Johor Baru city centre now to be known as Ibrahim International Business District. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
IT is shaping up to be an eventful and exciting year for Johor, with major infrastructure projects set to complete and the state amping up efforts to prepare for Visit Johor Year 2026 (VJY 2026).
Kicking things off is the change in Johor’s weekend to Saturday and Sunday, bringing an end to the 11 years of having Friday and Saturday the designated official weekend.
The change has been the talk of the town since it was announced by Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on Oct 7 last year.
The decision received positive feedback. Previously, the private sector observed the Saturday-Sunday weekend while schools and government offices rested on Friday and Saturday.
Gemas-Johor Baru electrified double-tracking project is expected to start operating in the second quarter of this year.
The standardised weekend will give families more quality time together, which will in turn make an impact on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and other commercial activities.
Also in the forefront is the use of the name Ibrahim International Business District (IIBD) in place of Johor Baru city centre.
In a circular, Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) announced that IIBD will be used from Jan 1 to support efforts in raising the business district’s profile.
Mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said the area postcode would also be changed to 80888 from 80000, with letters addressed to “80888 Ibrahim International Business District” rather than “80000 Johor Baru” previously.
He said the new postcode was only applicable to the 97.1ha IIBD as gazetted in the Johor Baru district local plan.
The roads in the IIBD include Jalan Khalid Abdullah, Jalan Ayer Molek, Jalan Ibrahim, Jalan Sultan Ibrahim, Jalan Dato Onn, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Jalan Dhoby, Jalan Trus, Jalan Segget, Jalan Ungku Puan, Jalan Abdullah Ibrahim, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Jalan Dato Dalam and Jalan Tun Razak.
The 304-bed Hospital Pasir Gudang is expected to begin operating in phases from March.
Full steam aheadExciting events, initiatives and improvements have been lined up to make Johor a top destination for both local and international tourists, according to Tourism Johor director Sharil Nizam Abdul Rahim.
The first major event for Johor – Asean Tourism Forum slated for Jan 15 to 20 – would also be used to reveal the VJY 2026 logo, he told StarMetro.
“We will feature a wide range of flagship events to showcase Johor’s cultural richness and attractions including Majestic Johor Festival, which has won recognition as ‘Best Domestic Event 2023’.
“It will be enhanced to attract even greater interest,” he said.
Sharil Nizam added that Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival and Chingay Festival, which are set to take place in February, would highlight the state’s vibrant traditions.
Other international events lined up are World Chef Championship in May, Majestic Johor Fishing Competition in June and Majestic Johor International Golf event in November, while the annual Festival Kraf Malaysia and Kejora Monsoon Surf Festival are set for December.
Another anticipated event is Desaru International Bike Week, with the date to be confirmed soon.
Sharil Nizam: State promotion plans include travel fairs and medical tourism roadshows.Besides that, Tourism Johor will be promoting the state with the theme “Majestic Johor” alongside Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, Tourism Malaysia and travel agencies by participating in key travel trade shows such as MATTA Fair and medical tourism roadshows.
“In addition, familiarisation trips will be organised so travel agents and tour operators can experience Johor’s attractions first-hand and share their insights with a wider audience,” said Sharil Nizam.
He added that Johor government had allocated RM67.6mil in its 2024 budget to improve infrastructure in key areas such Johor national parks and host international events.
For the 2025 state budget, an additional RM5.75mil had been allocated for tourism-related marketing and initiatives, he said.
Sharil Nizam added that accessibility to Johor would also be improved through enhanced infrastructure and connectivity.
“Efforts are being made to streamline land transport, including collaborations with Singapore to improve border-crossing procedures.
“The expansion of Senai International Airport will allow for more international flights and passengers, with upgraded facilities such as lounges, duty-free shops and Immigration services enhancing the overall travel experience,” he added.
He said VJY 2026 would not only promote popular attractions but also shine the spotlight on lesser-known destinations such as Pulau Mawar and the islands off Mersing, with their pristine beaches and clear waters offering opportunities for swimming and snorkelling.
Johor national parks, including Gunung Ledang National Park, as well as Tanjung Piai – the southernmost tip of mainland Asia – and Kukup in Pontian, a charming fishing village known for its seafood, would provide visitors with experiences to remember, he said.
Sharil Nizam highlighted that sustainability was at the heart of the VJY 2026 campaign, where Johor aimed to balance tourism growth with environmental preservation, addressing challenges such as overtourism and ecological impact, particularly in high-traffic districts.
“By focusing on sustainable tourism, diverse attractions and strong collaboration with stakeholders, Johor is well-positioned to make VJY 2026 a resounding success.
“With its rich cultural heritage, breathtaking natural landscapes and comprehensive promotional strategy, the state is set to offer an unforgettable experience to visitors,” he said.
Also getting ready to receive more visitors is Johor Zoo.
State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the attraction was expected to undergo further expansion in the first quarter of this year.
However, he assured the public that the zoo would not be closed while the second phase of the development plan was being carried out.
The expansion would mostly cover upgrading works within and around the zoo as well as installing more closed-circuit TV cameras and speakers.
Johor Zoo, the oldest zoo in the country, recorded more than 300,000 visitors within the first one-and-a-half months of reopening on Aug 31 last year.
New public facilitiesThe public can expect to halve travel time once the Gemas-Johor Baru electrified double-tracking project (Gemas-JB EDTP) starts operating in the second quarter of this year.
Johor investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman Lee Ting Han, when contacted, said the railway project was scheduled to operate in April.
Besides benefitting travellers, the project would further connect Johor with Kuala Lumpur and other ports in the country such as Port Klang to boost the logistics sector, he added.
Gemas-JB EDTP will have 11 stops passing through four districts in the state such as Segamat and Kluang before ending in Johor Baru’s JB Sentral station.
The journey from KL Sentral to JB Sentral is expected to take three hours and 30 minutes.
Another facility expected to be ready is the long-awaited Hospital Pasir Gudang.
State health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon confirmed that the government hospital, located in Bandar Seri Alam in Masai, Pasir Gudang, would begin operating in stages from March.
He said the Health Ministry had received approval to hire 1,800 healthcare workers for the hospital and the job placement process was ongoing.
“With 304 beds, we hope the new facility can ease the burden and congestion at Hospital Sultan Ismail,” added Ling.
Over at the North-South Expressway, construction on the southbound section along the Sedenak-Kulai stretch to expand the highway from two lanes (per side) to three is ongoing until the second quarter of 2025.
Following that, construction will shift to the northbound stretch as part of Phase One-Package A works.
The three phases of the expansion project, which kicked off in July last year, will involve 54km from Kulai to Machap in Johor.
Inking of JS-SEZ dealStakeholders are also waiting for the JS-SEZ agreement to be signed between Malaysia and Singapore after it was postponed in December.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced that the signing initially scheduled for Dec 9 was postponed to January this year.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, told Dewan Negara that the delay was because Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had come down with Covid-19.
The zone is a highly anticipated initiative intended to attract economic activities, prioritising sectors such as digital economy, electronics, green economy and logistics.
