PM concludes Johor tour with visit to Desaru Coast development [NSTTV]

KOTA TINGGI: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin capped his two-day visit to Johor with a stopover at the Desaru Coast Destination Resort here and to look into the Desaru Coast International Ferry Terminal project, which is slated to be completed next year.

The prime minister spent about two hours to survey the progress of the development projects.

Accompanying him were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abd Aziz and Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan.

Muhyiddin arrived at the Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast at about 3.15pm and was briefed on the Desaru Coast development by Shahril Ridza. He was then taken for a tour of the hotel before visiting the site of the ferry terminal.

Desaru Coast is an integrated and curated destination development with a cost of RM4.5 billion and undertaken by Desaru Development Holdings One Sdn Bhd, a unit of Khazanah.

The ferry terminal, which is on track to be completed by June 2021, will boost connectivity with direct access to Singapore, Batam and Bintan islands in Indonesia.

The ferry terminal will include a Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex.

At a press conference, Bernama reported Desaru Development Holdings One managing director and chief executive officer Roslina Arbak as having said the ferry terminal’s construction was currently between 53 and 54 per cent completion.

“The prime minister said he was very happy with the development of the Desaru Coast and he encouraged us to continue making the destination more attractive to travellers,” she told reporters after Muhyiddin’s visit.

She also said the ferry terminal was expected to receive a total of 10,000 passengers for the half-year period from June to December.

“The Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal CIQ complex is designed to clear 300 passenger arrivals at any one time.

“By 2025, the ferry terminal is expected to handle up to 102,000 arrivals per year.”

Meanwhile, Nancy said Malaysia remained a safe destination for visitors despite the increase in Covid-19 cases in several northern states.

“Despite the increase, the situation is still under control. Malaysians are a disciplined lot and the level of compliance of the standard operating procedures is still high,” said Nancy when met after the visit.

In another development, state Tourism, Youth and Sport Committee chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the state government had asked the Federal government to set up a duty-free zone in Desaru.

“This is part of an effort to attract more visitors to the area, especially with the completion of the ferry terminal here.”

He said having a duty free zone would be a big selling point for visitors, especially those from Singapore.

Source: NST