NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Batu Pahat

Batu Pahat (also known as Bandar Penggaram) is a town and a district located on the west coast of the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies south-east of Muar, south-west of Kluang, north-west of Pontian and south of Segamat. Shortcut: WP:-( Vandalism is indisputable bad-faith addition, deletion, or change to content, made in a deliberate attempt to compromise the integrity of the encyclopedia. ... Shortcut: WP:-( Vandalism is indisputable bad-faith addition, deletion, or change to content, made in a deliberate attempt to compromise the integrity of the encyclopedia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Johor. ... Image File history File links MalaysiaJohorBatuPahat. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... District Muar District Area - Total (District) 2346. ... Kluang is a town and district located roughly in the middle of the state of Johor in Malaysia. ... Pontian also refers to a group of Greek people that formerly inhabited the north part of present day Turkey. ... Segamat (æ˜”åŠ æœ«ï¼‰is a town and district located in the north of the state of Johor in Malaysia, bordering two other states of Malaysia (Negeri Sembilan on the west and Pahang on the north). ...

Geography

Batu Pahat is located at 1°51′N, 102°56′E. It is 239 km from Kuala Lumpur. Next nearest town is Muar which is 50 km northwest of Batu Pahat. The town of Kluang is located about 52 km to the southeast. Johor Baru is located about 70 to 100 km to the south east of the town. District Muar District Area - Total (District) 2346. ... Kluang is a town and district located roughly in the middle of the state of Johor in Malaysia. ... This article refers to the largest city of the State of Johor in Malaysia. ...

The district itself borders the district of Segamat to the north, Kluang to the east, Muar to the west and shares a border in the southeast with the district of Pontian. The coast of the Straits of Melaka lies to the south.

Origin

The name Batu Pahat means 'chiseled rock' in Malay. The origin of this name can be traced back to a legend in the 15th century; when the invading Siamese troops were chiselling rocks at a rocky spot in the coastal village of Kampung Minyak Beku, in hope to get fresh water during their retreat. They were being chased by the Melaka troops, being led by Tun Perak, the famous Bendahara (Prime Minister) of the Malacca Empire. In fact, in around 1456, the Siamese army was led by Admiral Awi Di Chu camped in Batu Pahat before attacking Malacca ^[1]. Another story goes like this - after capturing Melaka, the Portuguese built a fortress - "A Famosa" of granite rocks taken from the mouth of Sungai Batu Pahat. The town acquired its name, which means "Chiselled Stone" from the quarries near the estuary^[2]. Renowned for its salted fish in the past, Batu Pahat was formerly known as Bandar Penggaram, which means town of salt-makers. In 1893, the present township was founded by Dato Bentara Luar, Mohamed Salleh bin Perang, acting on the orders of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar ^[3]. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Kampung Minyak Beku is a seaside village lying on the west coast of Johor, Malaysia. ...

Today, the ancient well can still be found in Minyak Beku, though little was done to maintain this ancient landmark which gives name to the town. For the town's centennial celebration in the early 90's, a quaint monument depicting a 'floating hand chiselling a rock' was set up in the town square. It became the landmark of the town instantaneously. Currently, the newly refurbished town square is popular with locals to chill out on weekend nights and also provides as a venue for many public festive celebrations.

Subdivisions and administration

The district (daerah) is further divided into mukim-mukim (pl.) or subdistricts. The subdistricts are designated with a number (Mukim 1 until 12,17 and 18):

Batu Pahat is administered by Majlis Perbandaran Batu Pahat or Batu Pahat Municipal Council which was upgraded from the previous District Council (Majlis Daerah Batu Pahat). This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ...

Batu Pahat district has 525 gazetted villages (kampung-kampung pl.) and village-clusters (kampung rangkaian) where smaller villages were annexed to their bigger immediate neighbours for the purpose of administration. The villages are represented by Ketua-Ketua Kampung (village heads), answering to the Penghulu (subdistrict chief) administering the mukim. The mukim itself however is under the jurisdiction of the District Officer or Pegawai Daerah. The district office of Batu Pahat also have five district engineers (Jurutera Daerah) to oversee all the subdistricts.

Demographics

The town of Batu Pahat has a population of about 140,000 local residents. There are about 59,587 households with 335,368 population in this district. The most populated mukim is Simpang Kanan with 139,640 people and the least populated is Bagan with a population of only 4,692.

