Johor Bahru,[a] abbreviatedJB, is the capital city of the Malaysianstate ofJohor. It is thecore city ofJohor Bahru District, Malaysia's second-largest district by population and economy. Covering an area of 373.18 km2, Johor Bahru had a population of 858,118 people in 2020, making it the nation's largeststate capital city by population. It is located at the southern end of theMalay Peninsula, bordering the city-state ofSingapore.
During the reign ofSultanAbu Bakar between 1886 and 1895, the city witnessed modernisation from a fishing village, with the construction of administrative centres, offices, schools, civic and religious buildings, and railways toWoodlands, Singapore. Japanese forcesoccupied Johor Bahru during thePacific War. Johor Bahru thus became the post-war cradle ofMalay nationalism, forming a major political party,UMNO at theIstana Besar in 1946. Granted city status in 1994, Johor Bahru is currently part of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone andIskandar Malaysia, the nation's largestspecial economic zone by investment value.
The present area of Johor Bahru was originally known asTanjung Puteri, and was a fishing village of theMalays.TemenggongDaeng Ibrahim then renamedTanjung Puteri toIskandar Puteri upon his arrival to the area in 1858, after acquiring the territory fromSultan Ali.[4] It was renamed to Johor Bahru bySultan Abu Bakar following the Temenggong's death.[5] The word "Bah(a)ru" means "new" in Malay; thus, Johor Bahru means "New Johor".Bahru is normally written as "baru" in English (Roman) characters, today, although the word appears in other place names with several English spelling variants, such as inKota Bharu, Kelantan, andPekanbaru,Riau (Indonesia). TheBritish preferred to write it asJohore Bahru orJohore Bharu,[6] though the currently-accepted western spelling isJohor Bahru—Johore is only speltJohor, without the letter "e" at the end of the word, in theMalay language.[7] The city's name is also spelt as Johor Baru or Johor Baharu.[8][9]
Johor Bahru was once known asShantou, or "Little Swatow", by the city'sChinese community, as most of the Chinese residents areTeochew whose ancestry can be traced back toShantou, China; they arrived in the mid-19th century, during the reign of Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.[10] The city, however, is generally known in Chinese asXinshan, meaning "New Mountain" (Chinese:新山;pinyin:Xīnshān), as "mountain" may be used to mean "territory" or "land".[11] The name "New Mountain" distinguished it from "Old Mountain" (Jiushan), once used to refer toKranji andSembawang (in Singapore), where the Chinese first cultivatedblack pepper andgambier on plantations before relocating to new lands in Johor Bahru in 1855.[12]
Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim, who renamed Tanjung Puteri to Iskandar Puteri, old name of Johor Bahru
Due to a dispute between the Malays and theBugis, the Johor-Riau Sultanate was split in 1819 with the mainland portion of theJohor Sultanate coming under the control ofTemenggong Daeng Ibrahim while theRiau-Lingga Sultanate came under the control of the Bugis.[13][14] The Temenggong intended to create a new administration centre for the Johor Sultanate to create a dynasty under the entity of Temenggong.[15] As the Temenggong already had a close relationship with the British and the British intended to have control over trade activities in Singapore, a treaty was signed between SultanAli and Temenggong Ibrahim in Singapore on 10 March 1855.[16] According to the treaty, Ali would be crowned as the Sultan of Johor and receive $5,000 (inSpanish dollars) with an allowance of $500 per month.[17] In return, Ali was required to cede the sovereignty of the territory of Johor (exceptKesang ofMuar which would be the only territory under his control) to Temenggong Ibrahim.[17] When both sides agreed on Temenggong acquiring the territory, he renamed itIskandar Puteri and began to administer it fromTelok Blangah in Singapore.[5]
SultanAbu Bakar, recognised as the founder of the modern city of Johor Bahru[18]
Wong Ah Fook, the royal builder who contributed to the early development of the city's infrastructure
As the area was still an undeveloped jungle, Temenggong encouraged the migration ofChinese andJavanese to clear the land and to develop an agricultural economy in Johor.[18] The Chinese planted the area withblack pepper andgambier,[19] while the Javanese dugparit (canals) to drain water from the land, build roads and plantcoconuts.[20] During this time, a Chinese businessman, pepper and gambier cultivator,Wong Ah Fook arrived; at the same time, theKangchu and Javanese labour contract systems were introduced by the Chinese and Javanese communities.[18][21][22] After Temenggong's death on 31 January 1862, the town was renamed "Johor Bahru" and his position was succeeded by his son, Abu Bakar, with the administration centre in Telok Blangah being moved to the area in 1889.[5]
Segget River at the junction of Wong Ah Fook Street and Ungku Puan Street in Johor Bahru,c. 1920.
