Johor and Grab in talks to enhance cross-border travel agreement, Singapore News
The Johor government and ride hailing company Grab are in discussions to update the Cross-Border Travel Agreement between Singapore and the Malaysian state.
This aims to make travel between Singapore and Johor smoother, said Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi in a statement posted to Facebook on Thursday (June 19).
Stating that these discussions were raised during a recent meeting with Grab's senior management, amongst other key matters, Onn Hafiz explained that the talks form part of broader efforts to enhance Johor's tourism and transportation sectors ahead of Visit Johor Year 2026 (TMJ 2026).
TMJ 2026 is a statewide campaign which aims to attract 12 million tourists to Johor and generate RM42 billion in revenue, reported Bernama.
"The discussions also explored potential cross-border collaborations involving the Malaysian and Singaporean transport ministries, alongside the role of Grab and other public transport providers in facilitating smoother travel between the two countries," Onn Hafiz said.
AsiaOne has reached out to Grab for more information.
The Chief Minister also revealed that an integrated, physical and digital platform, which showcases must-visit attractions in Johor, was in the works.
This initiative holds strong potential to help tourists access information more easily online and offline while further boosting the state's tourism sector, he said.
"It will also create new income opportunities for the people, stimulate the local economy and position Johor as a modern, open and globally welcoming state."
[[nid:718706]]
bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Independent Singapore
8 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Malaysia's PM Anwar vows to 'make necessary adjustments' from SEZ foreign investors' feedback 'if absolutely necessary'
ISKANDAR PUTERI, MALAYSIA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim vowed that Malaysia will make necessary adjustments, 'if absolutely necessary,' based on feedback from foreign investors on the development of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) to make Malaysia 'a very attractive destination for foreign investments.' Speaking at the two-day Nikkei Forum Medini, Johor 2025, PM Anwar pitched the JS-SEZ project, 'based on total trust' between Malaysia and Singapore, touting foreign investors to invest in the opportunity, as reported by Nikkei Asia. 'This is not an ordinary SEZ,' he said. 'Name me any other economic zone that involves two countries based on total trust and working together as a team.' The JS-SEZ deal, signed on Jan 6 during the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat in Putrajaya , spans 3,571 sq km, nearly five times the size of Singapore. Johor's Chief Minister, Onn Hafiz Ghazi, who was also at the forum, shared that investment in his state has been 'surging.' He said Johor attracted RM30.1 billion (S$9.12 billion) in investment during the first three months of 2025, nearly seven times the RM4.1 billion recorded in the same period last year. 'This amount took nine months to achieve last year, and it has been achieved just in three months in 2025,' the chief minister said, adding that this reflects the trust of both local and foreign investors in Johor. He also mentioned that from January to May, Johor's Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre had secured committed investments worth RM16.71 billion, with another RM26.18 billion in potential investments being considered by 47 foreign and 10 local investors. The centre is responsible for guiding businesses into the SEZ. In January, OCBC had already expected the JS-SEZ deal to attract increased interest from regional firms , given the interest they had observed even before the deal was finalised. Despite strong investor interest, infrastructure concerns already felt by Johoreans were raised during the forum. Japan's ambassador to Malaysia, Noriyuki Shikata, said it is 'essential' to address the pressing issue of traffic congestion in Johor, as it will not only hamper economic activity but will also waste energy, harm the environment, and increase accident risks. In response, PM Anwar said, 'We should be very dynamic and make adjustments wherever necessary.' /TISG Read also: Johor's April investment pipeline at RM23B as it targets high-tech and green investments to create better-paying job opportunities
AsiaOne
13 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Malaysia drops 1MDB-related money laundering charges against ex-PM Najib, Malaysia News
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia's High Court has discharged but not acquitted jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak of money laundering charges in a long-running case involving a former unit of scandal-tainted state fund 1MDB, his lawyer said on Friday (June 20). Najib has been in prison since August 2022 after being found guilty of corruption and money laundering over funds misappropriated from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad, from which Malaysian and US authorities say about US$4.5 billion (S$5.7 billion) was stolen in a complex, globe-spanning scheme. He was also facing three separate money laundering charges over RM27 million (S$8.1 million) allegedly misappropriated from SRC. The case had repeatedly stalled since 2019 due to procedural delays, prompting the Kuala Lumpur High Court to grant Najib's request for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on Friday, his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters. Muhammad Shafee said the decision was a fair one, as the prosecution remained free to re-file the charges once they were ready to proceed. "So (Najib) isn't left waiting or as they say, no longer has the sword of Damocles hanging over his head," he said. The attorney-general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Friday's decision was the second time 1MDB-linked charges filed against Najib have been dropped. Last year, a court allowed another DNAA request due to procedural delays in a corruption case against the ex-premier and the country's former treasury chief. [[nid:713825]] In 2023, he was also acquitted on separate charges of tampering with a government audit into 1MDB. Najib is still awaiting a verdict in the biggest trial he faces over the 1MDB scandal, with the court expected to hear closing arguments in October. He has denied all of the charges brought against him. Najib is also bidding to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, and has sought to compel the government to confirm the existence of a royal order that he says would allow him to do so. [[nid:718574]]
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Straits Times
Malaysia drops 1MDB-related money laundering charges against ex-PM Najib
FILE PHOTO: Prison officers escort former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, as the jailed politician leaves the court during a break in proceedings, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 4, 2024. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File Photo KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's High Court has discharged but not acquitted jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak of money laundering charges in a long-running case involving a former unit of scandal-tainted state fund 1MDB, his lawyer said on Friday. Najib has been in prison since August 2022 after being found guilty of corruption and money laundering over funds misappropriated from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad, from which Malaysian and U.S. authorities say about $4.5 billion was stolen in a complex, globe-spanning scheme. He was also facing three separate money laundering charges over 27 million ringgit ($6.4 million) allegedly misappropriated from SRC. The case had repeatedly stalled since 2019 due to procedural delays, prompting the Kuala Lumpur High Court to grant Najib's request for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on Friday, his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters. Muhammad Shafee said the decision was a fair one, as the prosecution remained free to re-file the charges once they were ready to proceed. "So (Najib) isn't left waiting or as they say, no longer has the sword of Damocles hanging over his head," he said. The attorney-general's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Friday's decision was the second time 1MDB-linked charges filed against Najib have been dropped. Last year, a court allowed another DNAA request due to procedural delays in a corruption case against the ex-premier and the country's former treasury chief. In 2023, he was also acquitted on separate charges of tampering with a government audit into 1MDB. Najib is still awaiting a verdict in the biggest trial he faces over the 1MDB scandal, with the court expected to hear closing arguments in October. He has denied all of the charges brought against him. Najib is also bidding to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, and has sought to compel the government to confirm the existence of a royal order that he says would allow him to do so. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
