Yeay Shopping Outlets Coming to Iskandar!!!

New Malaysian metropolis taking shape near Singapore

US-based Chelsea Premium Outlets chain -- known for no-frills suburban shops selling luxury brands at discounted prices worldwide -- will open an outlet in the Iskandar region in November.

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MRT proposed for Iskandar Malaysia

A plan to build a 500km mass rapid transit (MRT) system has been proposed to improve the connectivity within Iskandar Malaysia, according to Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) chief executive Ismail Ibrahim.

I hope this gets approved!

MRT proposed for Iskandar Malaysia

Iskandar Malaysia to see RM73.3 billion in investments by 2016

The main southern development corridor in Johor, Iskandar Malaysia targets to attract investments of RM13 billion annually into the region, with a target of RM73.3 billion in the next five years following the completion of key infrastructure, education and tourism projects by 2012.

As of December 31, 2010, Iskandar Malaysia recorded a total of RM69.43 billion in investment. The development corridor targeted to reach a total investment of RM383 billion by 2025, said Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) chief executive officer Ismail Ibrahim during an Invest Malaysia 2011 press conference.

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Iskandar-Singapore links being considered

Chief executive Ismail Ibrahim said mass rapit transit, water taxis, expanding the causeway and the Second Link are some of the options being considered.

Let's hope that this gets approved!

Iskandar-Singapore links being considered

Causeway Link Express Bus Johor - Singapore

For research purpose, I decided to take the express bus to Singapore one morning. I left home at 6.45 to go to the Gelang Patah terminal (which is less than 10 minutes drive from East Ledang). The bus departed at 6.55, arrived at Johor 2nd Link custom in around 15 minutes time. Since it was early in the morning, there was not much queue at the immigration checkpoints, so I was able to clear immigration pretty quickly. However, you do need to get off the bus at each checkpoint (Johor & Singapore). You'll find that people rush a lot to ensure that they will get a seat in the bus. I was too slow and too lazy to run around, so I ended having to stand throughout most of my bus trip. I arrived at the Jurong East bus interchange terminal at around 7.40. The bus trip costs RM4.

Overall, it was not a very bad trip and it's great to have alternatives transport in case if I am not able to drive to work in Singapore.

The buses do operate on very regular time intervals. You can find more details about the bus schedule here.

Bus interchange @ Jurong East (Singapore):