Visitors from Singapore may be able to enter areas of southern Johor without passports under proposed moves to boost the state's economic prospects, a lawmaker said today.

National investment arm Khazanah Nasional proposed a passport-free zone in Johor, joined by road and rail links to neighouring Singapore, ahead of the launch of an economic development plan for the state.

A Johor member of parliament, Nur Jazlan Mohamed, hailed the proposal as a boost for the state's economy and its tourism efforts.

"The passport-free area will cover 30 acres. You can go in and out without having to carry a passport," said Nur Jazlan, whose constituency includes a portion of state capital Johor Baru.

"It will provide entertainment and dining facilities. It will spur economic activity in Johor Baru. Johor Baru is dead at night. So in the zone, foreigners will come and spend more money," he told reporters.

The New Straits Times today reported that two "Free Access Zones" (FAZ) were under consideration.

The first zone will stretch from a causeway link from Singapore to Johor, while the second, larger zone will stretch from another in the state's south road link to Johor's main port of Tanjung Pelepas.

Rivaling Singapore

"Foreigners can live and work in the FAZ or live in the FAZ and travel to work in Singapore," the deputy director of Johor's economic planning unit, Mohamad Noorazam Osman, was quoted as saying.

"However, visitors who want to travel outside the FAZ will need a passport," he added.

Mohamad Noorazam also said there would be no restriction on how long Singaporeans or visitors entering the country from Singapore could stay.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Saturday will launch plans to develop the South Johor Economic Region, which is to cover an area of 221,634 hectares including Johor Baru.

Malaysia last year announced intentions to turn sleepy Johor, which has a population of 1.3 million, into a hub for business, tourism and education to complement, and eventually rival, Singapore ( left ).