Muar (town)
Encyclopedia
Muar, also known as Bandar Maharani is a town geopolitically situated in Muar District in the region or area of Muar in northwestern Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...

, Malaysia. It is the main and biggest town of the bigger entity region or area of the same name, Muar which is sub-divided into the Muar district and the new Ledang district
Ledang
Ledang is a new district in Johor, Malaysia. The district's principal town is Tangkak. The new Ledang district covers Tangkak town, Tanjung Agas, Kesang, Sungai Mati, Serom, Sagil and Bukit Gambir. The district is formerly the northern part of the Muar district which is separated from the southern...

, which was upgraded into a full fledge district from the Tangkak
Tangkak
Tangkak is a district capital of Ledang, in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies close to the neighbouring state of Melaka, especially to Jasin town and district of the state and about half an hour drive from Melaka city centre. The town is nicknamed "Fabric Town" or "Syurga Kain" in honor of its...

 sub-district earlier. Muar district as the only district covering the whole area formerly borders Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...

 in the northern part. Upon the upgrading of Ledang district, the Muar district now covers only the area south of Sungai Muar
Muar River
The Muar River or Sungai Muar is a river which flows through the states of Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang in Malaysia. The river also flows through Muar town.- History :...

, whilst the northern area beyond the river is in within Ledang district. However, both divided administrative districts are still collectively and fondly called and referred to as the region or area of Muar as a whole by their residents and outsiders.

Etymology

Muar also known as Bandar Maharani is said to have had other names earlier and the name itself Muar is believed to have originated and derived from its geographical location at the mouth or estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....

 of Muar River
Muar River
The Muar River or Sungai Muar is a river which flows through the states of Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang in Malaysia. The river also flows through Muar town.- History :...

 as the following different version of theories:
  • Teluk Dalam :Muar was formerly known as Teluk Dalam meaning "the deep bay" may be derived from its location at the estuary or the structure of the mouth of the Muar River which is wide open and deep; based on a sentence in one part of Hikayat Malim Deman; as in :-
MUAR belum bernama MUAR , MUAR bernama TELUK DALAM.
(MUAR has not been named MUAR , MUAR called TELUK DALAM.)
  • Muara :Muar name is said to be the summary for this old Malay
    Malay language
    Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...

     word Muara meaning "the wide open estuary".
  • Muak :Means "bored" or "tired" in paddling the boat travelling along the river which is large and curvy by the local people in the early days. The people started calling the river and place Muar deriving from the word Muak after a long time since then.
  • Munu-AR/Muar/Munar/Mu-aru :Muar may be a combination of the Sanskrit Hindu language words Munu meaning "three" and Ar which means "river". The old Tamil word Mu-Aru also means three rivers. There was a large state in South India which three important rivers merged into a river called Muar or Munar('Three Rivers State'). When the Indians traders came to the country to trade and look for gold during ancient times, they found the three rivers; the Sungai Muar, Sungai Serting and Sungai Pahang met and merged into Sungai Muar just like in the state of Munar in India, thus the river took the name Muar as from the name of Munar in India. The Muar name is said to be derived from these words and names.
  • Bukit Mor :There is also a hill not far from the Muar near Parit Jawa
    Parit Jawa
    Parit Jawa is a main town in Muar district, Johor, Malaysia. Directly translated - "Javanese Drain",PJ is located about 15km from Muar town and 39km from Batu Pahat town. It is famous for its seafood because they are fresh and also Kuah Asam Pedas the famous Malay cuisine...

     in the south of the "Padang" area called Mor Hill or Bukit Mor which may be the origin of the name of Muar.

  • Bandar Maharani :Modern Muar Town was officially opened and conferred Bandar Maharani title by Maharaja Abu Bakar
    Sultan Abu Bakar
    Sultan Abu Bakar may refer to:* Sultan Abu Bakar of Pahang*Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor* Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, named after Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor...

     translated as the Town of Empress the namesake of Maharani Fatimah who also graced the grand inauguration ceremony of the new town on 12 August 1887, to symbolically representing and recognizing the prominence status of Muar as the 2nd important and biggest town and district of the state of Johor after Johor Bahru the capital city in those days.


