Johor-Singapore SEZ deal signing postponed after PM Wong tests positive for COVID-19: Malaysia PM Anwar

JOHOR BAHRU: The signing of a deal between Malaysia and Singapore on a proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in southern Johor state – originally planned for Dec 9 during the annual leaders’ retreat – has been postponed to January, said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the decision was made after Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong tested positive for COVID-19.

During a speech in the Malaysian senate on Wednesday, Mr Anwar said: “The Malaysia government (was scheduled to) sign an agreement with Singapore on the Johor-Singapore SEZ on Dec 9. 

But last night, the prime minister of Singapore informed me that (he has) COVID and hence the signing of the agreement … will be postponed to January.”

“This is the latest info I have, he told me that he did not want to infect me or (my wife) Azizah,” he added. 

The Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat was scheduled to be held from Dec 8 to Dec 9 in Malaysia’s administrative capital, Putrajaya, according to regional media.