Thomson Medical Unveils RM18 Billion Johor Bay Project Featuring Hospital, Residences and Commercial Precincts

The time is right - economic tailwinds, infrastructure momentum, and demographic shifts are converging.

SINGAPORE, Aug 25 – Thomson Medical Group has unveiled a landmark RM18 billion (US.3 billion) integrated development in Johor, Malaysia, that combines healthcare, residential, and commercial components.

Named Johor Bay, the project is touted as one of Southeast Asia’s largest developments of its kind. Strategically located within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), it will feature Thomson Hospital Iskandariah, specialist medical suites, aged-care facilities, and a dedicated life sciences tower for research.

The 10.52-hectare development will be anchored by the hospital, which has been planned with an eventual capacity of 1,000 beds, double the originally announced 500-bed facility.

Beyond healthcare, Johor Bay will also house luxury residences, a five-star hotel, and lifestyle-commercial precincts designed to attract both regional tourists and medical travellers.

Executive vice-chairman Kiat Lim, son of Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim who controls Thomson Medical, said the project was conceptualised with healthcare as its foundation to meet growing demand for health-focused living and investment opportunities across the region.

Calling Johor Bay the “Marina Bay of Johor”, he highlighted its proximity to key transport links—just 1.2km from the upcoming RTS station at Bukit Chagar, and minutes from the Johor-Singapore Causeway and regional ferry terminals.

The first phase of the project will include the private Thomson Hospital Iskandariah and a 47-storey luxury residential tower with 180 units. Construction and operations are expected to create over 1,200 direct and indirect jobs.

“The time is right—economic momentum, infrastructure growth, and demographic shifts are aligning,” Kiat Lim said.

Southeast Asia’s ageing population is a key driver, with the World Health Organization projecting the share of residents aged 60 and above to rise from 12.2% in 2024 to 22.9% by 2050.

Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi welcomed the investment, describing it as both timely and strategic.

“This project will not only strengthen Johor’s role as a leading healthcare hub in Southeast Asia but also support the state’s broader economic growth agenda under the JS-SEZ,” he said.

Malaysia and Singapore formalised the JS-SEZ agreement earlier this year to boost cross-border investment and ease the movement of goods and people. A new rapid transit link connecting both countries is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.