There a few famous old historic legends which evolved around the area of Muar namely, Hikayat Malim Deman (Epic of Malim Deman), Legenda Lembing Awang Pulang Ke Dayang (Awang's Spear Return to Dayang Legend) and Legenda Puteri Gunung Ledang (Mount Ledang Princess' Legend).

History

Muar is rich in history as mentioned in many historical records and archeological works. It is believed that the history of Muar started much earlier than the Sultanate of Malacca. There were many accounts recorded about the early history of Muar. In 1361, it was claimed that Muar was a part of the Majapahit empire. Another account also stated that Parameswara, upon his exile from Temasik before proceeding to found Melaka, had established a settlement at Kota Buruk
Kota Buruk
Kota Buruk, literally mean "Fort of Ruins" in Malay is a historic site believed to be located at the today's Kampung Tanjung Selabu, Jorak, Sungai Terap, Bukit Pasir, Pagoh, Muar, Johor, Malaysia. This site purportedly said to be identified as the original Kota Buruk location and is being preserved...

, Pagoh
Pagoh
Pagoh is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. Pagoh is accessible via one of the main interchanges on the North-South Expressway, the major expressway on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia...

, Ulu Muar, Muar witnessing the beginning of the Malacca Sultanate
Malacca Sultanate
Established by the Malay ruler Parameswara, the Sultanate of Malacca was first a Hindu kingdom in 1402 and later became Muslim following the marriage of the princess of Pasai in 1409. Centered in the modern town of Malacca, the sultanate bordered the Ayutthaya Kingdom of Siam in the north to...

 empire. Historically, Muar was also where the deposed heir of the Malacca Sultanate escaped to in 1511 following the invasion of the Portuguese, launched from Goa. During the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

's Afonso de Albuquerque
Afonso de Albuquerque
Afonso de Albuquerque[p][n] was a Portuguese fidalgo, or nobleman, an admiral whose military and administrative activities as second governor of Portuguese India conquered and established the Portuguese colonial empire in the Indian Ocean...

 invasion and attack in 1511, Muar played a role in resisting the Portuguese occupation of Malacca; the Kubu Bentayan fort was built by the last Sultan of Malacca, Sultan Mahmud to repel seaborne invasions, before he was defeated and retreat further to Pagoh, this time witnessing the fall of the Malacca Sultanate empire. During the Portuguese occupation era, the Portuguese built a fortress named Fortaleza de Muar to defend the colony against the attack of Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 and Aceh instead at the same strategic site of Bentayan. The colonial British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 did just about the same thing at the Muar River site near Bentayan in defence against the advance of Japanese Imperial Army in the Battle of Muar
Battle of Muar
The Battle of Muar was the last major battle of the Malayan campaign. It took place from 14–22 January 1942 around Gemensah Bridge and on the Muar River...

 in the 2nd World War. Muar is also the home for the one and only tomb of the 7th Malacca Sultanate, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah I
Alauddin Riayat Shah of Malacca
Alauddin Riayat Shah was a sultan of the Malacca Sultanate from 1477 to 1488.He was famous for going undercover at night to personally check on the well-being of his people, as well as on the condition of his sultanate itself. On one of these nights he was even reported to have run after a thief...

 (1477–1488). During the time of the beginning of Bugis
Bugis
The Bugis are the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi, the southwestern province of Sulawesi, Indonesia's third largest island. Although many Bugis live in the large port cities of Makassar and Parepare, the majority are farmers who grow wet rice on the...

 immigration from Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...

 Indonesia and their influence in Johor Sultanate, the famous five Bugis pioneer prince-brothers sea-warriors or rather pirates from Sulawesi, Indonesia; Daeng Marewah, Daeng Parani
Daeng Parani
Daeng Parani was one of the five Bugis brothers from Makassar, Sulawesi who established political dominance over the royal houses of Peninsular Malaysia...

, Daeng Celak, Daeng Manambun and Daeng Kemasi said to have come to reside in Liang Batu, Lenga, Muar before they and their descendants become the influential Temenggungs and even rulers later.

