KUALA LUMPUR – Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has lauded initiatives by the state government to create more job opportunities for people in the state.
Tunku Ismail commended the move to offer premium salary packages beginning from RM4,000 to RM5,000 to high-skilled workers, making it Malaysia’s first state to implement such an initiative.
In a post on his official social media platforms today, Tunku Ismail said the salary offer will be made through the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC), which was launched on Sunday.
During the JTDC launching event at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the initiative aims to attract and retain skilled talent by offering competitive salaries.
The initiative, Zahid said, will target graduates of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, with JTDC coordinating strategies to ensure that skilled workers receive salaries comparable to wages offered in Singapore.
Meanwhile, Tunku Ismail also highlighted that the Johor state government, via the Johor Plantations Group Bhd (JPG), has signed a partnership with the Japanese company Fuji Oil Asia Pte Ltd to set up a palm oil and specialty fats refinery in the state.
The partnership, he said, involves an initial development value of RM500 million.
It was previously reported that the refinery, set to be located in Pasir Logok, Kota Tinggi, and completed by the middle of 2026, is part of the Integrated Sustainable Palm Oil Complex.
During the agreement signing ceremony on Sunday, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the refinery will bring advanced refining capabilities to Johor, in line with sustainable practices in palm oil production.
Meanwhile, Tunku Ismail added that the state government had met with 83 leading companies from South Korea to promote the setting up of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
This, he said, will potentially bring strategic investments worth approximately US$190 million (RM830 million) to the state and is expected to create more job opportunities for Johoreans in the coming years.
On a separate matter, Tunku Ismail said the Johor Grand Palace and the Sultan Ibrahim Building in Bukit Timbalan will be upgraded before being reopened to the public.
Noting that the initiative is an effort to increase the tourism value in Johor Bahru, he said that both buildings have a rich history dating back to the 19th century. – November 5, 2024