Johor Bahru
Encyclopedia
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor
in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasia
n mainland. Pasir Pelangi
, the royal village, is located within Johor Bahru.
With a population of approximately 900,000 in the city, and nearly 2 million in the metropolitan area, Johor Bahru is the second largest urban area in Malaysia, after the national capital, Kuala Lumpur
, and its associated Klang Valley
region. The total population of the Singapore-Johor Bahru conurbation is 7 million; it is also part of the 8-million-person metropolitan area of the Sijori Growth Triangle
, one of the largest in Southeast Asia
. Johor Bahru is easily reached from Singapore
, and receives 49.9 percent of the country's annual 22.5 million foreign tourists via its bridges and road links to Singapore. The city is an important industrial
, tourism
and commercial
hub for southern Malaysia and one of the biggest industrial centres of the country.
(also known as the Straits of Tebrau), which separate Malaysia and Singapore
. Metropolitan Johor Bahru occupies extensive coastal land, consisting of ecologically rich swamp lands and important river systems such as Sungai Johor, Sungai Pulai and Sungai Tebrau.
Johor Bahru was founded in 1855 when the sovereign ruler of Johor, Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim, established his administrative headquarters there. That time Johor Bahru was known as Tanjung Puteri, was a small Malay fishing village. Temenggong Ibrahim renamed Tanjung Puteri as Iskandar Puteri in 1858; His son and successor, Temenggong Abu Bakar (Sultan from 1885) renamed it Johor Bahru from Iskandar Puteri during the grand opening of Istana Besar
Johor on 1 January 1866.
, and the Menteri Besar
's residence—many of which were built by Wong Ah Fook
, a Toisanese
-Chinese contractor who became a close patron of Abu Bakar. The town also saw an influx of Chinese immigrants.
Under Sultan Ibrahim's reign, Johor Bahru continued to develop; the Malay Peninsula
railway extension was completed in 1909,
and the completion of the Causeway
in 1923 linked the railway and road systems between Singapore and Malay Peninsula. Johor Bahru developed at a modest rate between the First and Second World Wars
. The state secretariat building—Sultan Ibrahim Building
—was completed in 1940 as the British colonial government attempted to streamline the state's administration.
ese army invaded Johor Bahru on 31 January 1942, during the Battle of Malaya
; the Sultan's residence at Istana Bukit Serene
became the Japanese military's preparatory base for their conquest of Singapore
.
in the state. Onn Jaafar
, a local politician who later became the Menteri Besar of Johor, formed the United Malay National Organisation in May 1946 after the Malays expressed widespread disenchantment with the British government for granting lax citizenship laws to non-Malays.
Johor Bahru expanded in size from the 1960s onwards. During the 1970s and 1980s, new townships and industrial estates were built in villages and hamlets north and east of Johor Bahru, such as Tebrau
and Plentong
.
By the early 1990s, Johor Bahru had considerably expanded in size, and was officially granted recognition as a city on 1 January 1994. Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru, the city council, was formed and the city's current main square, Dataran Bandaraya Johor Bahru
, was constructed to commemorate this event.
A central business district
was developed in the centre of the city from the mid-1990s in the area around Jalan Wong Ah Fook
and the Johor-Singapore Causeway
. The state and federal government channelled considerable funds for the development of the city—particularly more so after 2006, when the Iskandar Malaysia
development region blueprint was formalised. Johor government decided to moved their administrative headquarters since 1859 from Bukit Timbalan to Nusajaya, Gelang Patah, and renames it as Kota Iskandar
.
The Johor Bahru metropolitan area covers several districts and is jointly managed by the following local councils:
Johor Bahru District
:
Pontian District
:
Kota Tinggi District
:
The Ninth Malaysia Plan, announced in May 2006, identified the area as a national priority for focused development, which called for government investment of over 12 billion Malaysian ringgit
between 2006 and 2010.
, 41.5 percent Chinese
, 9.1 percent Indian and 5.4 percent other minorities.
The Chinese community is represented by several dialect groups: Teochew, Hakka, Hokkien
, Cantonese, Hainanese, and Hokchew (Foochow) are the major dialect groups in Johor Bahru. Teochew was the lingua franca
of the Chinese community until the 1970s, and a large proportion of the Chinese trace their ancestry to the Chaoshan
region. Economic development from the 1970s brought many people of Chinese ancestry, generally from other dialect groups, from other parts of the state to resettle in Johor.