Muar, the Bandar Maharani, have been recorded by several historians, scholars and authors and in many important historical materials like old maps, poems, epics, manuscripts and books :
  • Prapanca (1361) (Nagarakertagama Poem) :Nagarakertagama famous poem - written in 1361 Prapanca (a Buddhist monk and priest of Majapahit Palace) told Muar
    Muar
    Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...

     as a colony part of Majapahit empire subdued by Hayam Wuruk
    Hayam Wuruk
    Hayam Wuruk, also called Rajasanagara, , was a Javanese King and the fourth monarch of Majapahit empire. Together with his prime minister Gajah Mada, he reigned the empire at the time of its greatest power. He was preceded by Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi and succeeded by his son in law...

     and prime minister, Gajah Mada
    Gajah Mada
    Gajah Mada was, according to Javanese old manuscripts, poems and mythology, a powerful military leader and mahapatih or prime minister of the Majapahit Empire, credited with bringing the empire to its peak of glory...

    (1350 to 1389).

  • João de Barros
    João de Barros
    João de Barros , called the Portuguese Livy, is one of the first great Portuguese historians, most famous for his Décadas da Ásia , a history of the Portuguese in India and Asia.-Early years:...

     ("Decades of Asia"), (1553) :João de Barros
    João de Barros
    João de Barros , called the Portuguese Livy, is one of the first great Portuguese historians, most famous for his Décadas da Ásia , a history of the Portuguese in India and Asia.-Early years:...

     who wrote in 1553 in his 2nd Décadas da Ásia ("Decades of Asia"), a history of the Portuguese
    Portugal
    Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

     in India
    India
    India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

     and Asia
    Asia
    Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...

    .stated that Parameswara (Paramicura) who were driven away from Temasik after he killed the representative of the King of Siam, Temagi; had escaped in exile and stopped in Muar
    Muar
    Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...

     and built a in rural areas of Muar
    Muar
    Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...

     called Pagoh
    Pagoh
    Pagoh is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. Pagoh is accessible via one of the main interchanges on the North-South Expressway, the major expressway on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia...

    .

  • Tun Sri Lanang
    Tun Sri Lanang
    Tun Muhammad bin Tun Ahmad, better known as Tun Sri Lanang, is the Bendahara of the royal Court of Johor Sultanate who lived between the 16th and 17th centuries...

     (Sejarah Melayu or Malay Annals) Shellabear version :In the Sejarah Melayu or Malay Annals states that Temasik during the reign of Parameswara(Sultan Iskandar Shah) was defeated by Majapahit Kingdom. But he and his family including his followers had fled to Pagoh
    Pagoh
    Pagoh is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. Pagoh is accessible via one of the main interchanges on the North-South Expressway, the major expressway on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia...

    , Muar
    Muar
    Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...

    and opened 2 areas on the banks of the Muar River
    Muar River
    The Muar River or Sungai Muar is a river which flows through the states of Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang in Malaysia. The river also flows through Muar town.- History :...

    ; the Biawak Busuk and another fort called Kota Buruk
    Kota Buruk
    Kota Buruk, literally mean "Fort of Ruins" in Malay is a historic site believed to be located at the today's Kampung Tanjung Selabu, Jorak, Sungai Terap, Bukit Pasir, Pagoh, Muar, Johor, Malaysia. This site purportedly said to be identified as the original Kota Buruk location and is being preserved...

     before moved to Melaka and opened up Melaka. In 1488, the incident of Malacca
    Malacca
    Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...

    's Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah I
    Alauddin Riayat Shah of Malacca
    Alauddin Riayat Shah was a sultan of the Malacca Sultanate from 1477 to 1488.He was famous for going undercover at night to personally check on the well-being of his people, as well as on the condition of his sultanate itself. On one of these nights he was even reported to have run after a thief...

     (1477–1488) who has died and buried in Pagoh
    Pagoh
    Pagoh is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. Pagoh is accessible via one of the main interchanges on the North-South Expressway, the major expressway on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia...

    , Ulu Muar during a visit, called "Sultan Mangkat Di Muar".

  • Tomé Pires
    Tomé Pires
    Tomé Pires was an apothecary from Lisbon who spent 1512 to 1515 in Malacca immediately after the Portuguese conquest, at a time when Europeans were only first arriving in South East Asia...

