Forest City is a new urban development in the Iskandar Malaysia Special Economic Zone in Johor, Malaysia. The project is made up of four man-made islands covering 30km2, located in the Johor strait opposite Singapore.
The islands will be a mix of residential, leisure, commercial, and industrial space, and will have an estimated population of 700,000 residents.
The project is being developed by Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd as a joint venture between Country Garden Group and the Malaysian-government-backed Esplanade Danga 88 Sdn Bhd (EDSB). Country Garden (headquartered in Guangdong, China) owns 60% of the project and it’s a project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Forest City was touted as the Shenzhen of Southeast Asia, referring to its proximity to Singapore as Shenzhen is to Hong Kong. The new city is being promoted as a “smart and green futuristic city that combines environment, technology and cutting-edge technology to create an ideal, idyllic and technology-driven living and working space ecosystem.”
Residents have now moved into completed apartments, but there are far more apartments than there are residents. The project has been dubbed as a ghost city due to the lack of people living there.
Future progress hinges on the fate of Country Garden in China, which recorded a record loss in 2023. The government has proposed turning Forest City into a special economic zone to revive property sales.
Forest City Location Map
Transport
Nothing is official yet, but are plans for public transport which may include a light rail system and water taxis.
Forest City is also close to the proposed Singapore to Kuala Lumpur high-speed rail. It remains to be seen how close and how Forest City will be connected to Iskandar Puteri Station.
[Iskandar Puteri Station.]
Forest City is near the Malaysia–Singapore Second Link.
Official Links and Resources
Official website: forestcitycgpv.com.
Developer: forestcitycountrygarden.com.my / en.bgy.com.cn (China).
MasterPlan: Sasaki.
Facebook:ForestCityCGPV.
News: skyscrapercity.com.
Alternative Designs
Forest City Green Lava Skyline – LAVA won 2nd prize in the international competition.
Images
News Archive
2023
The floundering Forest City – [28/11/23]
“Critics argue the $100 billion project has not turned out to be the paradise it was marketed as.”
Special financial and economic zones may reverse fortunes of Forest City, says report – [24/11/23]
How a focus on Chinese buyers ‘doomed’ Malaysia’s Forest City – [23/11/23]
“The mega-project on artificial islands between Malaysia and Singapore has struggled to attract interest.”
Country Garden’s Forest City project in Malaysia gets boost from films – [22/11/23]
“International TV, including Netflix reality series ‘The Mole,’ drawn by scenery.”
Forest City’s SFZ a catalyst for Johor’s economic transformation – [21/11/23]
“Johor has become a focal point for economic development as Forest City attains its Special Financial Zone (SFZ) status, a move that an economic development expert predicts will mirror successful global models.”
This $100 Billion Luxury Complex Is Haunting a Troubled Chinese Developer – [21/09/23]
“China’s Country Garden had big ambitions for its luxury Malaysian high rises. But nearly a decade after ground broke, the development sits empty and unfinished—and is often called a ‘ghost city.’”
‘Seeing is believing’: Country Garden’s Malaysia project in spotlight – [14/09/23]
Malaysia targets Singapore’s expats as Chinese-built Forest City homes ‘sit empty’ – [09/09/23]
Country Garden’s Malaysian project in focus amid contagion worries – [08/09/23]
“$100bn Forest City development is troubled company’s biggest overseas project.”
What this $100 billion ghost city says about China’s real-estate crisis – [08/09/23]
“Country Garden planned to build housing for 700,000, but today only 9,000 people live in Forest City.”
The $100 billion luxury complex that’s sitting empty and unfinished – [08/09/23]
“China’s Country Garden had big ambitions for its luxury Malaysian high rises, but the development is regarded as a ‘ghost city’ nearly a decade after construction began.”
Malaysia’s Forest City teeters over China property giant woes – [03/09/23]
SME group: Fast action needed to boost Forest City as special financial zone – [01/09/23]
“The government will need to take fast action to boost Forest City here as a special financial zone so that it will not lose out to neighbouring countries that are aiming for the “same slice of the pie”.”
Country Garden: Debt-laden China property giant in record loss – [01/09/23]
The worst may be over for Forest City, thanks to ‘special zone’ status – [29/08/23]
Forest City redesignation as special financial zone good move – [29/08/23]
China’s Country Garden says $100 billion Malaysia project on track – [28/08/23]
“Embattled Chinese developer Country Garden said on Monday its $100-billion project in Malaysia was proceeding as planned and it had sufficient assets, despite concerns about its financial strength amid debt woes.”
The (mostly) empty $100 billion city rising from the sea – [28/08/23]
“In its decade-long history, Forest City has dealt with political controversy, Covid and now questions over the financial health of its developer, the Chinese giant Country Garden.”
