THE annual Institute of Policy Studies conference is always a good occasion for thinkers and decision-makers to take stock of our country's status and position in an ever-changing world. This year is no different except that, unlike in previous years, the world has changed somewhat and conventional wisdoms have mostly been blown away.

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Huai Seng - have you heard about MSC - Multimedia Super Corridor? Iskandar project is probably another one of those big hype small on delivery type of project. Don't get too excited about it.

I have been long convinced that the Iskandar Development Region is something that will benefit both Malaysia & Singapore. More and more so we will be seeing Global cities emerge. As I understand it London and New York are far ahead of the pack and from the conference, it seems we must watch are the emerging cities like Shanghi and Mumbai (not forgetimng some of the Eastern European cities like Prague)

This is a possibility for both countries to have a region to measure alongside the Hong Kong / ShenChen / ZhuHai delta region, the greater Shanghai region, the greater Bangkok region etc.

What I am scepical about is the will of both governments to make it work.

It is not about having the best people put in charge of the project (yes, the people running this project are amongst the best in Malaysia) but the political will of both both countries.

Until we can see that we can agree on the Causeway or bridge issue, until we can see the possibility of the MRT running JB, until we can see the daily jams be settled, until we refrain from 'counting' who gains more ..
it will remain only a possibility.

Indeed the potential is there. So are the flip flopsidy of policies. Have we learn not anything from the CLOB fiasco?

This letter is another proof that man does not learn from its own history as always, due to memory lapse, pure greed or both.

Clob was Dr M's doing.

He is no longer in charge.

He can pray and scream in the political wilderness but will he able to cause extensive damage again?

I would be very careful when it comes to the Iskandar Project, if I were the Sg government. Malaysia is too unpredictable. Many Singaporeans have suffered losses due to the CLOB issue, and all because Malaysia decided to shift its goal post (after Singapore has got CLOB for so many years).

Do we want to suffer another financial loss during a financial crisis? Malaysia needs to do more to show that it is trustworthy enough for Singaporeans to invest in. For starters, it could compensate all Singaporeans who lost money because of the CLOB issue.

CLOB is history.

Case closed.

Only retribution in other form is possible. No way to get compensation on Clob from Malaysia in this physical world.

It is not a bargaining chip to decide on investment in Iskandar. Go in with eyes wide open not eyes shut. If not, it is at own risks, at own peril. No bailing out if it turns bad.

The only chips are in the list of issues in the Bilateral Package open to negotation left over by Dr M. But it is not chips to negotiate for the investments in Iskandar.

Looks like CLOB (Iskandar seems to have more consistent support from the Malaysian government) had been known to be a problematic entity since the beginning:

3 The Malaysian government's opposition to trading of Malaysian shares on Clob is long standing, and has always been reported in the press. When the SES established Clob in Jan 1990, after Malaysia unilaterally delisted all Malaysian shares from the SES, the KLSE objected strongly. It declared publicly that Clob was an unrecognised market, and warned investors of the dangers in trading Malaysian shares on Clob.

4 As recently as Aug 98, the National Economic Action Council of Malaysia called for the closure of Clob. The SES responded that Clob would remain viable only so long as there is demand from investors for its services. This exchange was widely reported in the press, and put investors on notice of Malaysia's intentions.

http://www.mas.gov.sg/news_room/parl..._Oct_1998.html

Loads of opportunities... for making kopi money.

Got to be a damn stupid businessman who wants to go and invest there.

Just go and take a look at their port of Tanjong Pelepas nearvy. The port is as well built with equipment as modern as any port in the world. But go hang around outside the port and see how many container trucks leave the port in say, 15 mins. I think maybe one only.

The Msian will always think that just having cheaper land and building the infrastructure will get people coming in droves.

No chance lah, brudder. A combination of low wages, land with good infrastructure but screwed up work attitude and a kopi money culture still won't do..