     (the Suma Oriental) (1512–1515) :Tomé Pires wrote a landmark book on Asian trade, the Suma Oriental que trata do Mar Roxo até aos Chins (Summa
    Summa
    Summa and its diminutive summula are mainly used, in English and other modern languages, for texts that 'sum up' knowledge in a field, such as the compendiums of theology, philosophy and canon law which were used both as textbooks in the schools and as books of reference during the Middle...

     of the East, from the Red Sea up to the Chinese) in Malacca and India
    India
    India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

     between 1512–1515, completed before the death of Afonso de Albuquerque
    Afonso de Albuquerque
    Afonso de Albuquerque[p][n] was a Portuguese fidalgo, or nobleman, an admiral whose military and administrative activities as second governor of Portuguese India conquered and established the Portuguese colonial empire in the Indian Ocean...

     (December 1515), which highlighted the emergence of Parameswara replacing his father, Raja Sam Agi as the ruler of Palembang
    Palembang
    Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...

     and later attacked by the king of Majapahit of Java
    Java
    Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...

    , King Batara Tamavill for declaring himself as 'Mjeura'(those who dare) before fled to Temasik(Singapore)where he killed Siamese King of Ayutthaya's representative, Temagi and he secretly ruled Temasik for 5 years. But fearing the revenge attack by the King of Ayutthaya, he fled to Pagoh
    Pagoh
    Pagoh is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. Pagoh is accessible via one of the main interchanges on the North-South Expressway, the major expressway on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia...

    , Muar with his 1,000 followers and lived there for 6 years when the Seletar
    Seletar
    Seletar is an area of Singapore within its North-East Region. Seletar commonly refers to the areas south of Yishun and west of Sungei Punggol, covering Yio Chu Kang near Jalan Kayu , the Lower Seletar Reservoir and part of Upper Thomson .The Seletar Planning Area, an urban planning zone under the...

     peoples were still occupying Malacca before he moved to Malacca and opened it later.

  • An old map of the Portuguese
    Portugal
    Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

     shows that Muar had a second Portuguese fortress in the Peninsular Malay
    Peninsular Malaysia
    Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...

     beside Malacca
    Malacca
    Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...

    . From the map, it is believed to be the Fortaleza de Muar built in 1604 by Emanuel Godinho de Erédia in triangular to defend the colony against the attacks of Dutch
    Netherlands
    The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

     and Aceh at the mouth of Bentayan River near the Muar River. It had vanished but believed to be located at the present location of Bentayan Express Bus Bus Station(formerly Pagoh Bus Stand) in Jalan Maharani, Muar.

  • Abraham Ortelius
    Abraham Ortelius
    thumb|250px|Abraham Ortelius by [[Peter Paul Rubens]]Abraham Ortelius thumb|250px|Abraham Ortelius by [[Peter Paul Rubens]]Abraham Ortelius (Abraham Ortels) thumb|250px|Abraham Ortelius by [[Peter Paul Rubens]]Abraham Ortelius (Abraham Ortels) (April 14, 1527 – June 28,exile in England to take...

     (1584) (Old Maps) :Old maps such as Map Ortelius A.D. 1584 shows Muar as a city located to the south of Malacca
    Malacca
    Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...

    .

  • Jan Huyghen van Linschoten
    Jan Huyghen van Linschoten
    Jan Huyghen van Linschoten was a Dutch Protestant merchant, traveller and historian. An alternate spelling of second name is Huijgen....

     (1595) (Old Maps) :Map Linschoten A.D. 1595 shows Muar as a city close to the state of Malacca.


Sultan Ali's Rule of Muar:
Muar was the royal town of northern Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...

 once. A civil war between the prince of Sultan Hussein Shah; Tengku Ali
Sultan Ali of Johor
Sultan Ali Iskandar Shah ibni Hussein Muazzam Shah was the 19th Sultan of Johor, who succeeded his father, Sultan Hussein after the latter died of natural cause in 1835. Over the next twenty years, Sultan Ali's claims to the office of Sultan of Johor were only recognised by some merchants and a...

 dan Temenggong Ibrahim|Dato' Temenggong Daing Ibrahim which was later settled by a treaty of agreement and understanding signed in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

 between the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 and Tengku Ali
Sultan Ali of Johor
Sultan Ali Iskandar Shah ibni Hussein Muazzam Shah was the 19th Sultan of Johor, who succeeded his father, Sultan Hussein after the latter died of natural cause in 1835. Over the next twenty years, Sultan Ali's claims to the office of Sultan of Johor were only recognised by some merchants and a...

