Vision into reality at Pinetree Marina Resort

 

Two years ago, Johnny Lau, Senior General Manager of Group Hotel & Hospitality division, spoke to Johor Menteri Besar, Dato’ Onn Hafiz Ghazi, about the Tiong Nam Group’s shared vision for progress and innovation in Johor.

 

View of the Pinetree Marina & Resort
Puteri Harbour at Iskandar Puteri

Two years on, Lau was pleased to express his appreciation to the Johor Government for their support and collaboration in turning this vision into a reality.

 

Lau was speaking at the grand launch of the Pinetree Marina Puteri Harbour, a momentous event graced by the Johor Menteri Besar along with Johor State ExCo for Tourism, Environment, Heritage & Culture, Raven Kumar Krishnasamy, Member of Parliament for Iskandar Puteri, Datuk Pandak Ahmad, and Tiong Nam Logistics Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director, Ong Yoong Nyock.

 

Senior General Manager of Tiong Nam Group
Hotel & Hospitality, Johnny Lau, presenting 
his speech at the Grand Launch event
 

This event was aptly held on the quayside that borders the scenic Straits of Johor, overlooking the 76 berths of the public marina, designed to cater to a diverse range of vessels.

 

“Our vision is to establish this marina as a premier destination that will not only enhance the boating experience but also contribute to the growth and vibrancy of Iskandar Puteri.

 

Its prime location offers seamless access to key South East Asian maritime corridors, making it an ideal hub for boaters travelling from Phuket, Langkawi, Pangkor Island, Kota Kinabalu and Singapore,” said Lau.

 

Johor Menteri Besar, Dato' Onn Hafiz Ghazi
addressing the audience gathered to witness
the Grand Launch event at Puteri Harbour

The Tiong Nam Hospitality Group has undertaken comprehensive revitalization of the marina by blending sleek, modern design with upgraded facilities to elevate the docking experience to premium standards.

 

Lau said that this grand launch event not only marked a new chapter in luxury hospitality and marina services in the Southern region of Malaysia but also opened a gateway for global travellers into Johor.

 

He said that in addition to economic benefits to the region, the Pinetree Marina & Resort Puteri Harbour will create job opportunities and is a destination that will build lasting memories, both for the local community and visitors to Johor.

 

Ong Yoong Nyock and Johnny Lau presented
a token of appreciation to the Johor Menteri
Besar while Ravin Kumar [Left] looked on

In his response to Lau’s comments about their conversation two years ago, Dato’ Onn Hafiz graciously declared that he was ecstatic to celebrate this great milestone with the Tiong Nam Hospitality Group.

 

The Johor Menteri Besar said that the opening of the Pinetree Marina & Resort in Puteri Harbour bodes well for Johor as the Visit Johor Year will coincide with Visit Malaysia Year in 2026, with target of two million visitors to Johor.

 

Another significant development that should welcome more visitors to Johor he said, was that the agreement for the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), with terms that aim to resolve long-standing issues, is scheduled to be signed on 6 January 2025.

 

A simple ceremony was held at
 the edge of the wharf

Dato’ Onn Hafiz then commended Ong Yoong Nyock as a person who delivers and expressed his appreciation for the collaboration with partners like the Tiong Nam Logistics Holdings Bhd Group, to achieve success in the state.

 

He was also looking forward to September 2025 when another of Tiong Nam’s hospitality projects was scheduled to be ready to welcome guests to their unique hotel resort designed within two airplanes in Kempas, Johor.

 

The Johor Menteri Besar was pleased to share briefly about the State Budget with allocations to upgrade facilities in the Johor Zoo with a Night Zoo, the Istana Gardens, Bukit Timbalan, Museum Tokoh as well as nearby Kampung Sungai Melayu.

Another generous sum was allocated to upgrade tourism activities including the Malay cultural center at Yayasan Warisan Johor or Johor Heritage Foundation, that will be open to welcome visitors every weekend by June next year.

 

Johor Menteri Besar and guests on the upper
deck of private yacht to view the marina

Dato’ Onn Hafiz concluded his speech with warm wishes and sincere congratulations to Ong and his team at Pinetree Marina & Resort on their milestone event.

 

As a token of appreciation, Ong and Lau presented a souvenir to the Johor Menteri Besar in the form of a vintage galleon, encased in an acrylic box.

 

The grand launch event continued with a walk to the edge of the wharf where a simple ceremony was held, officiated by the Johor Menteri Besar. After a bunch of balloons were released into the air, 162 red groupers were released into the waters of the marina.

 

After a splashing jet-ski demonstration in the water, the Johor Menteri Besar and distinguished guests were welcomed on board a private yacht berthed alongside. From its upper deck, they enjoyed a good view of the marina.

 

Equipped with an array of practical and leisure facilities for both short and extended stays, Pinetree Marina is poised to be a key stopover for international boating enthusiasts.

 

The facilities include a fuel dock, buggy service, metered power supply (up to three-phase 425-Amp), 24-hours security with CCTV surveillance, gated marina access and Wi-Fi connectivity.

 

Visitors can also enjoy shower and toilet facilities, a laundry room, recreational amenities like swimming pool and gym, and a convenient shuttle service.

 

Guests gathered at the wharf of Pinetree Marina

To complement the marina, Pinetree Resort has 107 contemporary serviced apartments in a 25-storey building, each designed with a fully equipped kitchenette, laundry room and Internet TV to provide visitors with a home-away-from home.

 

As part of its active engagement with the regional boating community, Pinetree Marina recently hosted over 30 vessels that participated in the annual Sail Malaysia rally with a sail route from Johor to Rebak Island Resort & Marina in Langkawi.

 

To fortify its position as a top-tier destination for boating and leisure, expansion plans are already in place to develop more than 200 berths in the marina.

 

Pinetree Marina & Resort Puteri Harbour is at Jalan Persiaran Tanjung, Puteri Harbour, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

 

Photo Credit: BrandCulture PR & Marketing Communications and my own.