In the first phase of Abu Bakar's administration, the British only recognised him as amaharaja rather than asultan. In 1855, theBritish Colonial Office began to recognise his status as a Sultan after he metQueen Victoria.[23] He managed to regainKesang territory for Johor aftera civil war with the aid of British forces and he boosted the town's infrastructure and agricultural economy.[23][24] Infrastructure such as theState Mosque andRoyal Palace was built with the aid of Wong Ah Fook, who had become a close patron for the Sultan since his migration during the Temenggong reign.[25] As the Johor-British relationship improved, Abu Bakar also set up his administration under a British style and implemented a constitution known asUndang-undang Tubuh Negeri Johor (Johor State Constitution).[23] Although the British had long been advisers for the Sultanate of Johor, the Sultanate never came under direct colonial rule of the British.[26] The direct colonial rule only came into effect when the status of the adviser was elevated to a status similar to that of aResident in theFederated Malay States (FMS) during the reign ofSultan Ibrahim in 1914.[27]
Japanese troops crouched in the street of Johor Bahru in the final stages of theBattle of Malaya toconquer Singapore: image taken on 31 January 1942.
The continuous development of Johor Bahru was, however, halted whenthe Japanese under GeneralTomoyuki Yamashita invaded the town on 31 January 1942. As the Japanese had reached northwest Johor by 15 January, they easily captured major towns of Johor such ofBatu Pahat,Yong Peng,Kluang andAyer Hitam.[31] The British and otherAllied forces were forced to retreat towards Johor Bahru; however, following a further series of bombings by the Japanese on 29 January, the British retreated to Singapore and blew up the causeway the following day as a final attempt to stop the Japanese advance in British Malaya.[31] The Japanese then used the Sultan's residence ofBukit Serene Palace located in the town as their main temporary base for their future initial plans toconquer Singapore while waiting to reconnect the causeway.[32][33] The Japanese chose the palace as their main base because they already knew the British would not dare to attack it as this would harm their close relationship with Johor.[31]
A view of thecauseway, after being blown up byAllied forces as a final action to counter the Japanese advance
In less than a month, the Japanese repaired the causeway and invaded the Singapore island easily.[34] Soon after the war ended in 1946, the town became the main hotspot forMalay nationalism in Malaya.Onn Jaafar, a local Malay politician who later became theChief Minister of Johor, formed theUnited Malay National Organisation party on 11 May 1946 when the Malays expressed their widespread disenchantment over theBritish government's action for granting citizenship laws to non-Malays in the proposed states of theMalayan Union.[35][36] An agreement over the policy was then reached in the town with Malays agreeing with the dominance of economy by the non-Malays and the Malays' dominance in political matters being agreed upon by non-Malays.[37] Racial conflict between the Malay and non-Malays, especially the Chinese, is being provoked continuously since theMalayan Emergency.[38]
The Astaka is the tallest residential building in Southeast Asia.