Overall district-wide population distribution based on gender are almost equal with a male population of 169,087 and female population of 166,281. ^[4]

Economy

Batu Pahat has Johor's second largest manufacturing industry; emcompassing textile, electronic, food-processing, timber, porcelain and plastic industry. It produces 50% of the textile exported from Malaysia and there are about 300 textile factories. There are several industrial zones including Tongkang Pecah, Parit Raja and Sri Gading. Private industrial zones include Sri Sulong, Lian Aik and Buditama, ranging from 20 acres to 200 acres. Foreign investments include Sharp Roxy, Fujitsu and Mitsumi. There 20 public listed companies, including: Harta Packaging, PCCS, S&P, Sharp Roxy, Ramatex, Southex, Prolexus, Fujitsu, Yong Tai, Hwa Tai, AE, Kia Lim, Kayu Wangi, Hup Seng, Xiang Leng, Magnum, SKP, SPI Plastics, BP Plastics, Cheng Yap Sdn. Bhd.and Fast Track Solutions Bhd.

Agriculture is another important source of income for the locals. Batu Pahat has some of the largest rubber, oil palm, coconut and cocoa plantations in Johor. Fruit produce such as water-melons, papayas, bananas, pineapples and durians and 20 varieties of vegetables are being exported. Besides, there are several fishing villages near the Straits of Malacca, providing rich sources of fisheries. Ornamental fishes such as the Arowana are some of the major export from some companies such as Xiang Leng.

Education

Educational institutions in Batu Pahat encompass primary to tertiary education. There are 101 national primary schools whose medium of instruction is Malay language and 38 Chinese primary schools.

In Batu Pahat, there are 24 national seconary schools, 3 independent Chinese secondary schools and a vocational school. Among some of the secondary schools in Batu Pahat are:

For tertiary education, there are 2 polytechnics, 1 university (Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia) or locally known as Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia [UTHM] and 1 teachers' training college. Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tinggi Batu Pahat (SMKTBP), or more commonly known as High School Batu Pahat or Sekolah Tinggi Batu Pahat (STBP) among the locals, was established in 1914. ... Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Datin Onn Jaafar (SMKDOJ) or better known as DOJ or Pesta by most of the residents here was established in the early 1977. ... Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) is a main university in Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. ...

Transport

Batu Pahat is served by excellent land transport, both locally and intercities. New ferry terminal located at Minyak Beku servicing Indonesia port of Tanjung Balai, Bangkalis and Batam (http://www.bpft.net)

Interesting Facts and Legends

Batu Pahat is the home of Puteri Gunung Banang which is the family member of the traditional fable Puteri Gunung Ledang ^[5].

The first Malay dragon dance (Chinese culture) troop in Malaya was formed by Dato' Bentara Luar Mohd.Salleh Perang in Batu Pahat, only to have its final public performance in 1955, when cultural exchange gave way to racial politics. ^[6]

The place of Parit Sulong Massacre (The Bridge of Pekan Parit Sulong) was situated in this district. It is located in Mukim Simpang Kiri at Pekan Parit Sulong. The original bridge has now been demolished and it was replaced by new bridge, the plaque of the massacre exists until today. Parit Sulong is a small village in Johor, Malaysia on the Simpang Kiri River, 30 km east of Muar. ...

There used to be a Batu Pahat Bank. However, in 1963 OCBC created Pacific Bank to acquire 97% of Batu Pahat Bank. Singaporean businessmen incorporated the OCBC bank in 1919 to serve the needs of the local Chinese community. At the time Batu Pahat in Johore was a center for the production of rubber. OCBC bought the bank in anticipation of the union between Malaya and Singapore ^[7]. Until the 80's, both OCBC and Pacific banks were still located, face to face at the junction of Jalan Soga and Jalan Rahmat. On 1 January 2001, Pacific Bank Berhad merged with MayBank Berhad and PhileoAllied Bank Berhad after Malaysian Government directive. is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

On 16 October 1980, Batu Pahat police killed 8 members of a sword-wielding mob led by a Cambodian refugee-cum-cult leader, Ahmad Nasir Ismail, who claimed to be Imam Mahadi, a sort of messiah. They had stormed the police headquarter in Batu Pahat, injuring 14 policemen and 9 civilians. The self-styled Mahadi was among those killed. October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years). ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

Batu Pahat celebrated its 100th year of foundation in 1994. The delayed celebration was held in the town area with street cultural performances at night and ended with a firework display near the Dataran (town square).

