Sultan Ibrahim Building or Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim is the former state secretariat building in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It is a historical landmark, which a visitor will rarely miss seeing in that locality. In the 1970’s this was the tallest building in Johor Bahru before other constructions began to emerge.
The construction of the Sultan Ibrahim building began in 1936 and it was officially declared open by Sultan Ibrahim himself in 1942. The building consists of 60,000 sq.ft and was designed by the prominent British architectural firm Palmer and Turner. The design of the building is quite fascinating with a combination of Johor Malay and Islamic and colonial architecture. In the front façade of the building, there is a floor painting depicting eight stars, which symbolizes the eight districts in Johor. You find fascinating carvings in the shape of a tower at the entrance and on the pillars there are various carvings of plants and leaves of cloves and black pepper, these are significant as they were once the two main produce of Johor. During World War II when the Japanese were occupying Malaysia, the Japanese Imperia Army used this building as a fortress and a command centre for spying on the British Army in Singapore. Later the Sultan Ibrahim building was used as the state secretariat building, chief minister’s office, and the state assembly hall until 2009 when they were relocated.
This is a very popular attraction hence you can ask the Johor hotel you are staying for directions and details on entering the building. A short drive from the famous Berjaya Waterfront Hotel-Johor Bahru to enter the compound, you will need to get permission from the security guards, unfortunately, visitors are not allowed inside the building. There’s a clear view of the Straits of Johor and the skyline of Singapore from the location.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+
