The 18-acre site in Johor Baru would include high-end restaurants and nightclubs as well in a bid to target a growing population of middle- and upper-income residents expected to locate in Iskandar Malaysia in the coming years, according to an unidentified source who spoke to Reuters.
Its ability to attract a steady number of foreigners and locals, if it came into being, could pose a competitive threat to Singapore’s two resort casinos.
The project would need the approval of state and some federal government agencies, including Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance. “The plan is not expected to face much resistance from the state authorities. The issue could be the federal government,” a source told the newswire.