The India
n community consists of Tamils, Malayalees, Telugus, Punjabis, and other smaller groups, and includes a large number of migrants from states like Perak
, Selangor
, Negeri Sembilan
, Penang
, and Kedah
, lured by the availability of jobs in manufacturing and services in Johor Bahru and Singapore
.
and Penang
being the other two. Johor Bahru is an important industrial, logistical, and commercial centre. Its major industries include electronics, resource and petrochemical refinery, and shipbuilding.
The presence of Singapore-owned companies and tourists is significant. Johor Bahru's many shopping complexes cater to tourists from Singapore who visit the city for shopping and entertainment, taking advantage of the stronger Singapore dollar. As such, Johor Bahru's retail scene is highly developed for a city of its size. The main shopping districts are located within the city, with a number of large shopping malls located in the suburbs.
The heavy industrial areas are Pasir Gudang
and Tanjung Langsat
, located east of the metropolitan area. They contain clusters of refineries, chemical processing plants, and shipbuilding factories. Light to medium industrial areas are mainly located north and north-west of the metropolitan area in Tebrau
, Tampoi
, Senai
, Skudai
, and Kulai
.
Johor Bahru enjoys a close economic relationship with Singapore. A large number of residents in Johor Bahru work in Singapore, where salaries for equivalent jobs are higher than in Malaysia. This is partially because of the strong Singapore dollar, which was worth about 2.47 Malaysian Ringgit . For the same reason, many Singaporeans live in Johor Bahru or visit the city for shopping, entertainment, and dining. Many Singaporeans own property, businesses, and factories in Johor Bahru.
) is located at the southern tip of the metropolitan area. Two major highways link the district to outlying suburbs: Tebrau Highway to the northeast, and Skudai Highway
to the northwest. Pasir Gudang Highway
and the connecting Johor Bahru Parkway cross Tebrau Highway and Skudai Highway, and serve as the middle ring road
of the metropolitan area.
The Johor Bahru Inner Ring Road
, which connects with the Sultan Iskandar customs complex
, aids in controlling the traffic in and around the central business district.
Issues with transportation congestion are currently being addressed under the Iskandar Development Region master plan.
Access to the national expressway system is possible via the North-South Expressway.
The Johor-Singapore Causeway
links the city to Singapore
with a six-lane road and a railway line terminating at the Southern Integrated Gateway
, constructed in 2008. The Malaysia-Singapore Second Link
, located west of the metropolitan area, was constructed in 1997 to alleviate congestion on the Causeway. It is linked directly to the Second Link Expressway
, Johor Bahru Parkway, Johor Bahru Railway Station
, and the North-South Expressway.
, located north-west of the metropolitan area, serves regional and national airlines.
To the west of the metropolitan area, in Nusajaya, is the Port of Tanjung Pelepas
, which currently ranks as Malaysia’s largest container port since 2004, and ranked as 16th busiest container ports in the world in 2010.
Johor Port
is located on the eastern side of the metropolitan area in the industrial area of Pasir Gudang
. It is the country's most important commodity and mineral resources seaport, as Johor is home to a large number of major commercial plantations, and Pasir Gudang is home to a majority of Malaysia's resources refineries.
In addition, Singapore's seaports and airport also serve Johor Bahru's transportation or logistics needs, as they are less than an hour's drive from the city.
Johor Bahru is able to received all the radio station of Singapore.
, Turkey
Jeddah
, Saudi Arabia
Shenzhen
, People's Republic of China
(July 2006) Kuching
, Malaysia (2008) Surabaya
, Indonesia
Tangerang
, Indonesia
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
n mainland. Pasir Pelangi
Pasir Pelangi
Pasir Pelangi is the royal village of Johor, Malaysia. It is situated near Stulang and Johor Bahru. This royal village was established in the early 1900s during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim of Johor...
, the royal village, is located within Johor Bahru.