Malaysia PM Anwar says Johor’s Forest City to be special zone, allow fast entry for workers in S’pore – [25/08/23]
Special financial zone to be created in Forest City, says PM Anwar – [25/08/23]
Special financial zone to be created in Forest City – [25/08/23]
“Incentives for companies operating in the zone will include a special income tax rate of 15% for skilled workers, and provision of multiple-entry visas.”
Johor’s Country Garden property owners fear for unfinished projects amid developer’s debt crisis in China – [23/08/23]
Country Garden: China’s under-pressure property giant – [14/08/23]
As China’s Country Garden struggles with debt, it’s ‘business as usual’ at Johor’s Forest City – [14/08/23]
Country Garden’s share price plummets as it forecasts billions of RMB in losses, heightening bankruptcy concerns – [14/08/23]
Forest City pledges to sustainable building practices – [04/08/23]
Forest City project progressing according to development plan – regional deputy president – [03/08/23]
Johor’s Forest City may be reviewed in 2025 – [03/08/23]
“Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd (CGPV) may review and re-evaluate its development plans for Forest City in two years if it becomes necessary, according to its regional vice president, Ir Syarul Izam Sarifudin.”
Johor’s Forest City reaffirms commitment, says will review plans in two years if need arises – [02/08/23]
A revised MM2H will help address issues in Johor’s Forest City? – [28/07/23]
In Johor, road in Forest City collapses – [23/07/23]
Country Garden ramps its marketing for Johor’s Forest City – [10/07/23]
New report shows what’s become of this $100 billion ‘city of the future’: ‘I didn’t see [any] signs of life’ – [22/06/23]
Forest City celebrates its seventh anniversary in Malaysia – [12/06/23]
“The Forest City project in Johor, widely described as a “ghost town,” is celebrating its seventh anniversary in Malaysia.”
Chow’s remarks on Forest City highly irresponsible, says Johor MB – [08/05/23]
A $100 billion dollar city turned into a ghost town
“The world’s most expensive monument to overconfidence is nearer than you think…”
Forest City not a failed project, says developer – [01/04/23]
Woman from China buys JB Forest City condo unit with ‘unparalleled sea view’, only to find a ‘ghost town’ – [17/02/23]
2022
Malaysia’s China-linked multibillion-dollar ghost town project stalled by Covid and capital curbs – [12/08/22]
Johor’s Forest City’s parent company Country Garden downgraded to “junk” status – [24/06/22]
The ghost town of Forest City – [16/05/22]
“Originally envisioned as an innovative smart city constructed on four artificial islands in Johor, the project appears to be inching along with only a fraction of the occupants initially targeted.”
China-backed Malaysia megacity project struggles to gain momentum – [14/03/22]
“The integrated Forest City, comprising four reclaimed islands in the Malaysian state of Johor, is struggling to market property to core investors in China and Singapore. The project is expected to be fully developed by 2035.”
Country Garden’s Malaysian unit says the company’s not worried amid reports of failed fundraising efforts – [18/01/22]
I never endorsed Forest City, says Dr M – [06/01/22]
“Dr Mahathir Mohamad has denied endorsing the Forest City development project in Johor when he was the prime minister after Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over Putrajaya in May 2018.”
2021
Najib calls Mahathir a ‘racist’ & liar for U-turn on Forest City project once he became PM – [28/12/21]
Forest City project turned into PH propaganda to topple BN, says Najib – [27/12/21]
Forest City developer and TMJ released statements regarding the megaproject – [21/11/21]
Putrajaya failed Forest City, says Johor crown prince – [20/11/21]
“The Forest City project is far from a failure, Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said today, denying claims in a YouTube video that it was a “useless project”.”
Forest City project not a failure – TMJ – [20//11/21]
Johor’s Forest City ranked world’s 2nd most useless mega project by Youtube channel – [16/11/21]
“Youtube channel Top Luxury called out the development as a useless megaproject and it drew mixed responses from Malaysians.”
Country Garden’s Forest City wins the SCAHSA Global Model of Low-Carbon City Planning and Design Award [Press Release] – [02/11/21]
Impact from Evergrande contagion fears on Country Garden expected to be short term in nature – [05/10/21]
Evergrande debt crisis will not have a major impact on Country Garden, say analysts – [25/09/21]
Country Garden shrinks its Malaysia staff as sales of Forest City’s property trickle to a stop amid Covid-19 travel bans – [01/09/21]
“Country Garden has cut its Malaysia staff to 500 as of June following three rounds of retrenchments over the last 18 months, from 1,700 in 2019. The company has sold fewer than 10 homes at Forest City in the past 18 months, according to salespeople who declined to be identified.”
