By Mohamad Syazwan Mustafa
JOHOR BAHRU, March 10 (Bernama) -- The Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is expected to become a catalyst for developing a new ecosystem in the advanced semiconductor manufacturing sector in Johor through the entry of an industry-leading company, or a “queen bee,” into the state in the near future.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said that the presence of this “queen bee” typically brings along the entire ecosystem of the sector, which could potentially create more high-value job opportunities and strengthen the industrial ecosystem.
“When this ‘queen bee’ comes to Johor, it will bring the entire ecosystem and help us offer more job opportunities. What makes me even happier is that when these companies come in, they offer premium salaries,” he said.
He said this during an interview with Bernama led by Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj at Saujana, the Official Residence of the Johor Menteri Besar, here recently.
Onn Hafiz said that some companies in the semiconductor sector offer salaries between RM10,000 and RM15,000 per month to experienced workers, reflecting the high demand for skilled labour in the industry.
Although jobs in this sector require a high level of productivity, he said employees remain satisfied because the salaries offered are high and premium, providing significant economic benefits to the local workforce.
“We are also looking at the computing and Information Technology (IT) sectors. These sectors also offer attractive salaries to the people targeted by the state government, and they have received positive responses from investors who want to enter Johor,” he said.
The JS-SEZ, whose agreement was signed in January 2025, now includes the development areas of Iskandar, Forest City, Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex, and Desaru, covering a land area of 357,128 hectares.
The Iskandar development region also includes Johor Bahru City Centre, Iskandar Puteri, Tanjung Pelepas–Tanjung Bin, Pasir Gudang, Senai–Skudai, and Sedenak.
Meanwhile, Onn Hafiz said the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre Johor (IMFC-J) has received more than 1,000 enquiries expressing interest in investing under the JS-SEZ, covering sectors such as manufacturing, tourism, data centres, and semiconductors.
“In terms of job opportunities, we are looking at about 80,000 jobs now. For Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), there are already a few hundred companies benefitting from the investments and investors entering Johor.
“And this is something that we continue to work on, and this is only the beginning. There are many more efforts we need to make so that the foundation of the JS-SEZ becomes stronger, and one of the key things is to ensure enough talent and to ensure ease of doing business,” he said.
To meet industry demand, Onn Hafiz said that the step towards preparing a skilled workforce is currently one of the state government’s priorities. This includes upskilling and reskilling youth, including introducing the Johor Talent Development Council (JTDC).
According to him, other initiatives to empower the state’s education sector include implementing the Bangsa Johor Pioneer Schools, collaborating with higher education institutions, and upgrading vocational colleges across Johor.
“When we talk about Johor’s glory, the time is now. This is the first time (Johor has recorded the highest investment), because previously we were always behind Selangor and the Federal Territories,” he said.
Johor recorded the highest approved investment in Malaysia for 2025, totalling RM110 billion, which is also the highest record ever achieved by any state in the country.
Onn Hafiz said the state government’s continuous approach in ensuring stability, good governance, and investor-friendly policies has given investors confidence to establish operations in Johor, creating third-party validation among those looking for opportunities in the JS-SEZ.
-- BERNAMA
