Johor S Crown Prince Tunku Ismail May Cash Out On Singapore S Land In Record Rm11 4 Bil Deal

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A SLICE of Singapore’s most exclusive neighbourhood might be changing hands – and it could turn out to be one of the city-state’s biggest properties deals ever.
According to reports attributed to financial wire Bloomberg, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (TMJ) is exploring options to sell a 16.6-hectare freehold plot just beside the Botanic Gardens.
Property analysts say the land could fetch at least S$3.5 bil (RM11.4 bil) with some estimates going as high as S$3.8 bil. To put that in perspective, Singapore’s previous record was BlackRock’s 2016 sale of Asia Square Tower 1 to Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund for S$3.4 bil.

A long history, a fresh deal
The Johor royal family has held land in this swanky area, known as Tyersall Park, for over a century.
The story took a new turn earlier this year when Singapore’s government agreed to a land swap with Tunku Ismail.
Under the June deal, the eldest son of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia and the heir apparent to the Johor throne handed over 13 hectares closest to the Botanic Gardens in exchange for an 8.5-hectare plot further away with both sides declaring the trade fair value.

The move helps protect the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)-listed gardens while allowing development further afield.
Local authorities have emphasised that any construction would still need to undergo strict planning and environmental checks before getting the green light.
In the realm of property, it is undeniable that Tunku Ismail does have a penchant for quality assets.
Recall that the Johor Regent had last month engaged Singapore-based RSP Architects, Planners and Engineers, a design firm owned by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, to develop a US$200 mil (RM845.5 mil) sprawling waterfront estate which will be the royal family’s private residence in Johor’s coastal town of Desaru.

What is on the table?
According to the Bloomberg report, the owner of Malaysia’s top-notch football club Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C. (JDT) is said to be weighing different options. He could sell the land outright or keep a minority stake in whatever project a developer decides to build.

Nothing has been finalised given talks are still in the early stages. His representatives have reportedly approached Singaporean developers and other potential buyers.
If the sale goes through, it would be another boost to the Johor royal family’s already substantial fortune. Bloomberg valued the family’s wealth at around US$5.7 bil (RM24 bil) last year with their Singapore holdings making up a large chunk of it.
Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (TMJ) is also owner of Malaysia’s top-notch football club Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C. (JDT)Why is it so valuable?
Besides location, the plot’s freehold status makes it particularly prized in Singapore where most residential land is leasehold, often capped at 99 years.
It also sits near Orchard Road, the island’s iconic shopping strip which also boasts a string of luxury “good class bungalows” that can each fetch tens of millions of Singapore dollars.
With Singapore’s property market famous for record-breaking transactions, this plot is bound to attract serious interest from deep-pocketed buyers.
For now, it remains to be seen whether this will be a straight sale or a high-stakes joint venture.
But if the deal materialises at the rumoured price, it could set a new benchmark for luxury property in Singapore and add another chapter to the long-running saga of Tyersall Park, a place already immortalised in pop culture as the ultimate playground of the rich and powerful.
For now, the latest Bloomberg exposé has set tongues wagging among curious Malaysians and Singaporeans: 

- Focus Malaysia

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