If you have not been to Kota Iskandar at Nusajaya Johor, you better spend a weekend day off there and witness the beauty of this place. Without doubt, Kota Iskandar will be one of the main attraction in Johor besides others such as Puteri Harbour, Newcastle Medical University, Lego Land and others.

We will keep up posting beautiful photos of Kota Iskandar and also other spectacular places in Johor. If you want to share your photos or story, feel free to share it with us.

Image belongs and credited to Johor Real Estate Hartanah Johor Property Iskandar Malaysia:  flickr.com/photos/johor_real_estate/5724064023/in/photostream/

In order to develop an area with rising economic and better lifestyles, it is important to nurture good human capitals. Thus, Iskandar Malaysia Academic Partnership (or also known as IMAP in short) to provide a venue for academics to share their valuable experiences to improve higher education and international cooperation between participating countries.

The missions of IMAP are including to strengthen the academic cooperation between participating countries, foster internationalization through academic and cultural exchange and collaboration, promote the quality of education, research, and community services, establish exchange programs for university students, faculty and administrative staffs and also to facilitate sustainable development in economic, social and environmental aspects.

Therefore, one secretariat has been created in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) which will performed as a coordinator and promoter of certain activities that will be conducted in the future for Iskandar Malaysia Academic Partnership project. The main activities which are focusing on the students development by this IMAP project are `Global Outreach Programme’ (GOP), `Dual Degree Programmes Executive Education’ and also exchange programmes. All these programs are giving out chances for graduates of UTM to experience the global issues and the potential of development in their own country.

2nd Iskandar Malaysia World Scrabble Festival 2010
Date: 1 Dec 2010 – 9 Dec 2010
Time: 8.00AM – 6.00PM
Location: The ZON Mall, Johor Bahru

The Causeway challenge has evolved from its relatively humble beginnings into the richest Scrabble tournament in the world. This year’s edition will have three divisions: Premier, Masters and Open.

Participation in the Premier Division is by invitation only, and is limited to 50 of the world’s best players. The overall individual champion will walk away with US$30,000. There will be cash prizes down to the 10th placing.

The Masters Division is open to players with a Wespa (World English Scrabble Players Association) rating of 1600 and above who have not qualified or been invited by the Tournament organizer to play in the Premier Division. The first prize will be US$5,000 with prizes down to the 10th place.

The Open Division is open to players with a Wespa rating of under 1600. Top prize will be US$1,000 with prizes down to the 8th spot.

Related news on Iskandar Malaysia World Scrabble Festival 2010:
Pakistan to participate in scrabble challenge in Malaysia
A two-member Pakistan scrabble team left for Johor Bahru, Malaysia, on Monday evening to take part in the Causeway Scrabble Challenge. The players, current Pakistan No 1 Waseem Khatri and No 2 Mohammad Inayatullah, will be competing in the Masters division. Via SportDawn.

Cebuano word wizard to face world’s best
CEBUANO multi-titled word wizard Engr. Teodoro Martus will face the world’s best in the 2nd Iskandar Malaysia World Scrabble Festival, which will be held at Zon Regency Hotel in Johor Baru, Malaysia. Via GlobalNation.

More S’pore investments expected in Iskandar

JOHOR BARU: Iskandar Malaysia can expect more investments from Singapore in the economic growth corridor with the improvement in bilateral ties between Malaysia and Singapore.

Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) chief executive officer Ismail Ibrahim said there was now a feel-good factor on both sides of the causeway following the positive diplomatic relations.

He said the new development augur well for Iskandar and that it had been busy hosting trade visits by Singapore investors and companies to South Johor.

“Previously, Singapore investors were reluctant to invest in a huge way in Johor for reasons they knew best, but this has changed now,’’ Ismail said in an interview with StarBiz.

Ismail Ibrahim says there is now a feelgood factor on both sides of the causeway following the positive diplomatic relations.