; that ceded the control of the rest of state of Johor (except Muar region) formally to Temenggong Ibrahim|Dato' Temenggong Daing Ibrahim in returns of the sultan title with the condition the title is not hereditary for succession, and recognization of him as Sultan Ali
Sultan Ali of Johor
Sultan Ali Iskandar Shah ibni Hussein Muazzam Shah was the 19th Sultan of Johor, who succeeded his father, Sultan Hussein after the latter died of natural cause in 1835. Over the next twenty years, Sultan Ali's claims to the office of Sultan of Johor were only recognised by some merchants and a...

 and his reign ruled over the Muar region(state) of the area lies between the Muar River and Kesang River with an annual pension from the British Government under the terms of the treaty. Although Sultan Ali was in fact the real heir of the Johor Sultanate but due to his weakness, the Temenggong became the de facto ruler instead and begin the rule of the Temenggung in Johor onwards. Sultan Ali delegated the administrative affairs of Muar to the Raja Temenggung of Muar (also known by the title of Temenggong Paduka Tuan of Muar
Raja Temenggung of Muar
Raja Temenggung of Muar is a noble title used to refer to the family of Dato' Pasir Raja and his descendants, which ruled the Muar fief, which was a part of the Johor Empire from the middle of the seventeenth century onwards.-History:During the mid-seventeenth century, the Sultan of Johor took the...

) and rather spent most of his time in Malacca. Muar was sparsely populated in 1855 and had a population of 800 and no formal structure of government was formed. In 1860, Sultan Ali reportedly borrowed $53,600 from a Chettiar
Chettiar
Chettiar , also spelled Chetty, is a title used by various castes in South India especially in Tamil Nadu. In Kannada, it appears as Setty, Shettar and Shettigar, who are Padmashalis in Andhra Pradesh....

 money lender, Kavana Chana Shellapah and signed an agreement with Shellapah to contribute a portion of his monthly allowance to repay his debt. However, Sultan Ali found himself unable to pay settle his debts in time, and an angry Shellapah wrote to the British government in 1866. Pressured to liquidate his debts in time, Sultan Ali granted Shellapah the right to trade off Muar to the Raja Temenggung of Muar|Temenggong of Johor as mortgage if he is unable to pay off his debts in time. His relations with Temenggong Daing Ibrahim remained strained; in 1860, Sultan Ali allowed a Bugis adventurer, Suliwatang, the chiefs of Rembau
Rembau
Rembau is a town within a district that shares the same name that is located in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. With a population of 40,000 people the district is a stronghold of the matrilineal system known as adat perpatih, a customary practice inherited from the Minangkabaus, of...

 and Sungei Ujong to settle in Muar and prepare themselves for an attack on Johor. Such bad blood between the Sultan Ali and Temenggong Daing Ibrahim passed down to the Temenggong's son, Temenggong Abu Bakar, who succeeded his father after the former died in 1862. Shortly after Temenggong Abu Bakar became the Temenggong of Johor, he sent a letter to Sultan Ali to reassert of Johor's sovereignty over Segamat. Continued disputes over the sovereignty of Segamat led to an outbreak of a war between the Temenggong's men with the Sultan's. Eleven years later in 1873, attempts made by Suliwatang to collect custom taxes from inhabitants at the Muar estuary led to further conflict with Temenggong Abu Bakar's (who became Maharaja in 1868 and finally Sultan later in 1885, 8 years after death of Sultan Ali) men.

Upon Sultan Ali's death in Umbai
Umbai
Umbai is a town between the Jasin-Central Melaka border in Malacca, Malaysia. The famous Umbai's Medan Ikan Bakar is located at Umbai Beach.-Notable Features:*Makam Sultan Ali of Johor...

