Kuala lumpur: Malaysia and Singapore have reached an agreement to establish the Johor-Singapore Cooperation Ministerial Committee (JSCMC), as a replacement for the Joint Ministerial Committee for Iskandar Malaysia (JMCIM). This decision was made during the 17th meeting of the JMCIM, which took place in Kuala Lumpur.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the meeting was co-chaired by Malaysia’s Finance Minister II and acting Economy Minister, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, alongside Singapore’s Minister for National Development, Chee Hong Tat. The session was attended by several key figures, including the Menteri Besar of Johor, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment and Defence, Zaqy Mohamad, and Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, Low Yen Ling.

In a joint statement, both nations announced that the JSCMC will serve as an enhanced ministerial platform to provide strategic direction, bolster bilateral coordination, and oversee the
implementation of key initiatives under the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). This development follows the momentum gained from previous meetings and agreements, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive and competitive economic zone to attract global investments.

The statement also revealed plans to establish working groups focusing on the JS-SEZ, transportation, and other prospective areas of cooperation. These groups will report to the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC), with refined terms of reference to be finalized at the inaugural JSCMC meeting, expected in the latter half of 2026.

As the JMCIM concluded its operations, it reflected on its achievements since 2007, having executed over 45 strategic initiatives through six working groups. These efforts have notably contributed to economic growth, improved connectivity, human capital development, and stronger people-to-people relations between the two countries.

The meeting also included updates on the Joint Working Committee’s progres
s in operationalizing the JS-SEZ, including the drafting of the economic zone’s blueprint and masterplan. Both countries acknowledged the ongoing efforts to ratify the JS-SEZ Agreement, which will facilitate the economic zone’s implementation and further strengthen economic ties, providing tangible benefits to businesses and communities in Malaysia and Singapore.