2020
Johor’s Forest City joint developer Country Garden issues US$1b bonds – [22/10/20]
Coronavirus slows China-funded $100bn city in Malaysia – [07/07/20]
“Chinese and Singapore investors stay away as pandemic crisis persists.”
Country Garden achieves over 80% sales – [09/03/20]
2019
Malaysian ‘forest city’ wins sustainability award – [09/12/19]
“The Asian Townscape Award was given for the ‘Feathers of the Sea’ business complex, which is part of the overall Forest City being developed in Johor.”
Chinese companies are worse at business than you think – [21/11/19]
“A megaproject in Malaysia shows how quickly deals with private Chinese investors can become massive boondoggles.”
Forest City Malaysia to welcome more residents and tourists – [19/11/19]
I was critical of Forest City, not foreign homeownership, says Dr M – [15/10/19]
No granting of citizenship for foreign home buyers under MM2H – Dr Wan Azizah – [20/09/19]
In Johor, Forest City set to deliver 20,000 units to China, other buyers this year – [10/09/19]
“The Forest City development in Johor’s Iskandar region is expected to deliver over 20,000 units to buyers this year, saying previous concerns prompted by the prime minister’s remarks about foreigners have subsided.”
Malaysia’s Forest City to hand over more than 20,000 residential units this year as it unveils new golf course – [09/09/19]
“To date, investments into Forest City, a project comprising four man-made islands total more than 17 billion ringgit (US$4 billion).”
Multi-billion ringgit Forest City project in trouble? – [05/09/18]
“An ambitious US$100 billion (RM414 billion) island city being built off Johor has found itself in troubled waters as the new government takes aim at the development, the latest in a series of China-linked mega projects started under the scandal-plagued ex-prime minister to come under attack.”
Forest City foreign buyers’ ban is likely to be ‘temporary’ – [28/08/19]
“Units already sold won’t be affected as the govt will abide by international laws, says a consultant.”
Johor’s Forest City opens new classic 18-hole golf course – [26/08/19]
“The master developer of Forest City has unveiled the second of three 18-hole championship layouts with the opening of the classic golf course in Gelang Patah in Johor.”
Spooked by protests, Hong Kongers snap up homes at Malaysia’s Forest City development – [21/08/19]
Malaysia’s Forest City bags IDC Smart City APAC Awards – [05/08/19]
As opposition wanes, a Malaysian land reclamation project pushes ahead – [02/07/19]
Forest City – Malaysia’s Biggest Project – Progress as Feb-2019 – [24/02/19]
2018
No picnic for Country Garden as shares tumble despite buybacks – [04/10/18]
“Share buybacks are doing little to help stem a US$24 billion selloff in China’s biggest developer by sales.”
Significant increase in Singaporean, Malaysian buyers at Forest City – [12/09/18]
A would-be city in the Malaysian jungle is caught in a growing rift between China and its neighbors – [11/09/18]
Let foreigners in Forest City if you want Malaysians to live in ‘wooden houses’, Dr M tells Johor MB – [07/09/18]
“Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian can let foreigners buy up Forest City units if he wants Malaysians to live in wooden houses, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said in jest.”
Malaysia leaves $100 billion real estate project in limbo – [05/09/18]
“The fate of Country Garden Holdings Co.’s $100 billion project in southern Malaysia remains in limbo as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said foreigners are welcome to invest, but they might not be allowed to stay for long in their new homes.”
Foreigners welcome in Forest City project: Johor chief minister – [05/09/18]
Dr M: Chinese nationals can buy Forest City units, but no residential visas – [04/09/18]
“Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has confirmed that Chinese nationals can indeed purchase residential units at Forest City but they would not be issued visas to live there.”
Johor MB says bad press for Forest City caused by ignorance – [04/09/18]
Forest City a ‘ticket’ to bring in 700,000 Chinese nationals – [01/09/18]
“The development of Forest City will be reviewed due to its property unit sales terms which do not benefit the country.”
Forest City developer believes Dr M’s statement ‘taken out of context’ – [27/08/18]
“The developer of the Forest City mega project maintains that it has complied with the all laws and regulations with regards to approvals needed to sell their property to foreign buyers.”
Malaysia bars foreigners from Forest City project that drew Chinese buyers – [27/08/18]
“Malaysia will not allow foreigners to buy residential units in the $100-billion Forest City project in its southern state of Johor bordering Singapore, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday.”
Minister: Foreigners can buy freehold properties in Forest City – [02/08/18]
“The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government will continue allowing foreigners to buy freehold properties in Forest City, in line with the ruling issued by the National Land Council in 2014, says Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar.”
