Building Stronger Links: Malaysia’s New Developments and a Smarter Way to Pay in MYR
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Malaysia and Singapore are taking big steps to deepen economic and transport connectivity — opening up new opportunities for businesses and travellers on both sides of the Causeway. At WorldFirst, we’re excited to support this progress with a new way to make payments in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) more convenient than ever.
Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone: A Cross-Border Collaboration in Motion
The recently formalised Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) marks an important milestone in bilateral cooperation. The initiative aims to combine Singapore’s strengths in research, innovation, and services with Johor’s industrial capacity and land, creating new opportunities in sectors like manufacturing, the digital economy, healthcare, and tourism.
Over the next five years, the JS-SEZ is expected to support around 50 projects and create about 2,000 skilled jobs, making it easier for Singapore-based businesses to expand production or establish complementary operations in Johor.
Connecting Cities: The New JB–KL ETS Service
Another key milestone for Malaysia is the launch of the Electric Train Service (ETS) between Johor Bahru Sentral and Kuala Lumpur Sentral, which began operations on 12 December 2025. The new route cuts down travel time to about 4.5 hours — a major improvement for commuters, entrepreneurs, and tourists alike.
This upgrade strengthens connectivity across Malaysia’s west coast and sets the stage for even smoother cross-border travel once the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link becomes operational.
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New from WorldFirst: Pay Seamlessly in MYR with World Card
As Malaysia continues to enhance its connected economy, WorldFirst is helping businesses transact just as seamlessly across borders. You can now use your World Card to pay for transactions in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) and settle them directly using your MYR balance in your World Account — with no FX conversion or fees, as long as you have enough MYR balance available.
If your MYR balance runs low, the transaction will still go through — your USD balance will automatically be used to complete the payment at your account’s live FX rate.
With MYR added to our list of 15 currencies available for direct settlement, including SGD, USD, CNH, EUR, GBP, AUD, and more, businesses can now manage their cross-border payments with even greater efficiency — while continuing to enjoy unlimited cashback on eligible expenses.
At WorldFirst, we’re committed to helping businesses thrive in a region that’s only growing more connected — one borderless payment at a time.
Login to the WorldFirst portal and try it out for yourself!
Joan Poon leads marketing across Southeast Asia at WorldFirst, driving growth and brand leadership in key markets including Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Joan Poon
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Head of Marketing SEA, WorldFirst Singapore
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