Ong Kian Ming said a few key elements were needed to facilitate these good ideas and their effective implementation, especially given the lack of details in the MoU.
“The private sector must play a meaningful role in designing and implementing the MoU. Many government-linked companies (GLCs) in Malaysia and Singapore are waiting to see how they can align with the direction set by the MoU,” Ong said in an article on Singaporean portal Fulcrum.
Fulcrum is a portal of the think tank ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, of which Ong was a former associate senior fellow.
Ong cited the example of how Malaysia’s Khazanah Nasional Bhd collaborated with Singapore’s Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd on joint development projects in Iskandar, Johor, and Marina Bay, Singapore.
“A well-designed MoU framework, with investments from a few ‘anchor’ GLCs, including entities belonging to the Johor state government, will provide guidance for such collaborations,” said the former Bangi MP.
He also said that the role of the Johor government, including local authorities, must be explicitly outlined to facilitate the application process of various approvals and licences needed for Singapore businesses to be set up in the southern state.
Ong called for a well thought out framework to discuss the finer details of the SEZ at the working level, involving the relevant agencies and ministries, to ensure game-changing ideas could be discussed and escalated accordingly.
“The hard work of executing the plan outlined in the MoU lies with both countries’ civil and public services,” he said.
For example, to facilitate passport-free travel between Johor and Singapore, both immigration authorities, together with their home ministries, must jointly discuss the parameters of the initiative.
Ong added that there must be measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) for the projects and parties identified, such as implementing the passport-free travel initiative by end-2025 in time for the rollout of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) link in 2026.
He also proposed for the government on both sides of the Causeway to provide regular updates on the progress and key initiatives under the MoU to bolster market confidence.