Malaysia looking at plans for casino in Forest City: Sources

Idea said to be among Johor-S’pore SEZ proposals, but PM Anwar calls it a lie

- Shannon Teoh and Zunaira Saieed Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia is looking at allowing a casino to operate in the RM450 billion (S$128.5 billion) Forest City project in Johor, which would revitalise the troubled reclaimed islands.

Sources with knowledge of the discussions told The Straits Times that such a development is among proposals for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ), an integrated commercial and investment hub to ease movement of goods and people between the two countries.

Bloomberg had reported that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Berjaya Corporation founder Vincent Tan as well as Genting Group chairman and chief executive Lim Kok Thay in Forest City in mid-April, with Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, who began his five-year term as Malaysia's King in January, also represented.

Genting controls Malaysia's only casino and operates Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), one of two integrated resorts (IRS) in Singapore.

The other IR is Marina Bay Sands, operated by Las Vegas Sands Corporation.

Two sources, who asked not to be named, confirmed the meeting at the development during Datuk Seri Anwar's April 18 visit to Johor, during which the Premier proclaimed the southern state would be Malaysia's most developed with economic growth outpacing the rest of the country.

"They talked, but nothing has been formalised," one of the sources told ST.