Reclamation works for offshore Johor luxury residences halted

The Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE) has issued a temporary work-stop order on the reclamation works for the development of Forest City, a luxury housing development in the Strait of Johor near Second Link.  Said State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat to the New Straits Times, the suspension was ordered pending a detailed study on the project's environmental effects. Forest City, a collaboration between China's Country Garden Holdings and Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor, was supposed to complete at the end of the year, but hit a snag when Singapore raised concerns over the coastal and land reclamation works involved, citing they might cause trans-boundary issues.  Singapore also requested for more information on Johor's coastal projects, which the state has agreed to share.  Said Datuk Ayub, the DOE will complete all studies relevant to Forest City and ensure that all guidelines are met, as well as look into any possible trans-boundary impact.  Photo: The Star Read Also: Singapore concerned over massive Johor man-made island project