After the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963,[39] Johor Bahru continued as the state capital and more development was carried out, with the town's expansion and the construction of more new townships and industrial estates. TheIndonesian confrontation did not directly affect Johor Bahru as the main Indonesian landing point in Johor was inLabis andTenang inSegamat District as wellPontian District.[40][41] There was only one active Indonesian spy organisation in the town, known asGerakan Ekonomi Melayu Indonesia (GEMI). They frequently engaged with the Indonesian communities living there to contribute information for Indonesian commandos until thebombing of the MacDonald House in Singapore in 1965.[42][b] By the early 1990s, the town had considerably expanded in size, and was officially granted acity status on 1 January 1994.[43]Johor Bahru City Council was formed and the city's current main square,Johor Bahru City Square, was constructed to commemorate the event. A central business district was developed in the centre of the city from the mid-1990s in the area aroundWong Ah Fook Street. The state and federal government channelled considerable funds for the development of the city—particularly more so after 2006, when theIskandar Malaysia was formed.[44][45]
For more than ten years of building construction and rapid urbanisation in Johor Bahru, the city has experienced a series of property boom with many new higher-end high-rise apartments and commercial property, includingThe Astaka, which has been thetallest building in the city and outsideKuala Lumpur since 2018, and is one of the tallest twin towers in the world.[46][47][48] With the gradual improvement ofquality of life and infrastructure, Johor Bahru has also been ranked one of the global cities with the highest living quality, the third highest inSoutheast Asia after Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, according toMercer, as of 2024.[49] Today, it is also Malaysia's fastest city in terms of internet speed, second only after Singapore in Southeast Asia.[50][51]
As the capital city of Johor, the city plays an important role in the economic welfare of the entire state's population. According to the Doing Business Ranking published by theWorld Bank, Johor Bahru had the second most efficient governance in Malaysia in terms of property registration, only afterKuala Lumpur.[52] There is one member of parliament (MP) representing the singleparliamentary constituency (P.160) in the city. The city also elects two representatives to the state legislature from the state assembly districts of Larkin and Stulang.[53]
The city is administered by its local authority –Johor Bahru City Council, which is currently headquartered at MBJB Tower in Bukit Senyum,Plentong, just outside the city centre. It is headed by mayor Mohd Haffiz Ahmad, who took office since 3 January 2025.[54]
When Johor Bahruobtained city status on 1 January 1994, it had an initial area of 186 square kilometres (72 sq mi) through merger of the original Johor Bahru municipality area and four housing areas of Taman Daya, Taman Megah Ria, Kota Puteri Township and Taman Rinting that were transferred from Johor Bahru Tengah.[55] This was increased to 220 square kilometres (85 sq mi) in the year 2000 after first parts of Tebrau area were transferred from Johor Bahru Tengah municipality.[1] On 2 July 2014, the Johor State Government decided to cede parts of Pulai Mukim across Skudai River along Jalan Ismail Sultan, Second parts of Tebrau Mukim, West parts of Plentong Mukim and a small portion of Sungai Tiram Mukim from Johor Bahru Tengah through a redelination exercise that took effect on 1 January 2016.[56] At the same time, areas around Taman Rinting and Sierra Perdana were ceded to Pasir Gudang Municipal Council. Thus, the city limit increased to 373.18 square kilometres (144.09 sq mi).[57]
Thecity high court complex is located along Dato' Onn Road.[58] The Sessions and Magistrate Courts is located on Ayer Molek Road,[58] while anothercourt forSharia law is located on Abu Bakar Road.[59] The Johor (state) Police Contingent Headquarters is located on Tebrau Road.[60] Johor Bahru's Southern District police headquarters, which also operates as a police station, is on Meldrum Road in the city centre. The Johor Bahru Southern District traffic police headquarters is a separate entity along Tebrau Road, close to the city centre. Johor Bahru's Northern District police headquarters and Northern District Traffic Police headquarters are co-located in Skudai, about 20 km north of the city centre. There are around eleven police stations and seven police substations (Pondok Polis) in the greater Johor Bahru area.[61][62]Johor Bahru Prison was located in the city along Ayer Molek Road, but was closed down after 122 years operation in December 2005,[63][64] its function being transferred to an expanded prison in the town of Kluang about 110 km from Johor Bahru.[63] Other temporary lock-ups or prison cells are available in most police stations in the city, as in other parts of Malaysia.[65]