With a population of approximately 900,000 in the city, and nearly 2 million in the metropolitan area, Johor Bahru is the second largest urban area in Malaysia, after the national capital, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, and its associated Klang Valley
Klang Valley
Klang Valley is an area in Malaysia comprising Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs, and adjoining cities and towns in the state of Selangor. An alternative reference to this would be Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan Area or Greater Kuala Lumpur. It is geographically delineated by Titiwangsa Mountains to the...
region. The total population of the Singapore-Johor Bahru conurbation is 7 million; it is also part of the 8-million-person metropolitan area of the Sijori Growth Triangle
Sijori Growth Triangle
The Indonesia–Malaysia–Singapore Growth Triangle was established in 1994 between three countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, to strengthen economic links in the region and optimise the complementarity between the three countries...
, one of the largest in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. Johor Bahru is easily reached from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and receives 49.9 percent of the country's annual 22.5 million foreign tourists via its bridges and road links to Singapore. The city is an important industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
, tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
hub for southern Malaysia and one of the biggest industrial centres of the country.
Geography
The city council administers the highly developed southern central coast of the metropolitan area, with a total area of 185 square kilometres (71.4 sq mi). It is situated on the Straits of JohorStraits of Johor
The Straits of Johor is a strait that separates the Malaysian state of Johor to the north from Singapore to the south....
(also known as the Straits of Tebrau), which separate Malaysia and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Metropolitan Johor Bahru occupies extensive coastal land, consisting of ecologically rich swamp lands and important river systems such as Sungai Johor, Sungai Pulai and Sungai Tebrau.
History
Istana Besar
Istana Besar or Grand Palace is the royal palace of the Sultanate of Johor which is located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.-Overview:Standing tall in the city of Johor Bahru, the palace was built in 1866 by Sultan Abu Bakar...
Johor on 1 January 1866.
Redevelopment of Modern Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru quickly expanded into a town under Abu Bakar's direction. Many of the town's buildings were constructed during Abu Bakar's reign, notably the State Mosque, Istana BesarIstana Besar
Istana Besar or Grand Palace is the royal palace of the Sultanate of Johor which is located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.-Overview:Standing tall in the city of Johor Bahru, the palace was built in 1866 by Sultan Abu Bakar...
, and the Menteri Besar
Menteri Besar
The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...
's residence—many of which were built by Wong Ah Fook
Wong Ah Fook
Wong Ah Fook was a Chinese immigrant, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who left an indelible imprint on the state of Johor in present-day Malaysia, particularly its capital, Johor Bahru...
, a Toisanese
Taishan
Taishan is a coastal county-level city in Guangdong Province, China. The city is part of the Greater Taishan Region....
-Chinese contractor who became a close patron of Abu Bakar. The town also saw an influx of Chinese immigrants.
Under Sultan Ibrahim's reign, Johor Bahru continued to develop; the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
railway extension was completed in 1909,
and the completion of the Causeway
Johor-Singapore Causeway
The Johor–Singapore Causeway is a 1,056-metre causeway that links the city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia across the Straits of Johor to the town of Woodlands in Singapore. It serves as a road, rail, and pedestrian link, as well as water piping into Singapore.The causeway is connected to the...
in 1923 linked the railway and road systems between Singapore and Malay Peninsula. Johor Bahru developed at a modest rate between the First and Second World Wars
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
. The state secretariat building—Sultan Ibrahim Building
Sultan Ibrahim Building
Sultan Ibrahim Building is the former state secretariat building of Johor. It is located at Bukit Timbalan in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The building was constructed between 1936 and 1939 and was completed in 1940 as the British colonial government attempted to streamline the state's administration...
—was completed in 1940 as the British colonial government attempted to streamline the state's administration.
World War II
The JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese army invaded Johor Bahru on 31 January 1942, during the Battle of Malaya
Battle of Malaya
The Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...
; the Sultan's residence at Istana Bukit Serene
Istana Bukit Serene
Istana Bukit Serene is the royal palace and official residence of the Sultan of Johor, located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The palace faces the Straits of Johor and has a bird's eye view of Singapore, a former possession of the Sultanate....
became the Japanese military's preparatory base for their conquest of Singapore
Battle of Singapore
The Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of the Second World War when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in Southeast Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
.
After World War II
Shortly after the war ended in 1946, Johor Bahru became a hotspot for Malay nationalismEarly Malay nationalism
Early Malay nationalism before Malaysian independence did not exist as a united and organised political movement prior to World War II. The concept of ketuanan Melayu was largely irrelevant at the time, as the Chinese and Indians, who formed almost half of the population, did not see themselves as...
in the state. Onn Jaafar
Onn Jaafar
Dato' Sir Onn bin Ja'afar, KBE was a Malay politician and a Menteri Besar of Johore in Malaysia, then Malaya. He was the founder of United Malays National Organization and was also responsible for the social economic welfare of the Malays by setting up the Rural Industrial Development Authority...
