PUTRAJAYA is reported to be in talks with two tycoons on a plan to open a casino in Forest City in Johor.

Bloomberg News, quoting sources, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met magnates Vincent Tan of Berjaya Corporation and Lim Kok Thay of the Genting Group last week to discuss the matter.

The US$100 (RM470) billion Forest City project was launched in 2014 by China’s former real estate giant Country Garden with local partners.

The project was, however, affected by the bursting of China’s real estate bubble, the Covid-19 pandemic, and economic slowdown.

It has come to be labelled a “ghost town” by international media although the Johor government has said that 70% of the properties in the project has been sold.

The project also has the participation of Yang di Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, the report said.

It said Anwar had held preliminary talks about the casino project with Tan and Lim.

Sources said the discussions were at an early stage.

The sole casino in Malaysia, in Genting Highlands, is owned by the Genting Group. – April 25, 2024.