Johor Bahru is located along theStraits of Johor at the southern end ofPeninsular Malaysia with mostly flat landscape, save for some hills dotted around the city area.[66][1]
The city has an equatorial climate with consistent temperatures, a considerable amount of rain, and high humidity throughout the course of the year. An equatorial climate is atropical rainforest climate more subject to theIntertropical Convergence Zone than thetrade winds and with nocyclone. Daily average temperatures range from 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) in January to 27.8 °C (82.0 °F) in April with an average annual rainfall of around 2,350 mm (93 in).[67] The wettest months, with 19 to 25 per cent more rain than average, are April, November and December.[68] Although the climate is relatively uniform, it does show some seasonal variation due to the effects ofmonsoons, with noticeable changes in wind speed and direction, cloud cover and amount of rainfall. There are two monsoon periods each year, the first one between mid-October and January, which is the north-east Monsoon. This period is characterised by heavier rainfall and wind from the north-east. The second one is the south-west Monsoon, which hardly affects the rainfall in Johor Bahru, where winds are from the south and south-west. This occurs between June and September.[69]
Johor Bahru is a largely suburban city, which has considerable urban sprawl and a high degree of car dependency.[72] The state government has acknowledged the high degree of traffic congestion within the city, and has been making plans for the implementation of aLight Rail Transit (LRT) orBus Rapid Transit (BRT) system since at least 2017.[73] As of 2024, the state government is commencing plans to construct an elevatedAutonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) network in the city.[74]
Johor Bahru has an officialdemonym where people are commonly referred to as "Johor Bahruans". Theterms "J.B-ites" and "J.B-ians" have also been used to a limited extent. People from Johor are called Johoreans.[75]
The Malaysian Census in 2020 reported the population of Johor Bahru as 858,118, making it the largest state capital city in Malaysia by population.[76] It also forms the capital ofJohor Bahru District, which includesIskandar Puteri andPasir Gudang, and is the second largestdistrict in Malaysia with a population of 1.8 million, as of 2023.[77] The city's population today is a mixture of three main ethnicities – Malays,Chinese andIndians- along with otherbumiputras.[78] The Malays in Johor Bahru are strongly related to the neighbouring Riau Malays inRiau Islands,Indonesia with significant populations ofJavanese,Bugis andBanjarese among the local Johorean Malay population.[79][80] The Chinese mainly are from the majorityHokkien andTeochew (among the local Chinese) subgroups with minorities ofHakka,Cantonese,Henghua,Foochow andHainanese among its local Chinese dominant minority populace,[10] while the Indian community are majoritallyTamils (includingCeylonese), there are also small populations ofTelugus,Malayalis,Gujaratis,Bengalis,Sindhis,Pashtuns andSikhPunjabis among the Indian populace.[81] The Malays are majorityMuslims, while the Chinese are predominantlyBuddhists/Taoists and the Indians were mostlyHindus despite there is also a small numbers from the two ethnic groups that are Christians and Muslims.[82][83] A small number ofSikhs,Animists andsecularists can also be found in the city.[84]
The Indian community predominantly speaksTamil, with a minority ofMalayalam,Telugu andPunjabi speakers. 60% of the city's population is fluent in English with a higher rate among younger people.[87]
Johor Bahru is the fastest-growing city in terms of urbanisation in Malaysia, according toEuromonitor International.[88][89] It is the main commercial centre for Johor and is located in theIndonesia–Malaysia–Singapore Growth Triangle. Johor Bahru is also the core city ofJohor Bahru District, the second-largest district economy in Malaysia. It ranks second in the nation behind the capital,Kuala Lumpur, in terms of economic competitiveness and prosperity, according to theUnited Nations and Resonance, and is currently the 29th best Asian city, second in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur.[90][91][92][93]
It is classified as Zone A ofIskandar Malaysia, the nation's largestspecial economic zone by investment value.[94][95] Under this flagship zone, Johor Bahru has been designated by the government to develop various economic activities, such as finance, commerce and retail, and hospitality.[96] It is also the centre of arts and culture, hospitality, urban tourism, plastic manufacturing, electrical and electronics and food processing.[97] The main shopping districts are located within the city, with a number of large shopping malls located in the suburbs.