The outskirts of Batu Pahat were severely affected by the Typhoon Utor associated floods not only once, but twice in a span of a month from December 2006 to January 2007 (2006-2007 Malaysian floods). Affected areas include Senggarang, Sr Gading, Parit Yanni, Parit Ahmad and Parit Besar.

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Tourism

Nature and Wildlife

Batu Pahat is a sanctuary for the endangered Lesser Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos javanicus). Known locally as burung botak or bald bird, this migratory bird belongs to the ciconidae family. The current population in Peninsular Malaysia is estimated to be less than 250. These giant birds, which can be as tall as a man, have attracted many curious residents and nature lovers to Taman Parit Labis in the evenings for bird-watching sessions. The housing estate, which is sandwiched between a rapidly developing town and the fringe of a secondary forest, has now become the best viewing spot for the bird ^[8].

Local Attractions

The Batu Pahat town square was renovated in the 1990s on the occasion of the town's centennial celebration. Sitting right in the middle of the square is the landmark, which depicts a floating hand chiselling a rock, is popular among locals to chill out at night. Common activities in the square such as children playing with balloon, remote-control cars and kite-flying can be seen during weekend nights. Surrounding the square are some old government offices. A recreational lake, named Tasik Y, is a favourite place for morning walk and exercise for the townfolks. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 119 KB) Taken by author at BP Walk, Batu Pahat. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 119 KB) Taken by author at BP Walk, Batu Pahat. ...

Batu Pahat is famous for its local delicacies and textile industry. Once regarded as the 'Little Paris' of Malaysia, Batu Pahat was famed for its 'red-light town' reputation in the 1960s - 1970's. However, there are only 1-2 bars of such kind left in town now like Tiong Ah Bar, the oldest bar in town.

Things to do

Shopping

Batu Pahat is one shopping paradise which offers more value for your money, compared to other cities in Malaysia due to its lower cost of living. The Summit^[9], a shopping complex, established in 1996, is popular among townfolks and also attracting Singaporean tourists for a stop-over shopping day tour on the weekends.

In September 2006, the French retail giant Carrefour invested a total of RM90 million to set up its latest chain of hypermarkets in Taman Flora Utama. This is the second Carrefour to be built in Johore, and the tenth in Malaysia. In January 2007, Batu Pahat Mall, a new hypermarket retail development, opened along the now burgeoning Jalan Kluang. This raised the profile of the surrounding area from a once squalid area of workshops, textile and apparel manufacturing to that of a commercial and retail area away from the town centre. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Besides, local "pasar malam" or night markets are held in residential area with petty traders setting up stalls, selling all sorts of food and daily necessicities with very cheap prices. These night markets are held every night in different places with a rotation schedule of a week.

In the older part of the town, Jalan Penggaram is a street specializing in garment trading and goldsmiths. These are old but still functional and well-maintained shop houses that remind Batu Pahat of its colonial past. Local Chinese prefer to call it "Japan Street" or "Hakka Street", probably due to the dominant Hakka population managing the garment stores.

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Gastronomy

Batu Pahat is reputed for its food, not only due to its varieties (Malay, Indian, Chinese or Western), taste but also its affordability. The Glutton Square, situated along Jalan Shahbandar, is the oldest hawker street in Batu Pahat, tracing its roots in the 70's. Jalan Rahmat, the main road in Batu Pahat business district, transforms into beautifully lit Batu Pahat Walk at night along which are some of the best food and bevearges stores. Centred on a renovated old cinema building (Rex), BP Walk is popular among locals and a bustling place for networking at the same time enjoying the local cuisines. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Recreation

Religious activites

There are 2 majestic mosques in Batu Pahat - Masjid Jamek and Masjid Batu Pahat. Batu Pahat also has over 400 Chinese temples, a reflection of it racial harmony. Very often, we can see busloads of Singapore tourists visiting these temples and this has become part of the income for the locals. There is a strong belief that good luck is bestowed on the prayers and they do come back very often. Some of these temples are beautifully renovated and thus have also become tourist attractions. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...

Nature and wildlife photography

Accommodation

There are also a few hotels which cater to tourists who wish to stay overnight in Batu Pahat town. These include:

Notable people from Batu Pahat

More photos

See also

The cities of Malaysia are (in order of grant of city status): George Town (1st January 1957) (current status disputed) Kuala Lumpur (1st February 1972) Ipoh (27th May 1988) Kuching North (1st August 1988) Kuching South (1st August 1988) Johor Bahru (1st January 1994) Kota Kinabalu (2nd February 2000) Shah...