, a local politician who later became the Menteri Besar of Johor, formed the United Malay National Organisation in May 1946 after the Malays expressed widespread disenchantment with the British government for granting lax citizenship laws to non-Malays.
Johor Bahru expanded in size from the 1960s onwards. During the 1970s and 1980s, new townships and industrial estates were built in villages and hamlets north and east of Johor Bahru, such as Tebrau
Tebrau
Tebrau or Teberau is a largest mukim in Johor Bahru District, Johor, Malaysia.-Townships:*Bandar Dato' Onn*Adda Heights*Taman Delima*Taman Daya*Setia Indah*Taman Mount Austin*Desa Tebrau*Taman Istimewa*Taman Bukit Mutiara...
and Plentong
Plentong
Plentong began as a Kangchu settlemement known as Tey Chu Kang in 1859 and then an old Chinese new village that is now a busy town in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. Many hypermarkets are found here like Giant and Tesco, along with several major boutiques and showrooms such as Beethoven ,Toyota ,...
.
By the early 1990s, Johor Bahru had considerably expanded in size, and was officially granted recognition as a city on 1 January 1994. Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru, the city council, was formed and the city's current main square, Dataran Bandaraya Johor Bahru
Dataran Bandaraya Johor Bahru
Dataran Bandaraya Johor Bahru or is the main square in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. It was built on 1 January 1994 following the declaration of Johor Bahru as a city....
, was constructed to commemorate this event.
A central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
was developed in the centre of the city from the mid-1990s in the area around Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Jalan Wong Ah Fook is a major one-way road in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. It is located in Johor Bahru's central business district and is also one of the busiest roads in the city....
and the Johor-Singapore Causeway
Johor-Singapore Causeway
The Johor–Singapore Causeway is a 1,056-metre causeway that links the city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia across the Straits of Johor to the town of Woodlands in Singapore. It serves as a road, rail, and pedestrian link, as well as water piping into Singapore.The causeway is connected to the...
. The state and federal government channelled considerable funds for the development of the city—particularly more so after 2006, when the Iskandar Malaysia
Iskandar Malaysia
Iskandar Malaysia ', formerly known as Iskandar Development Region and South Johor Economic Region is the main southern development corridor in Johor, Malaysia. The Iskandar Malaysia was established on 30 July 2006...
development region blueprint was formalised. Johor government decided to moved their administrative headquarters since 1859 from Bukit Timbalan to Nusajaya, Gelang Patah, and renames it as Kota Iskandar
Kota Iskandar
Kota Iskandar is a small town in Pahang, Malaysia. It is located near Bera Lake....
.
Governance
Johor Bahru District
Johor Bahru District
This article refers to a district in the state of Johor in Malaysia. For other uses, see Johor Bahru The Johor Bahru district is located in the southern part of Johor, separated from Singapore by Straits of Johor. It covers an area of 1,871 km² and has a population of over 1.2 million...
:
- Johor Bahru City Council (Majlis Bandaraya Johor BahruMajlis Bandaraya Johor BahruMajlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru or Johor Bahru City Council is a local authority which administrates Johor Bahru city centre and other areas of the Iskandar Malaysia area. This agency is under Johor state government...
) - Johor Bahru Tengah Municipal Council (Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru TengahMajlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru TengahMajlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru Tengah or Johor Bahru Tengah Municipal Council is a local authority which administrates Central Johor Bahru District and other areas of the Iskandar Malaysia area. This agency is under Johor state government...
) - Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (Majlis Perbandaran Pasir GudangMajlis Perbandaran Pasir GudangMajlis Perbandaran Pasir Gudang or Pasir Gudang Municipal Council is a local authority which administrates Pasir Gudang and other areas of the Iskandar Malaysia area. This agency is under subsidiary of Johor Corporation and Johor state government...
) - Kulai Municipal CouncilKulai Municipal CouncilKulai Municipal Council is the local authority in Kulaijaya District of Johor, Malaysia. It was formerly known as Kulai District Council ...