Should Mahathir Mohamad’s Malaysia election win worry Chinese investors in Johor’s Forest City? – [14/05/18]
Malaysia’s opposition pulls off shocking election win – [10/05/18]
“Mahathir Mohamad’s alliance wins 113 seats in parliament, ending the 60-year reign of the ruling Barisan Nasional.”
Country Garden net profit doubles to a record, upbeat on Malaysia project – [20/03/18]
A Malaysian insta-city becomes a flash point for Chinese colonialism — and capital flight – [13/03/18]
Inside China’s ghost city in Malaysia – [04/02/18]
High Speed Rail and Forest City to take Johor to greater heights – [02/01/18]
2017
Integrated transport system for Forest City – [29/11/17]
“Forest City in Johor will have an integrated public transportation system that can provide seamless travel for residents and visitors, while protecting the environment. It will likely incorporate light rail transit, electric vehicles and water taxis, and have links to the proposed high-speed rail (HSR) network connecting Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.”
Johor assembly hears concerns over Forest City’s water supply – [27/11/17]
“A Johor politician told the state assembly on Monday (Nov 27) that the Johor government had told developer of the Forest City project to source for its own water supply.”
Developers lobby for KL-Singapore high-speed rail station in Forest City – [14/10/17]
“Developers of Forest City in Johor have lobbied the Malaysian government to place a high-speed rail (HSR) station in the mega property project just west of the Second Link crossing between Singapore and Malaysia…”
Malaysia’s Forest City and the damage done – [30/08/17]
“Taking a closer look at a sultan’s grand $100-billion megaproject in Johor.”
The $100 billion city next to Singapore has a big China problem – [23/06/17]
Building works for first American boarding school to start next month – [07/05/17]
Troubles in Malaysia’s Forest City ‘paradise’ – [06/05/17]
“Flats in the much-touted development are being handed out as freebies to buyers of luxury properties in Shanghai.”
Construction of second phase of Forest City project to start this month – [02/05/17]
A Chinese developer is building a $100 billion ‘dream paradise’— but experts worry it could become a ghost city – [10/04/17]
Country Garden pledges refund for Forest City buyers caught in Beijing crackdown – [05/04/17]
Forest City: ‘Noises’ turn out to be good advertising – Exec dir – [03/04/17]
Forest City: Robust IBS industry being established to support multi-billion development – [03/04/17]
Chinese developers still going flat out with Johor’s Forest City – [31/03/17]
Country Garden halts Malaysian housing sales amid capital flight crackdown – [09/03/17]
“Chinese developer Country Garden Holdings has closed all sales centres in mainland China for its flagship Malaysian housing project amid Beijing’s intensified crackdown on capital flight.”
2016
Forest City to contribute rm66 billion in tax revenue – [07/12/16]
$100 billion Chinese-made city near Singapore ‘scares the hell out of everybody’ – [21/11/16]
Malaysia’s city of the future is an uncanny valley – [22/03/16]
“Forest City is quartet of islands born from reclaimed land in the Straits of Johor, the thin strip of water between neighbours Malaysia and Singapore, but it may as well be the uncanny valley so much is it like wandering into a video game.”
Forest City – first man-made islands to get duty-free status – [15/03/16]
Sasaki’s “Forest City” master plan in Iskandar Malaysia stretches across 4 islands – [02/02/16]
Country Garden unveils RM175b ‘Forest City’ project – [22/01/16]
2015
Country Garden, Tanjung Kupang, Johor 2015-11-12 Aerialvideo – [30/11/15]
Forest City’s critics are jealous: Johor Sultan – [23/03/15]
Mass fish deaths in Johor farms due to reclamation work: Farmers – [16/03/15]
Land reclaiming for Forest City project starts after CNY – [16/02/15]
“The developers of the controversial Forest City project will start reclaiming land after the Chinese New Year holidays following the greenlight given last month by the Department of Environment (DoE).”
2014
Forest City to be split into four islands – [21/09/14]
Forest City project dialogue with villagers turns into commotion – [21/09/14]
Johor reclamation works stopped – [24/06/14]
“The Department of Environment has issued a temporary stop-work order against all coastal land reclamation works for the development of the massive Forest City off Tanjung Kupang here pending a detailed study.”
Reclamation work at Johor Straits only involves 49 acres, no EIA report needed – [23/06/14]
Singapore concern over Johor project – [21/06/14]
China-Malaysia developers plan 5,000-acre man-made island off Johor – [16/06/14]
Country Garden, KPRJ plan massive reclamation development for luxury homes – [19/03/14]
A mini-Singapore right next to the real one 🙂