) comment on IRDA during their last visit and compare to the comment on PKNZ. It is sad to note that some Malaysia are easily influenced by rumours than checking the hard facts. By all mean go and check yourself. After all IRDA is public office. Anyone can come and visit and see for your self how Iskandar Malaysia being run. At least you could compare how IRDA people work compared to other public offices.

Build them, and they will come was probably the (dubious) rationale behind the launch the IRDA. Anyway, my sceptic side now probably won't even get to see if that rationale holds true: the project seems to have stumbled near the first step (but not before a whole load of people have made a lot of money in overpriced "infrastructure" works (like drains and roads that go nowhere, and land cleared and "upgraded" for no apparent reason).

1Malaysia (tak)Boleh again

The above Nor Hisham Hussein is IRDA's senior management staff. No wonder he is so positive about Iskandar Malaysia and IRDA. U want to get promotion is it by writing that comment? Sendiri angkat bakul. Podah!

Come on guys.... for those who want to see Malaysia rise to a new level, show some support to Iskandar Malaysia regardless of your political affiliations. When investors come, all will benefit.. jobs will be created for everyone based on their merit. Social developments planned by IRDA will improve the quality of life and further attract investors. Iskandar Msia will be a model for others in the country (and maybe the world?) to follow.. when singapore see that this is something good, their kiasu nature will bring their money here.. Otherwise, we just leave JB as it is, nobody will get anywhere and the status quo will be maintained and corruption may still be there..and political masters will be happy.. and we will be left behind to Indonesia, Thailand due to our internal squabbles.. Don't you people realise that with progress and economic development will bring more enlightened rakyat who will demand more from the government who will then be forced to eliminate corruption if they want to stay in power... rakyat will win regardless who the political masters are so long as we focus on developing our nation..

Do not draw comparisons between PKFZ and Iskandar Malaysia. The concept, business case and governance are all different. Iskandar Malaysia is a good idea if not only for the failure of the last prime minister to ensure that it had the proper governance structure to deliver. Reality is, it will take a bit more time to realise because unnecessary hurdles in the form of politics and personal interests need to be overcomed.

Those in support of Iskandar Malaysia has made a good case for its existence, the benefits in the long run will turn teh sceptics around. For now however, the arguments coming from those who oppose seem to be sentiment-driven rather than any real substance.

It'll be interesting to see how Iskandar Malaysia will develop. Considering PM's public calls for the country (ie. politicians, civil servants, government, judiciary, etc.) to clean up its act, I wonder if this will allow the improvement and more progress for the zone and IRDA, or will it be status quo as a great idea that flopped because of too much political meddling and not-enough quality workers.

Can someone tell me ONE mega project that worked? I can't think of any. Even KLCC is doubtful it really a good return on investment given Petronas carried it for a few years. But name it and not a single mega project actually worked...