SINGAPORE, Aug 13 — From missing factory rooftops to the perennial Causeway crawl, businessmen from both sides voiced their concerns over doing business across the Causeway.
While Malaysia's Minister for International Trade and Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin candidly admitted he did not have all the solutions, he pledged his personal attention to these issues.
He also called on Singapore businesses to relocate their production bases closer to home amid the global economic uncertainty.
Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang urged Singaporean and Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to consider using both countries as their launch pads before moving into the region and the world.
In the first six months, bilateral trade stood at S$57.9 billion, an 11 per cent increase over the same period last year, he revealed.
According to the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, Singapore was the third largest investor in Malaysia for the first five months, contributing some RM$752.6 million (S$307 million) worth of approved manufacturing-related investments.
The Causeway jam was raised by a Johorean businessman, who cut down his weekly trips to Singapore to once a month. "It's not that I don't like to do business with Singaporeans but it's very tiring to move in and out," he lamented.
Lim replied that he and his Malaysian counterpart "take responsibility" for the situation and the respective agencies "will work constantly to improve the situation".
On why his government had turned down a private sector proposal for a mass rapid transit system between Singapore and Johor, Muhyiddin explained: "They were asking the government to fund the project worth some RM10 billion."
Effectiveness of the Malaysian judiciary was another topic brought up by aquarium business owner David Lee who moved to Malaysia in 1993 after buying a house from disgraced former Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Chua Soi Lek.
But within two years, he found himself in a legal wrangle after his neighbour claimed the property had encroached on his land. The case was brought to court in 1998 and, a decade later, is still pending.
Empathising with his predicament, Muhyiddin said: "I think Malaysia's judicial system is as efficient and fair as any other judicial systems including Singapore."
He added: "If I can help you, you can come to me with more details, but I will not be interfering in the process of law."
Johor crime rates was another concern. Manufacturer Victor Soh bought a factory in Johor Baru a few years ago. Once, he gave all his staff "three to four" days' leave, with only the security guard looking after the place. And he returned to a shocking find.
"The whole roof of the factory and the cables disappeared," he said.
Muhyiddin said measures are in place to boost the presence of police officers by another 60,000 in Johor Baru.
But it takes time to train the new recruits. Meanwhile, the authorities are building more police stations and hiring policeman who had previously retired.
-TMI
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