Kulai still investors’ number one choice

Mohd Jafni (centre) witnessing exchanging of documents between Dr Yap (left) and Yong (right) for the Melbourne Women’s and Children’s Specialist Hospital project.

KULAI is expected to continue being the top destination for future investments in Johor due to its strategic location.

State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said Johor has recorded RM70.6bil of total approved investments for 2022, of which 70% was in Kulai.

“The Kulai district is managed by the Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu), which is one of the four local councils under the Greater Johor Baru (JB) initiatives.

“We have a world-class smart and sustainable development called Ibrahim Technopolis (Ibtec), the data centre hub of Sedenak Tech Park and Senai Airport City.”

Mohd Jafni added that there were more than four million people living in Johor and 50% of them lived in the Greater JB area.

Other local councils under Greater JB are Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP), and Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG).

Mohd Jafni said under the investor-friendly approach of Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, the state had introduced the Johor Fast Lane, which aimed to streamline processes, cut red tape and reduce bureaucracy, making it easier for potential investors to receive swift approval for high-impact projects in the state.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also announced the approval of the special economic zone (SEZ) and Kulai is set to be one of the key areas involved,” he said.

Mohd Jafni said this in his speech when witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Melbourne Healthcare Sdn Bhd and Tek Land Sdn Bhd on the new Melbourne Women’s and Children’s Specialist Hospital project.

Under the agreement Tek Land would build the hospital and Melbourne Healthcare would manage it.

On the project, Mohd Jafni said investment in healthcare was vital as it contributed to improving the well-being and health of the community.

“This state-of-the-art facility symbolises our commitment to women and children’s health, offering a wide range of services with support from local councils and the Health Ministry,” he said.

Tek Land managing director Yong Hua Kong said the hospital would be built on a 0.5ha plot in Indahpura Business Central with a gross development value of RM70mil.

“This is for the first phase of the development. In total, we have about 2.4ha of land for the hospital that will be built in phases.

“The development is expected to start in the third quarter of this year and will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026,” he said, adding that the second phase was expected to start in 2027.

Melbourne Healthcare managing director Datuk Dr Yap Ceong Cur said the hospital would provide a full spectrum of obstetrics and gynaecology care to women.

“It would be an incubator for lives to be cultivated and nurtured from pre-pregnancy to delivery for women, besides being a place to handle gynaecological cases for women of all ages.

“We would walk women through all ages, from a blooming adolescent to the stage of menopause,” he said.

Dr Yap added that the hospital was also equipped with a wide range of facilities and amenities, as well as equipment to complement the accuracy of the diagnosis by specialists.

“Our hospital would be equipped with two operating theatres, a diagnosis lab and four labour rooms.

“Under the first phase of our development, we would have 24 wards to serve the needs of our patients with 18 wards for women and six paediatric wards,” he said.