(Majlis Perbandaran Kulai)
Pontian District
Pontian, Johor
Pontian is a district in southwest Johor. It is located 62km from Johor Bahru, the state capital of Johor. It is also located at Miles 37 from Johor Bahru. The name Pontian is also used in the names of two towns in the district, Pontian Besar and Pontian Kechil, of which the latter serves as its...
:
- District Council of Pontian (Majlis Daerah Pontian)
Kota Tinggi District
Kota Tinggi District
Kota Tinggi District is one of the districts of Johor.Kota Tinggi town and other settlement of Kuala Sedili, Sungai Rengit and Pengerang are administered by Kota Tinggi District Council , which is based in Kota Tinggi town....
:
- District Council of Kota Tinggi (Majlis Daerah Kota Tinggi)
The Ninth Malaysia Plan, announced in May 2006, identified the area as a national priority for focused development, which called for government investment of over 12 billion Malaysian ringgit
Malaysian ringgit
The Malaysian ringgit is the currency of Malaysia. It is divided into 100 sen...
between 2006 and 2010.
Demographics
The population of the District of Johor Bahru was around 1,200,000 people in 2000.2000 census, including non citizens. The population is 44 percent MalayMalaysian Malay
In Malaysia, the Malay population is defined by Article 160 of the Malaysian Constitution as someone born to a Malaysian citizen who professes to be a Muslim, habitually speaks the Malay language, adheres to Malay customs and is domiciled in Malaysia or Singapore...
, 41.5 percent Chinese
Malaysian Chinese
Malaysian Chinese is a Malaysian of Chinese origin. Most are descendants of Chinese who arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries. Within Malaysia, they are usually simply referred to as "Chinese" in all languages. The term Chinese Malaysian is also sometimes used to refer to...
, 9.1 percent Indian and 5.4 percent other minorities.
The Chinese community is represented by several dialect groups: Teochew, Hakka, Hokkien
Hokkien
Hokkien is a Hokkien word corresponding to Standard Chinese "Fujian". It may refer to:* Hokkien dialect, a dialect of Min Nan Chinese spoken in Southern Fujian , Taiwan, South-east Asia, and elsewhere....
, Cantonese, Hainanese, and Hokchew (Foochow) are the major dialect groups in Johor Bahru. Teochew was the lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
of the Chinese community until the 1970s, and a large proportion of the Chinese trace their ancestry to the Chaoshan
Chaoshan
Cháoshàn refers to the linguistic and cultural region in the east of Guangdong, a southeastern province of China. This region is the origin of the Min Nan dialect Teochew. The area is known as Teochew for most people overseas, although it also consists of the cities of Shantou and Jieyang...
region. Economic development from the 1970s brought many people of Chinese ancestry, generally from other dialect groups, from other parts of the state to resettle in Johor.
The India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n community consists of Tamils, Malayalees, Telugus, Punjabis, and other smaller groups, and includes a large number of migrants from states like Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
, Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
, Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan, one of the 13 states that constitutes Malaysia, lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, just south of Kuala Lumpur and borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the south....
, Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
, and Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
, lured by the availability of jobs in manufacturing and services in Johor Bahru and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Economy
As one of the three main urban centres on peninsular Malaysia,Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
and Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
being the other two. Johor Bahru is an important industrial, logistical, and commercial centre. Its major industries include electronics, resource and petrochemical refinery, and shipbuilding.
The presence of Singapore-owned companies and tourists is significant. Johor Bahru's many shopping complexes cater to tourists from Singapore who visit the city for shopping and entertainment, taking advantage of the stronger Singapore dollar. As such, Johor Bahru's retail scene is highly developed for a city of its size. The main shopping districts are located within the city, with a number of large shopping malls located in the suburbs.
The heavy industrial areas are Pasir Gudang
Pasir Gudang
Pasir Gudang is an industrial town located 35 km east of Johor Bahru in Malaysia . It is the eastern end of the Johor Bahru metropolitan area. The population is around 100,000. It is connected by the 4 lane Pasir Gudang Highway, a trunk road, and a railway line to Johor Bahru...
and Tanjung Langsat
Tanjung Langsat
Tanjung Langsat is a main industrial area and port in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia.An onshore oil terminal is being built, with 130 000 cu meter of oil storage already built , and another 400 000 cu meter to be ready in march 2010....
