A forgotten october post

Updated: hmmm this was a forgotten post in draft form.

Its just past the half month mark. Almost everywhere friends and acquaintances are complaining about things being slow. The market is slow, unsurprisingly.

Our committee managed to meet up with the head honcho of the state a couple of weeks back. We did give feedback that things were very slow on the ground and the people were restless. And it wasnt surprising that the perception was this contributes to a higher crime rate.

Well, he did extend excellent hospitality throughout our 45 minute exchange of views. A couple of things that caught my attention was the proposed redevelopment of the old prison facility to house a 100-plus storey commercial building, and a proposed MRT to link up to our "little dot of a city nation" as well as a LRT system for our urban area.

While the latter proposal was welcome, the tower was a bit over the top.

Everyone seems to be waiting for the November launch and briefing of the South Johor Economic Region by the PM. Everyone waiting in anticipation of a serious sustained and realistic series of actions and ideas to transform this small border town into something that should truly reflect its actual role and importance.
Updated:
Well, the launch came and went. And sad to say we are none the wiser. What exactly will be done, and who the investors are, still remain a mystery. But the one evident benefit would be the billions poured into infrastructure projects in south johor.

However, at a time when we and our neighbouring countries are all chasing FDIs, it doesnt help when a head honcho issues a statement that foreigners arent to be trusted. Or is it mat sallehs. Doesnt matter. The effect is the same. At a time when we are supposed to embrace the world, negative statements continue to be made.