Eighty percent of the commercial units in Johor's mega development project, Forest City, were sold within an hour of the sales gallery launch. According to a report by the New Straits Times, which cited Country Garden, the real estate company behind the development, more than 60 percent of the buyers were local Malaysians and Singaporeans, with the remaining purchases made by international buyers.

Demand Exceeds Supply by Threefold A spokesperson from Country Garden mentioned that this was Forest City's first commercial unit sale and that the number of applications received was three times the available units. The company also reported inquiries for residential units, sub-sales, and rental opportunities.

The growing interest among local buyers was attributed to Forest City's duty-free status and the upcoming Johor-Singapore special economic zone.

About Forest City Forest City is a large-scale development located on reclaimed land in southern Johor, near the Second Link bridge connecting Malaysia and Singapore. The project has faced challenges in recent years, including low occupancy rates, dissatisfied investors, and large portions of the development remaining vacant.

Backed by both the Johor and federal governments, one of the strategies to boost its appeal has been the establishment of a duty-free zone within Forest City. The development features 10 duty-free stores that are permitted to sell limited quantities of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and chocolates to visitors and residents.