KUALA LUMPUR: Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB), which has reported investments of US$6.8 billion (about RM31.3 billion) since its inception in 2006 until last year, is expected to break new records for Iskandar Malaysia.
The company has identified five major verticals in order to attain carbon neutrality in Medini Iskandar (a suburb of Iskandar Puteri), said IIB president and chief executive officer Datuk Idzham Mohd Hashim.
The five strategies are green building materials, waste management, water management, energy management, and sustainable transportation.
IIB recently announced a document exchange ceremony with seven partners in the sustainable electric vehicle (EV) business to encourage the use of EVs and renewable energy solutions in Iskandar Puteri.
The collaboration brings together notable industry players such as Nano Malaysia Bhd, Handal Indah Sdn Bhd, Handal Green Mobility Sdn Bhd, Kumpool Sdn Bhd, Yinson Green Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd, GO TO U (M) Sdn Bhd, and UN Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei.
"We are proud to lead the way in the first vertical, which is our commitment to advancing EV adoption and paving the way for clean energy solutions by having charging stations for EV vehicles. This document exchange ceremony signifies our dedication to creating a net-zero carbon city in Medini and establishing low-carbon cities as a global standard," he said.
IIB is a catalyst developer and an important figure in Iskandar Malaysia's development as a regional metropolis.
Through catalytic and high-impact projects, it is entrusted with ensuring that Iskandar Malaysia maintains its upward trend towards being a desirable investment location and a lively, livable community.
Iskandar Puteri is IIB's primary focus in the fields of education, the arts, tourism, leisure, and health and wellness.
Among the company's significant accomplishments are joint ventures and investment partnerships in Medini, Iskandar Puteri, EduCity, and LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort.
Idzham said that by working together with important stakeholders, IIB can more quickly build the EV business and create a future that is both cleaner and more sustainable.
Such coordinated efforts, according to him, are crucial for advancing environmentally sound, socially just, and commercially practical sustainable transportation solutions.
The event, according to Raven Kumar Krishnasamy, the EXCO for Tourism, Environment, Heritage, and Culture for the state of Johor, represents a critical turning point on the state's path to sustainable growth and a low-carbon future.
"This collaboration stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment of IIB and its strategic partners as they work hand in hand to create a greener and more carbon-neutral Johor. We must now recognise the pressing need to address the challenges of carbon emissions and environmental degradation.
"The environment is our shared responsibility. Let us work together to preserve the natural beauty of Johor for future generations, ensuring a sustainable and thriving ecosystem," he said.
The Johor state administration intends to build procedures that will assist EV usage in the future in light of the state's growing use of EVs.
As a result of Singapore's Green Plan 2030, which makes a strong case for a fully electric society, there is now a significant need for EV charging stations in Johor.
The IIB effort, which is an essential part of the federal and state governments Low Carbon Initiative, will create the infrastructure required to facilitate the switch to EVs.