, located east of the metropolitan area. They contain clusters of refineries, chemical processing plants, and shipbuilding factories. Light to medium industrial areas are mainly located north and north-west of the metropolitan area in Tebrau
Tebrau
Tebrau or Teberau is a largest mukim in Johor Bahru District, Johor, Malaysia.-Townships:*Bandar Dato' Onn*Adda Heights*Taman Delima*Taman Daya*Setia Indah*Taman Mount Austin*Desa Tebrau*Taman Istimewa*Taman Bukit Mutiara...
, Tampoi
Tampoi
Tampoi can refer to:* Baccaurea macrocarpa, a tropical fruit tree found in Southeast Asia.* Tampoi, Johor, a suburb of Johor Bahru, sometimes considered as a separate town, located in the Johor Bahru District of Johor....
, Senai
Senai
Senai is a transit town situated 25 kilometres northwest of Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Apart from the Senai International Airport, it is also the base for several major multinational electronics manufacturers...
, Skudai
Skudai
Skudai is a rapidly expanding suburb of Johor Bahru, the largest city in and the capital of the state of Johor in southern Malaysia. Skudai is part of the new growth corridor of southwest Johor, which includes the Senai International Airport, Tanjung Pelepas Port and the proposed new...
, and Kulai
Kulai
Kulai , is a town in the Kulaijaya district of Johor, Malaysia. The town is 29 km from Johor Bahru city and 8 km from Skudai.-Administration:...
.
Johor Bahru enjoys a close economic relationship with Singapore. A large number of residents in Johor Bahru work in Singapore, where salaries for equivalent jobs are higher than in Malaysia. This is partially because of the strong Singapore dollar, which was worth about 2.47 Malaysian Ringgit . For the same reason, many Singaporeans live in Johor Bahru or visit the city for shopping, entertainment, and dining. Many Singaporeans own property, businesses, and factories in Johor Bahru.
Tourism
- Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque
- Sultan Abu Bakar Royal Palace MuseumIstana BesarIstana Besar or Grand Palace is the royal palace of the Sultanate of Johor which is located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.-Overview:Standing tall in the city of Johor Bahru, the palace was built in 1866 by Sultan Abu Bakar...
- Sultan Ibrahim BuildingSultan Ibrahim BuildingSultan Ibrahim Building is the former state secretariat building of Johor. It is located at Bukit Timbalan in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The building was constructed between 1936 and 1939 and was completed in 1940 as the British colonial government attempted to streamline the state's administration...
- Dataran Bandaraya Johor Bahru
- Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum
- Johor Bahru Kwong Siew Heritage
- Johor Bahru Old Chinese templeJohor Bahru Old Chinese templeJohor Bahru Old Chinese Temple known as Old Temple by the locals, is a Chinese temple located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Located at downtown Johor Bahru of Jalan Trus, the temple is flanked by modern skyscrapers. This temple is one of the oldest structures in Johor Bahru...
- Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Hindu TempleArulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass TempleThe Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple is a major Hindu temple as well as one of the oldest temples in Tebrau, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It is also one of the state's tourist attraction...
- Sri Raja Mariamman Hindu Temple
- Danga BayDanga BayDanga Bay or Teluk Danga is the largest recreational park in the city of Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. It is located near Istana Bukit Serene, about 7 km from Johor Bahru's city center...
- Johor Bahru Zoo
Internal network
The Johor Bahru Central Business District (Daerah Sentral Johor BahruDaerah Sentral Johor Bahru
For other uses of the word Johor Bahru, see Johor Bahru page.Daerah Sentral Johor Bahru, or Johor Bahru Central District, is the commercial and political centre for the city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia....
) is located at the southern tip of the metropolitan area. Two major highways link the district to outlying suburbs: Tebrau Highway to the northeast, and Skudai Highway
Skudai Highway
Skudai Highway , also known as Senai Highway Jalan Tun Abdul Razak or Jalan Skudai, Federal route is a 29 kilometre partial-access highway in Johor, Malaysia, from the town of Senai to the Johor-Singapore Causeway, which connects Malaysia and...
to the northwest. Pasir Gudang Highway
Pasir Gudang Highway
Pasir Gudang Highway, also known as Federal Route is a major highway or large road in Johor, Malaysia that connects Tampoi North in the west to Pasir Gudang, Johor Port and Tanjung Langsat in the east. Pasir Gudang Highway is a four-laned highway, unlike the wider Skudai Highway which has six lanes...
and the connecting Johor Bahru Parkway cross Tebrau Highway and Skudai Highway, and serve as the middle ring road
Ring road
A ring road, orbital motorway, beltway, circumferential highway, or loop highway is a road that encircles a town or city...
of the metropolitan area.
