ISKANDAR PUTERI IS NOW JOHOR’S SECOND CITY
Ruler makes official proclamation that city is also Malaysia’s 14th
SULTAN of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar yesterday officially proclaimed Iskandar Puteri as Johor’s second city, after Johor Baru, and Malaysia’s 14th.
The Johor Baru Central Municipal Council (MPJBT) will now be known as the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP).
The ruler made the proclamation at a ceremony in Medini Iskandar. He was accompanied by Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and other royal family members.
Present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar.
Khaled said the proclamation of Iskandar Puteri as a city was proof of the rapid development in the area.
“This development has and will continue to change the area’s landscape and transform Iskandar Puteri into one of the most dynamic growth areas in Malaysia.”
He said the name Iskandar Puteri also bore historical significance for Johor as it was the name of the state’s new administrative capital after it was relocated from Teluk Belanga, Singapore and was later changed to Johor Baru in 1866.
“The name was chosen and consented to by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim himself. It is very fitting considering that it is located in the current administrative capital of Johor, which is Kota Iskandar.”
He said Iskandar Puteri had strategic importance for Johor and Malaysia as all the high-impact economic activities that would make Johor the new economic power in Malaysia were centred in this region.
“It has a big role to play as it must be the catalyst for all these big plans and ideas. If it plays its role effectively and successfully, Iskandar Puteri will be in a class of its own and will compete with other successful and well-known cities, like Dubai, Doha, Tokyo, Seoul, London, Sydney and others.”
MBIP began with the establishment of the Johor Baru Central District Council on March 1, 1978, before it was upgraded to MPJBT on Jan 1, 2001. It has a jurisdiction over 40,296ha, which include 157 residential estates and 45 villages, and a population of almost 700,000.