References

External links

Categories: Articles lacking reliable references from March 2007 | Districts of Malaysian states | Towns in Johor Image File history File links Flag_of_Johor. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Johor Bahru district is located in the southern part of Johor, separated from Singapore by Straits of Johor. ... Kluang is a town and district located roughly in the middle of the state of Johor in Malaysia. ... Kota Tinggi Town Kota Tinggi is a small town located around 42 kilometers north-east of Johor Bahru, on the road to Mersing in Malaysia. ... Mersing is the name of a town and district in the northeast corner in the state of Johor, Malaysia. ... District Muar District Area - Total (District) 2346. ... Pontian Kechil is a town and district headquarters of Pontian, Johor. ... Segamat (æ˜”åŠ æœ«ï¼‰is a town and district located in the north of the state of Johor in Malaysia, bordering two other states of Malaysia (Negeri Sembilan on the west and Pahang on the north). ... Nickname: Motto: Berkhidmat, Berbudaya, Berwawasan (English: Servicing, cultured, visionary) Location in Malaysia Coordinates: Country Malaysia State Johor Establishment 1855 Granted city status 1994 Government - Mayor Latiff Yusof Area - City 185 kmÂ² (72. ... A place for resting and eating. ... Air Papan is a main places in Mersing district, Johor, Malaysia. ... Bakri often Bukit Bakri is a town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Bandar Baru UDA is a main township in the city of Johor Bahru, Johor. ... Residents of Bandar Dato Onn, Johor Land Berhad s latest jewel in the crown, a freehold development which is planned with 17,800 properties worth RM3. ... Nusajaya is a new town and when completed will be the new administration centre of Johor, Malaysia. ... Bandar Penawar is a main town in Johor Category: ... Bandar Tenggara is a main town in Johor Category: ... Batu Enam is a small town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Bekok is a town located at the eastern side of the district of Segamat, Johor, Malaysia. ... Benut is a town in Pontian, Johor, Malaysia. ... Bukit Gambir is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Bukit Kangkar is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Bukit Kepong is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. ... Bukit Naning is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Bukit Pasir is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Buloh Kasap is a town in Segamat District, Johor, Malaysia which is located about 10 km from Segamat town center via Federal Route 1. ... Chaah is the southernmost town in the district of Segamat, Johor, Malaysia. ... Desaru is a beach and resort area in Johor, Malaysia. ... Endau is a small town in Malaysia. ... Gelang Patah is a main town in Johor, located about 25 km from Johor Bahru via state route J4 or via Malaysia-Singapore Second Link. ... Gemas Baharu is a small town in the district of Segamat, Johor, Malaysia. ... Jemaluang is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Jementah is the third largest town in Segamat District, Johor, Malaysia with about 10,000 residents where most of the residents are Chinese communities. ... Johor Lama is a main historical places in Kota Tinggi district, Johor, Malaysia. ... Kahang is a main town in Johor, Malaysia Category: ... Kampung Tengah is the name of a small town and village in the district of Segamat, Johor, Malaysia. ... Kelapa Sawit is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Kempas is a main town of Johor Bahru area, Johor. ... Kluang is a town and district located roughly in the middle of the state of Johor in Malaysia. ... Kong Kong is a small village near Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. ... Kota Tinggi Town Kota Tinggi is a small town located around 42 kilometers north-east of Johor Bahru, on the road to Mersing in Malaysia. ... {{dablink|This article is about a Malaysian town. ... Kukup is a small fishing village located around 40 kilometres southwest of Johor Bahru, on the Strait of Melaka in Malaysia. ... Labis is the second largest town in the district of Segamat, Johor, Malaysia, with the population of about 20,000 people. ... Layang-Layang is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Lenga is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Lima Kedai is a small town in Johor Bahru District, Johor, Malaysia. ... Lok Heng is a small town in Kota Tinggi district, Johor, Malaysia. ... Lombong (the mine) is the name of the place where Kota Tinggi Waterfall located, 15 km from Kota Tinggi town. ... Machap is a town in Kluang District, Johor, Malaysia. ... Masai is a town located in east Johor Bahru District and is considered to be the oldest part of Johor Bahru in the area. ... Mengkibol is a main town in Kluang, Johor, Malaysia. ... Mersing is the name of a town and district in the northeast corner in the state of Johor, Malaysia. ... District Muar District Area - Total (District) 2346. ... Pagoh is a main town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. ... Paloh is a town in Kluang district of Johor, Malaysia. ... Parit Bakar is a small town in Muar, Johor, Malaysia. ... Parit Jawa is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Parit Raja