The Johor Bahru Inner Ring Road
Johor Bahru Inner Ring Road
Johor Bahru Inner Ring Road, Federal Route is a multi-lane federal ring road highway that circles the Central Business District of Johor Bahru or Daerah Sentral Johor Bahru in Malaysia...
, which connects with the Sultan Iskandar customs complex
Southern Integrated Gateway
The Southern Integrated Gateway refers to a complex in Johor Bahru, Malaysia incorporating the city's main railway station, JB Sentral, and a customs, immigration, and quarantine complex , the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex or Sultan Iskandar Complex The Southern...
, aids in controlling the traffic in and around the central business district.
Issues with transportation congestion are currently being addressed under the Iskandar Development Region master plan.
Intercity network
The Johor-Singapore Causeway
Johor-Singapore Causeway
The Johor–Singapore Causeway is a 1,056-metre causeway that links the city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia across the Straits of Johor to the town of Woodlands in Singapore. It serves as a road, rail, and pedestrian link, as well as water piping into Singapore.The causeway is connected to the...
links the city to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
with a six-lane road and a railway line terminating at the Southern Integrated Gateway
Southern Integrated Gateway
The Southern Integrated Gateway refers to a complex in Johor Bahru, Malaysia incorporating the city's main railway station, JB Sentral, and a customs, immigration, and quarantine complex , the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex or Sultan Iskandar Complex The Southern...
, constructed in 2008. The Malaysia-Singapore Second Link
Malaysia-Singapore Second Link
Malaysia–Singapore Second Link is a bridge connecting Singapore and Johor, Malaysia. In Singapore, it is officially known as the Tuas Second Link. The bridge was built to reduce the traffic congestion at the Johor–Singapore Causeway, and was opened to traffic on 2 January 1998...
, located west of the metropolitan area, was constructed in 1997 to alleviate congestion on the Causeway. It is linked directly to the Second Link Expressway
Second Link Expressway
Second Link Expressway , is the expressway which links Senai North at North-South Expressway, Senai Airport and Taman Perling, Johor Bahru via its extension known as Pontian-Johor Bahru Parkway to the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link.Usually, travelling along the second link is much faster than...
, Johor Bahru Parkway, Johor Bahru Railway Station
Johor Bahru railway station
Johor Bahru railway station was a Malaysian inter-city station.By law, it was the railway immigration control outpost of the Malaysian Customs and Immigration, but immigration facilities were available only for southbound passengers, heading towards Singapore...
, and the North-South Expressway.
Airport and Seaports
Johor Bahru connects to regional and international centres: The Senai International AirportSenai International Airport
Senai International Airport , officially known as Sultan Ismail International Airport , is an airport located in the town of Senai, near Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The airport is the secondary hub for Firefly.-History:Opened in 1974, it serves the state of Johor as well as people from the southern...
, located north-west of the metropolitan area, serves regional and national airlines.
To the west of the metropolitan area, in Nusajaya, is the Port of Tanjung Pelepas
Port of Tanjung Pelepas
The Port of Tanjung Pelepas is a port for container ships located on the eastern mouth of the Pulai River in south-western Johor, Malaysia. Receiving its maiden vessel on 10 October 1999 on a three-month trial operation, it set a world record as the fastest growing port with of containers handled...
, which currently ranks as Malaysia’s largest container port since 2004, and ranked as 16th busiest container ports in the world in 2010.
Johor Port
Johor Port
Johor Port is located at Pasir Gudang in the southeast of Johor in Peninsular Malaysia. Built by the Johor Port Authority and run by Johor Port Berhad in 1977, it is the first port in Johor and is designed as a multi-purpose port that caters to practically all types of cargo. It is the first port...
is located on the eastern side of the metropolitan area in the industrial area of Pasir Gudang
Pasir Gudang
Pasir Gudang is an industrial town located 35 km east of Johor Bahru in Malaysia . It is the eastern end of the Johor Bahru metropolitan area. The population is around 100,000. It is connected by the 4 lane Pasir Gudang Highway, a trunk road, and a railway line to Johor Bahru...