, Malacca in 1877, his 11-year-old youngest son, Tengku Mahmood, was named his successor, fueling anger and dissatisfaction of his oldest son, Tengku Alam Shah. The Raja Temenggung of Muar (also known by the title of Temenggong Paduka Tuan of Muar) and its village chieftains voted in favour of a merger of Muar with Johor following the succession dispute between the two of Sultan Ali's sons. Tengku Alam Shah, disputed the legitimacy of the chieftains' wishes and staked his hereditary claims over Muar, started to instigate and launch the 1879 Jementah Civil War
Jementah Civil War
The Jementah Civil War happened in 1879 in Jementah, Sultanate of Johor when Tengku Alam Shah, the heir of Sultan Ali of Muar refused to give the district of Muar to the temporary administration of Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor...

 in a bid to reclaim Muar, but was quickly defeated by the Maharaja Abu Bakar's forces and Muar was finally annexed and return back as part of the Johor state on 30 December 1879.

During the 1880s, the sovereign rulers of Johor, Temenggong Ibrahim and his successor, Sultan Abu Bakar introduced the Kangchu
Kangchu
The Kangchu system was a socio-economic system of organization and administration developed by Chinese agricultural settlers in Johor during the 19th century. The settlers organized themselves into informal associations , and chose a leader from among themselves...

 system and actively encouraged the Chinese leaders to set up new gambier
Uncaria
Uncaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It has about 40 species. Their distribution is pantropical, with most species native to tropical Asia, three from Africa and the Mediterranean and two from the neotropics. They are known colloquially as Gambier, Cat's Claw or Uña de...

 and black pepper
Black pepper
Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed...

 plantations and to bring in the Chinese immigrants as agricultural settlers and labourers to open and work in these plantations in Muar. A Western-style contracts (termed as Surat Sungai in Malay, literally "River Documents") to the Kapitan Cina (Chinese leaders) who have established the plantations along river banks in Johor. Letters of authority (Surat Kuasa) were issued when the first Chinese leaders began settling in Johor during the 1850s. The Temenggong quickly established goodwill relations with the Kapitan Cina by appointing one Malay administrator, Muhamad Salleh bin Perang
Muhamad Salleh bin Perang
Muhamad Salleh bin Perang , carrying the title Dato' Bentara Luar, held an important post in the administration of the Malaysian state of Johor from 1856 to 1912...

, the Dato' Bentara Luar who was able to speak the Teochew dialect, the language spoken by most Kapitan Cina and settlers and able to read Chinese for these purposes. Influx of these settlers mainly of Teochew
Teochew people
The Chaozhou people are Han people, native to the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong province of China who speak the Teochew dialect. Today, most Teochew people live outside China in Southeast Asia especially in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. They can also be found almost anywhere in the...

 origin, and were generally first- or second-generation ethnic Chinese who became an important part and parcel of life and population of Muar until today and helped shape the population demographic and the social economy of Muar. There is even a town called Bukit Gambir
Bukit Gambir
Bukit Gambir is a small town in Ledang, Johor, Malaysia. It is also situated near Tangkak town....

 meaning Hill of Gambier in Muar.

Modern Muar Town, known as Bandar Maharani, which is the main city center of Muar district, was founded by Dato' Bentara Luar, Muhamad Salleh bin Perang
Muhamad Salleh bin Perang
Muhamad Salleh bin Perang , carrying the title Dato' Bentara Luar, held an important post in the administration of the Malaysian state of Johor from 1856 to 1912...

 in 1885 and was only officially opened by His Majesty Maharaja Abu Bakar 12 August 1887 (who just became opted Maharaja title on 30 June 1868) and conferred the namesake Bandar Maharani meaning the Town of Empress, the title of Maharani Fatimah who had accompanied to graced the inauguration ceremony of the new town at Tangga Batu a place around Hentian Maharani bus station now where an auspicious "amulet" or "azimat" is said to be buried underground there then. Muar celebrated its centenary in a grand celebration attended by the Sultan of Johor in 1984.

The prosperity and rapid development of Muar made it the only town in Malaysia ever to have had its own local railway network in the early days. The Muar State Railway (MSR) operated from 1889–1925, linking Jalan Sulaiman in Bandar Maharani and Sungai Pulai for a distance of 22.5 km. A 1916 plan to extend the line to Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies south-east of Muar, south-west of Kluang, north-west of Pontian, and south of Segamat and the new Ledang district. The capital of the district is Bandar Penggaram, Batu Pahat....

 was aborted and the service totally stopped in 1925 due to financial and geographical constraints and its reduced importance after the construction of Jalan Abdul Rahman linking the Muar town and Parit Jawa
Parit Jawa
Parit Jawa is a main town in Muar district, Johor, Malaysia. Directly translated - "Javanese Drain",PJ is located about 15km from Muar town and 39km from Batu Pahat town. It is famous for its seafood because they are fresh and also Kuah Asam Pedas the famous Malay cuisine...

