• Johor Bahru was founded in the mid-19th century, when Temenggong Ibrahim of Johor implemented an agricultural development system known as the Kangchu System, and introduced a large Chinese population to settle in the area.
• Johor Bahru’s Chinese name “新山” is connected with Singapore. In 1844, heeding the Temenggong’s call to settle in the area, Tan Kye Soon brought his people across the Johor Straits to Johor and settled at Tebrau. He named the settlement Tan Chu Kang. Nine years later, Tanjong Putri was established downstream of Tebrau, and was named “新山” in Chinese. This is because at that time, across the straits, on the Singapore side near Kranji, there was already another Tan Chu Kang that Tan Kye Soon had established earlier. As it was created first, it was known as “老山” (“old hill”), and the new town in Johor was named “新山” (“new hill”).
• Johor Bahru is one of the few cities in Malaysia whose original Chinese name has not undergone renaming.

From today onwards, Singaporeans can use their NETS ATM cards to make payment when shopping at Paradigm Mall in Johor Bahru, and need not worry about having not enough Ringgit on hand. (Lianhe Zaobao, 19/6/2019)

The original Malay name for Johor Bahru was Tanjong Putri. In 1855, when Temenggong Ibrahim gained control over Johor state, he established an office at Tanjong Putri, and renamed it Iskandar Putri. When Temenggong Abu Bakar succeeded the position in 1862, he moved the administrative centre from Singapore’s Telok Blangah to this location and renamed it Johor Bahru, meaning “new Johor”, to differentiate it from the old Johor sultanate.