Johor Bahru hosts numerous internationalconferences, congress and trade fairs, such as theNikkei Forum, Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Housing andWorld Islamic Economic Forum.[98][99][100] The city is the first in Malaysia to practise alow-carbon economy.[101] In 2021, Johor Bahru was ranked 432nd globally in the Global City Lab's global cities report that assesses cities' economic brand values, the second in Malaysia afterKuala Lumpur.[102]
Tertiary-based industry dominates the economy with many international tourists from the regions visiting the city.[89][103][104] The city has a very close economic relationship with Singapore. Many of the city's residents work in Singapore.[105][106] Around 3,000 logistic lorries travel between Johor Bahru and Singapore every day for delivering goods and trading activities.[107] Many residents in Singapore frequently visit the city; some of them have also chosen to live in the city.[89][103][104][108][109] In 2025, Johor Bahru is ranked the world's 20th most attractive city for businesses, second in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur, according toOliver Wyman.[110]
Public electric buses in Johor Bahru, connecting city centre with the suburbs.
Other bus terminals include Taman Johor Jaya Bus Terminal[118] and Ulu Tiram Bus Terminal.[119] Larkin Sentral has direct bus services to and from many destinations in West Malaysia,Thailand and Singapore, while Taman Johor Jaya and Ulu Tiram Bus Terminals serve local destinations.[114]
Two types of taxis operate in the city; the main taxi is either in red and yellow, blue, green or red while the larger, less common type is known as alimousine taxi, which is more comfortable but expensive. Most taxis in the city do not use theirmeter.[120]
Johor state government has acknowledged the high degree of traffic congestion within the city, and has been making plans for the implementation of an LRT orbus rapid transit (BRT) system since at least 2017.[73] Johor's Chief Minister, Onn Hafiz Ghazi, acknowledged that "an efficient public transportation system in Johor Bahru is no longer a luxury but a necessity."[125] Plans for an LRT system were, however, shelved in 2024. The government claimed that the long wait-time of five to seven years needed for the completion of an LRT network was prohibitive, given the city's pressing need for a public transport network as soon as possible, owing to the opening of the RTS Link in 2026. They instead opted for an elevatedautonomous rail rapid transit (ART) network,[74] with construction works slated to begin by end-2025.[125]
Changi Airport is 36.3 kilometres (22.6 mi) southeast of the city centre, across the border in Singapore, and is linked by a frequent cross-border coach service operated by Transtar Travel.
Many government or state schools are available in the city. Thesecondary schools includeEnglish College Johore Bahru, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Engku Aminah, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Ismail, Sekolah Menengah Infant Jesus Convent, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (Perempuan) Sultan Ibrahim and Sekolah Menengah Saint Joseph.[138] There are also a number of international schools in the city. These includeMarlborough College Malaysia, Shattuck-St. Mary's Forest City International School, Raffles American School, Sunway International School. The other private universities areMonash University Malaysia (Clinical School), City University Malaysia,Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia,University of Reading Malaysia,University of Southampton Malaysia, and others. There are also a number of private college campuses and one polytechnic operating in the city; these areCrescendo International College, KPJ College, Olympia College,Sunway College Johor Bahru,Taylor's College and College of Islamic Studies Johor.[139]
The Johor State Library, also known as the Johor Public Library Corporation headquarters is the main library in the state, located off Yahya Awal Road.[140] Another public library branch is the University Park in Kebudayaan Road, while there are other libraries or private libraries in schools, colleges, and universities.[141] Two village libraries are available in the district of Johor Bahru.[142]
Johor Bahru was ranked the world's39th most visited city by international tourists, according toEuromonitor International in 2019, making it Malaysia's second most visited city by international tourists, after Kuala Lumpur.[143]
Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House, the first internationalopera house in Johor.
