Property developers involved in sea reclamation work in Johor will
have to pay a tax of RM0.30 for every square foot, which will form part
of a special aid programme for fishermen affected by the work, according
to the state’s Chief Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin and reported in the
media.
Notably, the state expects to collect RM104 million as the said
payment scheme will cover a total acreage of 3,237.48ha of reclamation
activities in and around the Iskandar special economic region, he said.
Mohamed Khaled revealed that developers will receive the letters informing them of such move, which takes effect immediately.
To underscore that the state government was indeed serious about the
issue of fishermen whose livelihood have been affected by the
reclamation work, Mohamed Khaled said the state will decide and announce
the amount of aid to be given to them at a budget meeting in November.
Moreover, the state will also set up an international zone for foreigners looking to reside in Johor.
He explained that the zone will enable the state government to limit
the property acquisitions by foreigners while the special taxes
collected within the zone will be allocated towards the development of
other area located outside the Johor Bahru district.
Recently, a massive reclamation project in Johor came under the
spotlight both within the state and Singapore, raising concerns over the
project’s environmental impact.
Located in the Straits of Johor near Singapore’s Second Link, the
project – known as “Forest City” – involves creating a 1,817ha island
and includes a 49ha tourist hub and luxury homes.
The Republic had expressed concerns over the
project’s potential transboundary impact and requested Malaysia to
provide it with more information in order that it can undertake a study
on the impact of the reclamation work.
Meanwhile, media reports said the project is expected to witness several amendments aimed at limiting the environmental impact.
Farah Wahida, Editor of PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email farahwahida@propertyguru.com.my
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