He said that just a week after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s visit to the republic in May, Irda hosted a trade delegation by 92 members of the Singapore Business Federation.

Ismail said it would receive several trade delegations representing a wide spectrum of Singapore industries to Iskandar this and next month, alongside private visits by investors there.

He said many were taking the cue from the commitment shown by Najib and his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong for the two countries to work closely for mutual economic benefits.

This, Ismail said, was reflected in the involvement of Malaysia and Singapore’s investment arms, Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Temasek Holdings Ltd, to jointly develop an iconic wellness township project in a 50:50 joint venture in Iskandar.

According to Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who is also Irda’s co-chairman with Najib, the project would be developed on a 202ha site in Danga Bay here and works were likely to start by the year-end.

“By engaging Khazanah and Temasek, both prime ministers are sending a clear signal and message to investors that Iskandar is attractive to local and foreign investors,’’ Ismail said.

He said that of the RM741mil invested in manufacturing projects in Iskandar in the first five months of the year, RM221mil in 12 projects came from Singapore, mainly in the electrical and electronics, machine and engineering support services, food processing and metal fabrication.

From 2006 to May 2010, there were 217 projects from Singapore including new and expansion projects amounting to RM3.17bil, the majority of which was in the manufacturing sector, making the city-state the second largest investor in Johor after Spain with its stainless steel plant in Tanjung Langsat, Pasir Gudang.

Ismail said Malaysia and Singapore could collaborate in the biotechnology sector, banking on Singapore’s strength in the research field while Johor’s rich biodiversity in flora and fauna offered endless bioprospecting activities.

Via TheStar

Situated in the thriving Iskandar Malaysia is horizon hills, a 1,200 acre integrated residential township, with gross development value of RM3.1 billon is a low density development spread over 13 residential precinct. Horizon Hills is a lush gated development between Gamuda Land and UEM Land Horizon Hills raises the benchmark for property development in Johor.

Horizon Hills is a paradise of luxury golf residence. A fantasy home with views to dream of that gives you an opportunity to walk straight out on the fairways. Set on the natural undulating hilly terrain, life here is a breeze of fresh air with stunning vistas of the golf course, waterways, forest reserves and thematic parks from your home, bring the outdoord to indoors. One with nature. A healthy and relaxing lifestyle amidst serenity is second to none here.

Regarded as one of the best golf course residential properties in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Horizon Hills takes advantage of its incomparable location being set in the booming Nusajaya, Iskandar Malaysia and just a mere 30 minutes drive to Singapore.

The golf course designed by world-renowned Ross Watson whose reputation for quality and innovation has earned Horizon hills golf course the “Super Best Hole No.18 Golf course 2008 by Malaysia par golf. this challenging golf course is complete with signature with country club. providing a unique lifestyle destination for those with a tastes for the life and sports. Horizon Hills is the perfect south side retreat for locals and expats alike who seek homes in an exquisite hideaway.Trucked away by lush pocket gardens, it is country living with the city at your doorstep.

For further information, visit their official website at www.horizonhills.com.my.

Iskandar to hold more roadshows in Singapore
Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) will hold more roadshows in Singapore within the next six months to attract more investors to Iskandar Malaysia. President and chief executive officer Arlida Ariff said IIB wanted to attract more Singaporeans – who were already making inroads in Iskandar in the education and the health sectors – to the tourism, leisure, services and property sectors. “There seems to be renewed interest from investors in the republic in Iskandar following the economic recovery both in Singapore and Malaysia,” she told journalists yesterday after presenting a keynote address in the Iskandar Malaysia Forum 2010 jointly organised by IIB and the Institute of South-East Asian Studies. [TheStar]

Singaporeans ‘Wait And See’ Before Investing In Iskandar Malaysia
To date, investment into Iskandar Malaysia has nearly reached RM60 billion, but Singapore’s private sector investment holding is worth only RM2.64 billion, mainly in the region’s manufacturing sector. Singapore investors have shown keen interest in the development of Iskandar Malaysia but are still taking the “wait and see” attitude before going all out to invest there. [Bernama]

NUSAJAYA: The biggest challenge in building the first Lego theme park in Asia is its tropical setting.

