BANDAR PENAWAR, June 2 — The South East Johor Development Authority (KEJORA) is viewed as capable of enlarging its area of development in future based on its record of achievements over the last 50 years.
Rural Development Minister, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said throughout that time, KEJORA had brought a lot of changes to the rural development landscape, with much success achieved in the aspects of infrastructure, education and socio-economy of the area’s community.
Hence, he agreed that KEJORA be rebranded with a new direction to keep up with the times, However, he said that any new development to be carried out by KEJORA must be comprehensively maintained.
“There’s no problem with the KEJORA area be enlarged, so it’s up to the Johor government and Menteri Besar to consider it (proposal).
“We are not putting pressure on the state government, let it decide. If it thinks that extending the area is good and can be done or otherwise, it’s up to the state government,” he told reporters after officiating at the Golden Anniversary celebration of KEJORA at Dataran Tanjung Balau, here, today.
Also present at the event were KEJORA general manager, Datuk Mohd Rusdi Darus and state Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman, Datuk Zahari Sarip.
Among KEJORA’s proposals to the state government is enlarging the area of coverage from eight mukim (sub-districts) to 10 in the district of Kota Tinggi and from two mukim to eight in Kluang district.
Meanwhile, Mohd Rusdi in his speech said that after 50 years of KEJORA’s establishment, its challenge now is to draw up the vision of its mission for the next 50 years,
“After this, we need to work together in planning and implementing development in the KEJORA area with a new and fresher image, in keeping with the changing times,” he added.
On KEJORA’s Golden Jubilee celebration, Mohd Rusdi said it was to remember the bittersweet times and tribulations that the agency’s board and employees went throughout the 50 years.
Tanjung Balau beach was chosen at the location for the celebration from today until June 5, with various events drawn up including a religious event (Forum Perdana Ehwal Islam), beach sports, a seminar on food security, tug of war, performance by local artistes, and demonstrations.
At today’s event, KEJORA also received recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records for being the first to conduct research on commercial use of mengkuang (screw pines) at its facility in Sedili Besar, Kota Tinggi.