is a town in Batu Pahat District, Johor, Malaysia. ... Parit Sulong is a small village in Johor, Malaysia on the Simpang Kiri River, 30 km east of Muar. ... Parit Yaani is a small town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Panchor is a town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Pasir Gudang is a port (Johor Port Authority) town located 35 km east of Johor Bahru. ... Pasir Pelangi is the royal village of Johor, Malaysia. ... Pendas is a fisherman village near Tanjung Kupang, Johor, Malaysia. ... Pekan Air Panas is a small town in the district of Segamat, Johor, Malaysia which is named after the hot springs available there. ... Pekan Nanas is a town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Pengerang is a main town in Southeast Johor, Malaysia ... Permas Jaya is a housing estate located in Johor Bahru District, north of Johor Bahru, and adminstered under the Masai municipality. ... Plentong was an old Chinese new village that is now a busy town in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. ... Pontian is a district in southwest Johor. ... Renggam is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Rengit is a town in the Batu Pahat District of Johor, Malaysia. ... Sagil is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Saleng is a small town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Sedenak is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Sedili is a town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Segamat (æ˜”åŠ æœ«ï¼‰is a town and district located in the north of the state of Johor in Malaysia, bordering two other states of Malaysia (Negeri Sembilan on the west and Pahang on the north). ... Semerah is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Senai is an airport town situated 25 kilometres from Johor Bahru, Malaysia. ... Senggarang is a town in Batu Pahat District, Johor, Malaysia. ... Simpang Renggam is a main town in Kluang district of Johor, Malaysia. ... Skudai is a rapidly expanding suburb of Johor Bahru, the largest city in and the capital of the state of Johor in southern Malaysia. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Sri Medan is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Stulang is suburb in Johor Bahru city area, Johor, Malaysia. ... Sungai Balang is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Sungai Karas is a small Chinese New_Village åŽäººæ–°æ‘ in Segamat, just about 3KM south of Labis Town. ... Sungai Mati is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Sungai Rengit is a main town in Southeast Johor, Malaysia. ... Taman Universiti is a university town near Johor Bahru City in Malaysia. ... Tampoi is a main town in downtown Johor Bahru, Johor. ... Tangkak is a town situated in the district of Muar in the state of Johor, Malaysia. ... Tanjung Balau is a beach town in Kota Tinggi district, Johor, Malaysia. ... Tanjung Kupang is a small village near Bandar Nusajaya in Gelang Patah, Johor, Malaysia. ... Tanjung Leman is a main places in Johor, Malaysia. ... Tanjung Langsat is a main industrial area and ports in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. ... Tanjung Piai is the most southern point of mainland Asia. ... The Port of Tanjung Pelepas is Malaysias newest port for container ships, located near the tip of continental Asia, in southwest Malaysia. ... Tanjung Pengelih is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Teluk Mahkota is a main places in Johor, Malaysia ... Teluk Ramunia is a main places in Southeast Johor, Malaysia. ... Tenggaroh is a main town in Johor, Malaysia. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Ulu Tiram is a town in Johor Bahru District halfway between Johor Bahru and Kota Tinggi on the old Johor Bahru-Kuantan trunk road. ... Yong Peng is a small town located in the northern part of Johor state, Malaysia. ... Kampung Melayu Majidee is a Malay village located in the city of Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. ... Kampung Nong Chik is a Malay village located in the city of Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. ... Kampung Tengah is the name of a small town and village in the district of Segamat, Johor, Malaysia. ... Pulau Aur, known locally as Aur Island, lies about 65km east of Mersing, Johor, Malaysia. ... Pedra Branca or Pulau Batu Puteh (both meaning white rock in Portuguese and Malay respectively) is an outcrop of rocks situated where the Singapore Strait, specifically Straits of Johor, meets the South China Sea, measuring at its longest, during low water spring tide, a mere 137 meters. ... Besar Island (formerly known as Pulau Babi Besar) is an island off the east coast of Johor, Malaysia. ... Pemanggil Island sits 45kms east of Mersing, the take-off point to most islands off the Southern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. ... Rawa Island is a coral island off the east coast of Johor, Malaysia, 16 km by boat from Mersing town. ... Pulau Sibu is one of Malaysias unspoilt islands off the Peninsulas East Coast, facing the South China Sea. ... Pulau Tinggi, otherwise known as Tinggi Island is a large uninhabited island, which rises 2000 ft (600 m) above sea level off the east coast of Johor, Malaysia. ...

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