There are a number of cultural attractions in Johor Bahru. The Royal Abu Bakar Museum located within theGrand Palace building is the main museum in the city. The Johor Bahru Kwong Siew Heritage located in Wong Ah Fook Street housed the former Cantonese clan house that was donated byWong Ah Fook.[144] TheFoon Yew High School houses many historical documents of the city history with aChinese cultural heritage.[145][146][147] TheJohor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum on Ibrahim Road includes the history of Chinese migration to Johor along with a collection of documents, photos, and other artefacts.[148][149]
TheJohor Art Gallery in Petrie Road is a house gallery built in 1910, known as the house for the former third Chief Minister of Johor, Abdullah Jaafar. The house features old architecture and became the centre for the collection of artefacts related to Johor's cultural history since its renovation in 2000.[147]
TheChinese community holds theChingay parade annually by theJohor Bahru Old Chinese Temple, which unites the five Chinese ethnic groups in Johor, namelyCantonese,Hainanese,Hakka,Hoklo andTeochew. This co-operation among different Chinese cultures under a voluntary organisation became a symbol of harmony among the different Chinese people that deepens their sense of heritage to preserve their cultural traditions. TheJohor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum describes the history of Chinese migration into Johor from the 14th to 19th centuries during theMing andQing dynasties. The ruler of Johor encouraged the Chinese community to plantgambier andpepper in the interior. Many of these farmers switched topineapple cultivation in the 20th century, making Johor one of Malaysia's top fruit producers.
TheGrand Palace, one of the important historical buildings in the city.
TheGrand Palace is one of the historical attractions in the city, and is an example ofVictorian-style architecture with a garden.Figure Museum is another historical colonial building since 1886 which ever become the house for the Johor first Menteri BesarJaafar Muhammad; it is located on the top of Smile Hill (Bukit Senyum).[150] The English College (nowMaktab Sultan Abu Bakar) established in 1914 was located close to the Sungai Chat Palace before being moved to its present location at Sungai Chat Road; some of the ruins are visible at the old site.[24] TheSultan Ibrahim Building is another historical building in the city; built in 1936 by British architectPalmer and Turner, it was the centre of the administration of Johor as since the relocation from Telok Blangah in Singapore, the Johor government never had its own building.[147][151] Before the current railway station was built, there wasJohor Bahru railway station (formerly Wooden Railway) which has now been turned into a museum after serving for 100 years since the British colonial era.[149]
Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, located along Skudai Road, is the main and the oldest mosque in the state. It was built with a combination ofVictorian,Moorish andMalay architectures.[147][152] TheJohor Bahru Old Chinese Temple, which is the oldest Chinese temple in the city, is located on the Trus Road, dedicated to the Five Patron Deities from the five Southern Chinese Clans (Hokkien,Teochew,Hakka,Cantonese &Hainanese) in the city. It was built in 1875 and renovated by thePersekutuan Tiong Hua Johor Bahru (Johor Bahru Tiong Hua Association) in 1994–95 with the addition of a small L-shaped museum in one corner of the square premises.[19] The Wong Ah Fook Mansion, the home of the late Wong Ah Fook, was a former historical attraction. It stood for more than 150 years but was demolished illegally by its owner in 2014 to make way for a commercial housing development without informing the state government.[153][154] Other historical religious buildings include theArulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Hindu Temple, which is the first glass temple in the world,[85] Sri Raja Mariamman Hindu Temple, Gurdwara Sahib andChurch of the Immaculate Conception.[149][150]
TheDanga Bay is a 25 kilometres (16 mi) area of recreational waterfront. There are around 15 established golf courses, of which two offer 36-hole facilities; most of these are located within resorts. The city also features severalpaintball parks which are also used foroff-road motorsports activities.[149]
