Wondering if the announcement to be made in Jun is Temasek's investment ...
No setback in investments to Iskandar M'sia
2011/05/22 By Shahrum Sayuthi
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/2iskdr/Article/
The RM90 million campus is the first Newcastle University campus outside UK.
— Pictures by Hairul Anuar Abd Rahim
ISKANDAR Investment Bhd (IIB) has rubbished reports which suggested that foreign direct investment (FDI) from Singapore to the Iskandar Malaysia will be reduced following the republic's recent election results.
IIB president Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim said the close ties between the governments of Malaysia and Singapore and their commitment to work together for mutual benefit will ensure no setback in the momentum of investments coming from the republic to the development corridor.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong are scheduled to meet next month where they will among others make an announcement which will be significant for Iskandar Malaysia.
"I cannot disclose what it (the announcement) is going to be, but the effect will definitely be positive," said Syed Mohamed after a media briefing on the new campus of Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) in Nusajaya near here recently.
He added that it was baffling that certain quarters could perceive the Singapore election results, where the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) suffered some setbacks, as having a negative impact on the progress of investment in Iskandar Malaysia.
"I just do not understand how the perception of negative impact was established," he said.
IIB oversees the development of approximately 3,900ha of strategically located properties in Iskandar Malaysia.
Provectus managing principal Sreedhara Naidu was quoted in a recent report as saying that the Singapore election, which saw PAP losing 40 per cent of the votes, meant that Malaysia's dependence on Singapore's FDIs, particularly in Iskandar Malaysia could also see a slight fall within the next three to four years as the island republic looks more inward in terms of investments.
Provectus was described as a performance transformation specialist which has advised Iskandar Malaysia, the Economic Planning Unit, the Prime Minister's Department on the Economic Transformation Programme, Government Transformation Programme, Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputera development and other programmes.
At the media briefing, Education@Iskandar Sdn Bhd, a member company of Iskandar Investment Group announced the completion of development of the NUMed campus in EduCity which will be opened for students in September.
The RM90 million campus is the first Newcastle University campus outside the United Kingdom.
Education@Iskandar chief executive officer Khairil Anuar Ahmad said NUMed Malaysia will complement the growth of Iskandar Malaysia's healthcare sector which includes the Columbia Asia Hospital, Nusajaya in Afiat Healthpark and Gleneagles Medicine Hospital in Medini Lifestyle, as well as the upcoming wellness township jointly developed by Khazanah Nasional and Singapore Temasik Holdings.
Provost and chief executive officer of NUMed, Professor Reg Jordan said Newcastle University had made a strategic decision to establish its first Asian campus here as education and healthcare sectors in the region are thriving.
"Our aim is to provide a cost-effective medical programme which will meet the needs of our students and the regional health economy, and translate the benefits of our academic endeavour for the benefit of Malaysia and the region," he said.
Other campuses which are already taking shape in Educity are those of Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology, University of Southampton, and Marlborough College which are scheduled for completion next year.
Educity is the education hub of Iskandar Malaysia, comprising world-class multi-university campuses, international schools and colleges, as well as recreational facilities and accommodation for over 20,000 students.