Legoland Development general manager John Ussher said the RM700 million theme park over 26 hectares of land here will feature plenty of shade for visitors.

“Although Legoland Malaysia will be similar to the company’s four other Legoland parks, the tropical climate poses a bit of a challenge for us to design the landscape. It will be very green, and the natural hills will be retained.

“We have already placed orders for saplings, so when the park is ready, the saplings will have grown into full trees,” he said after the ground-breaking of Legoland Malaysia by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman yesterday.

The park, scheduled to open in 2012, will provide a full-day theme park experience with more than 40 interactive rides, shows and attractions mainly for families with young children aged 2 to 12.

On the competition from Universal Studios Singapore which will open next year, Iskandar Investment Bhd president and chief executive officer Arlida Ariff said the two theme parks offer a different experience.

“It would only give tourists more reason to extend their stay in the region as they would want to visit both theme parks,” she said.

Via NST Online.

The wide area of 688 acres consists with a lot of amazing facilities. There will be business outlets, offices, shopping mall, wonderful eateries, transportation hub, lagoon, exclusive condominiums, clubhouse and Cultural Park that is owned by the state government.   Another thing is that the concept of FAME, stands for Food and Beverage, Arts, Music and Entertainment outlets is also proposed.

For details, the transportation hub will include the terminal for water transportation which is ferry and water taxis. In addition, bus terminal, tram and LRT are also included. If it is true, this will be the first LRT facility here in Johor Bahru.The marina will accommodate boaters, yachters, the owners, operators and trainers with full amenities at one place.It has 276 berths, 12 for mega yachts and currently 76 berths are already in operation.

Constructed like the French Riviera, Puteri Harbour is a place for great view of Straits of Johor and situated not too far away from Johor State New Administrative Centre, JSNAC also known as Kota Iskandar. This adds another unique element to this place.

Well, there’s still much construction going on there but to be sure, you can rent a small cruise boat, about RM 400 for an hour of cruise, to Danga Bay and return back. What an experience!

Definitely no!

Actually, Education@Iskandar Sdn Bhd (EISB), a subsidiary of Iskandar Investment Bhd, signed a landmark agreement to develop Marlborough College Malaysia, as part of a long-term plan to establish EduCity – located within Iskandar Malaysia – as a world-class education hub.

The agreement to develop Marlborough College Malaysia was officially signed between EISB, Marlborough Overseas Ltd and M East Sendirian Berhad in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, British High Commissioner for Malaysia His Excellency Boyd McCleary and Iskandar Investment chairman Tan Sri Azman Mokthar.

Marlborough College Malaysia is the first international venture for the leading British independent, co-educational boarding school for pupils aged between 13 and 18. It is expected to open in September 2012. The college is expected to create over 340 job opportunities in the academic and non-academic sectors, with additional employment and business opportunities in the future.

Marlborough College Malaysia will provide first class education to local and international students across Asia. Located in close proximity to Medini, Iskandar Malaysia’s flagship development, Marlborough College Malaysia campus will welcome its first intake of 350 students in June 2012, with enrollment projected to increase gradually to up to 1,300 students in 2020.

You got a world class college near to Legoland, what else could a kid ask for?

If you are into LEGO, then this should be your best choice of place to live. Referring to the map below 1Medini is located next to Legoland.

WCT Bhd and Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) will jointly develop and own a residential project in Iskandar Malaysia, the 1Medini, with a gross development value of RM600mil.

1Medini would be launched in mid-2010 for home-seekers looking for an accessible, environmentally-friendly and sustainable property strategically located in close proximity to LEGOLAND Malaysia in Medini North, Newcastle University Medical Malaysia (NUMed) in EduCity, Kota Iskandar and the Iskandar Financial District.