Iskandar shake-up imminent

NOV 20 — A shake-up at the top in Iskandar Malaysia is imminent as the authorities look to speed up the pace of progress in the southern corridor.

The move also comes in the wake of reports of a testy working relationship between the powerful Johor Civil Service and the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), which has hampered smooth implementation of plans and projects on the ground.

Khazanah Nasional officials and state government officials told The Malaysian Insider that IRDA chief executive officer Datuk Ikmal Hijaz is likely to make an exit in March next year. The former Pos Malaysia CEO was brought in to drive IRDA and make it a world-class, one-stop centre for investors.

But the consensus among the stakeholders — the Federal government and state government — is that a more dynamic person is needed to promote the project as well as build up a strong cohesive team at IRDA.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi are co-chairmen of IRDA.

After being appointed, Ikmal surrounded himself with several former colleagues from Pos Malaysia or the now defunct Renong Group, in which he oversaw the construction of the Gelang Patah crossing and massive land acquisition in Nusajaya.

The lookout for a new IRDA CEO started in earnest in August and sources said that Harun Johari — the former chief executive officer of the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) — is the frontrunner for the job.

Harun was with Shell in London for 28 years, serving as V-P of a global unit, before returning to Malaysia in 2005 to join PTP.

Since last month, he has already assumed the office of chief operating officer in IRDA.

Another change will see former State Secretary Datuk Ayub Mion appointed as the MB's special advisor to IRDA.

He is currently chairman and director of Tebrau Teguh Berhad, a property company in which the state government holds a substantial stake through Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor.

His main task will be to improve the working relationship between IRDA and the JCS.

Over at Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) — Iskandar Malaysia's investment arm — former High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk N. Parameswaran has been appointed IIB's country representative in the republic.

Param, as he is popularly known, was a career diplomat for 40 years. He officially retired on Oct 20 this year after six years as High Commissioner in Singapore.

Iskandar Malaysia is the jewel in the crown of the country's growth corridors. There has been strong interest from Middle East companies to invest in the area while Singaporeans and other foreigners have snapped up bungalows and semi-detached houses that have been offered for sale in Nusajaya.