. It is the country's most important commodity and mineral resources seaport, as Johor is home to a large number of major commercial plantations, and Pasir Gudang is home to a majority of Malaysia's resources refineries.
In addition, Singapore's seaports and airport also serve Johor Bahru's transportation or logistics needs, as they are less than an hour's drive from the city.
Radio Stations
Johor Bahru is home to three radio stations:- Best 104Best 104Best 104 is both Malaysia's first private radio station , and the first to be based outside of Kuala Lumpur, in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. It began transmission in 1988 primarily as a station to suit the listening taste of the then Sultan of Johor, Sultan Iskandar...
is the Malaysia's second private radio station, first private radio station outside Kuala LumpurKuala LumpurKuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
since 1988. - Johor FMJohor FMJohor FM, formerly known as Radio Malaysia Johor and Radio 3 Johor Bahru is a Johor state radio operated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia out of the Johor state capital Johor Bahru in Malaysia. It broadcasts in Malay and features local news and Malaysian music, 18 hours a day from 06:00 to 00:00...
is a government-owned regional station. - FM Stereo Johor BahruFM Stereo Johor BahruFM Stereo Johor Bahru or FMJB and JBFM is a regional radio operated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia exclusively for the Johor Bahru metropolitan area, and as a complement to Johor FM. The station came into being on 20 October 1988 by taking over the FM Stereo transmitter of the old Johor FM then...
is another government-owned station, covering only the city.
Johor Bahru is able to received all the radio station of Singapore.
Cityscape
Urban development
The city has completed a number of urban development projects aimed at making the city centre friendlier to pedestrians:- Jalan MeldrumJalan MeldrumJalan Meldrum , located in the heart of the city of Johor Bahru, next to Jalan Wong Ah Fook. It is name after a Scotsman, Dato' James Alexander Meldrum....
, formerly a two-way streetTwo-way streetA two-way street is a street that allows vehicles to travel in both directions. On most two-way streets, especially main streets, a line is painted down the middle of the road to remind drivers to stay on their side of the road. Sometimes one portion of a street is two-way, the other portion one-way...
, was narrowed into a single-lane street with an accompanying pedestrian mall having outdoor cafe kiosks. - The area around OCBC Bank and the City Council building was made more pedestrian-friendly.
- Legaran SeggetLegaran SeggetLegaran Segget is a pedestrian walkway in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia which is a covered-up river, Segget River. It is an urban renewal project by the Johor Bahru City Council to eliminate the terrible stench previously emitted from the river. The project which was completed in 2005 costs...
, or Segget Walk, was constructed. - Laman Tun Sri LanangLaman Tun Sri LanangLaman Tun Sri Lanang is a park in Johor Bahru. It is one of the urban development programs in the city. It is not a big park....
, a small park in the heart of the city, was constructed.
Sister cities
IstanbulIstanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
, People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(July 2006) Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
, Malaysia (2008) Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
Tangerang
Tangerang
Tangerang is a city in the Province of Banten, Indonesia. It is located about 25 km west of Jakarta. It is the third largest urban center in the Jabotabek region after Jakarta and Bekasi. It has an area of 164.54 km² and an official intercensal estimated population of 1,537,244 for 2005...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
See also
- Johor Bahru landmarksJohor Bahru landmarksJohor Bahru, Malaysia, has the following notable landmarks.-Famous landmarks:*Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim*Istana Besar*Sultan Iskandar Complex or JB CIQ*Istana Bukit Serene*Istana Pasir Pelangi*Johor Causeway-Shopping centres:...
- Daerah Sentral Johor BahruDaerah Sentral Johor BahruFor other uses of the word Johor Bahru, see Johor Bahru page.Daerah Sentral Johor Bahru, or Johor Bahru Central District, is the commercial and political centre for the city of Johor Bahru in Malaysia....
- Malaysia–Singapore Second Link
- Southern Integrated GatewaySouthern Integrated GatewayThe Southern Integrated Gateway refers to a complex in Johor Bahru, Malaysia incorporating the city's main railway station, JB Sentral, and a customs, immigration, and quarantine complex , the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex or Sultan Iskandar Complex The Southern...