TheJohor Zoo is the oldest zoo in Malaysia, built in 1928.[155] It covers 4 hectares (9.9 acres) of land, it was originally called "animal garden" before being handed to the state government for renovation in 1962.[156] The zoo has around 100 species of animals, includingwild cats, camels,chimpanzees,gorillas,orangutans, and tropical birds.[157] Visitors can participate in activities such as horse riding or usingpedalos.[147] The largest park in the city is theIndependence Park.[158]
Wong Ah Fook Street, one of the major cultural and food streets in the city.[159]
Dataran Bandaraya was built after Johor Bahru was proclaimed as a city. The site features aclock tower, fountain and a large field.[147] TheWong Ah Fook Street is named after Wong Ah Fook. The Tan Hiok Nee Street is named afterTan Hiok Nee, who was the leader of the formerNgee Heng Kongsi, asecret society in Johor Bahru. Together with the Dhoby Street, both are part of a trail known as Old Buildings Road; they feature a mixture of Chinese and Indian heritages, reflected by their forms of ethnic business and architecture.[149][150]
The Mawar Handicrafts Centre, a government-funded exhibition and sales centre, is located along the Sungai Chat road and sells various batik andsongket clothes.[34] Opposite this is the Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (JARO) Handicrafts Centre which sells items such as hand-made cane furniture, soft toys andrattan baskets made by thephysically disabled.[149][161]
As of 2024, Johor has the most shopping centres out of any state in Malaysia, with a total of 156 within the state—primarily concentrated within Johor Bahru.[162] Some prominent shopping centres in the city includeMid Valley Southkey, Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, Toppen Shopping Centre,IKEA Tebrau,AEON Mall Tebrau City,Johor Bahru City Square, and others.[163]
The oldest cinema in the city was the Broadway Theatre which mostly screenedTamil andHindi movies. Other cinemas available in the city located inside shopping malls.[149] JLand Tower, located in the city centre, also features a glass-flooredskybridge and the city's tallest observation deck.[164]
The city's mainfootball club isJohor Darul Ta'zim. Its home stadium isSultan Ibrahim Stadium with a capacity of around 40,000. There is also afutsal centre, known as Sports Prima, which has eight minimum-sizedFIFA approved futsal courts; it is the largest indoor sports centre in the city.[165]
As of 2025, Johor Bahru has become the second safest city in Malaysia with the second lowest crime rate.[176] However, it once possessed relatively high crime index. In 2014, Johor Bahru South police district recorded one of the highest crime rates in the country with 4,151 cases, behindPetaling Jaya.[177] Singaporeans visiting or transiting through the neighbouring city are often targeted by criminals, such as those involved in gangs, illegal car cloning and red-light districts.[178][179][180]
^Another early attack to destabilise Malaysia was done with the murder of Malaytrishaw in Singapore that led to the racial conflict between Malay and Chinese there. At the first stage of the conflict, it was alleged the murder was done by a Chinese but this was however turned down when further investigation revealed the murder was actually done by Indonesian agents who had infiltrate Singapore in an attempt to weakening the unity of race there duringthe state was still part of Malaysia. (Drysdale, Halim and Jamie)
^"International Connections".Shantou Foreign and Oversea Chinese Affairs Bureau. Shantou Government. Archived fromthe original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved1 July 2015.
Guinness, Patrick (1992).On the Margin of Capitalism: People and development in Mukim Plentong, Johor, Malaysia. South-East Asian social monographs. Singapore: Oxford University Press. p. 177.ISBN978-0-19-588556-9.OCLC231412873.
Lim, Patricia Pui Huen (2002).Wong Ah Fook: Immigrant, Builder and Entrepreneur. Singapore: Times Editions.ISBN978-981-232-369-9.OCLC52054305.
Winstedt, Richard Olof; Kim, Khoo Kay (1992).A History of Johore, 1365–1941. M. B. R. A. S. Reprints (6) (Reprint ed.). Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.ISBN978-983-99614-6-1.OCLC255968795.
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