. It remains a memory and is only a part of history of Muar now with just the MSR steam locomotive relic on display at Tanjung Emas Park.
In the 2nd World War, the Battle of Muar, 14–22 January 1942, fought around the area from Gemencheh
Gemencheh
- Gemencheh Bridge during Battle of Malaya :During the Battle of Malaya in the Second World War, Gemencheh Bridge near Gemas was the site of a fierce battle between the Imperial Japanese Army and the 2/30 Battalion, 8 Division, Australian Imperial Force . Commanding Officer of the Battalion was...

, Muar River and Bukit Bakri in Muar was the last major battle of the Malayan Campaign of the Battle of Malaya
Battle of Malaya
The Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...

, fought by British Allied forces
Malaya Command
The Malaya Command was a command of British Commonwealth forces formed in the 1920s for the coordination of the defences of Malaya and Singapore.-History:...

 and Japanese forces from 8 December 1941 - 31 January 1942 in British Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...

. The Battle of Bakri or Siege of Bakri was a fierce battle of the fighting troops in Bukit Bakri on the 17 January 1942. The battle was a complete failure which resulted in the near-annihilation of the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...

' deployed 45th Indian Infantry Brigade
45th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 45th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in June 1941, at Ahmednagar in India and assigned to the 17th Indian Infantry Division. It was transferred to Malaya Command in January 1942 where it was virtually destroyed in...

, with heavy casualties for its two attached Australian's 2/19th and 2/29th Infantry Battalions and the eventual easy fall of Muar to the Imperial Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...

 forces. During the 1942-45 Japanese Occupation of Malaya
Japanese occupation of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak
Throughout much of World War II, British Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak were under Japanese occupation.The Japanese Empire commenced the Pacific War with the invasion of Kota Bahru in Kelantan on 8 December 1941 at 00:25, about 90 minutes before the Attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii at 07:48 on 7...

 era, Muar continued to serve as important administration town under the occupying Japanese army with many locals involved in the bulk of anti-Japanese resistance groups such as the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) and Force 136
Force 136
Force 136 was the general cover name for a branch of the British World War II organization, the Special Operations Executive . The organisation was established to encourage and supply resistance movements in enemy-occupied territory, and occasionally mount clandestine sabotage operations...

.

During the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....

 period, in the Bukit Kepong Incident
Bukit Kepong Incident
Bukit Kepong Incident was an armed encounter which took place on February 23, 1950 between the Federation of Malaya Police and the communist terrorists of Malayan Communist Party during the Malayan Emergency. This conflict took place in an area surrounding the Bukit Kepong police station in Bukit...

, the police station of Bukit Kepong
Bukit Kepong
Bukit Kepong is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. It is located near the Muar River. The town is infamous for the tragic Bukit Kepong Incident. Bukit Kepong is situated near the towns of Lenga, Chaah and Labis....

 was ambushed and brutally attacked by members of the Malayan National Liberation Army
Malayan Races Liberation Army
The Malayan Races Liberation Army was the name given by British security forces to a combatant in the Malayan Emergency, an insurrection and guerrilla war against the British and Malayan administration from 1948-1960 in what is now Malaysia....

 (MNLA), the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party
Malayan Communist Party
The Malayan Communist Party , officially known as the Communist Party of Malaya , was founded in 1930 and laid down its arms in 1989. It is most famous for its role in the Malayan Emergency.-Formation:...

, on 23 February 1950 killing 26 policemen and family members.

Muar also recorded the history of resistance against the communist attacks and British occupation by Panglima Kiyai Salleh, a religious and martial arts teacher of Banjarese
Banjar people
The Banjar are a coastal, native ethnic group that settled in Tanah Laut and Banjarmasin in the south and in Hulu Sungai in the north of South Kalimantan, Indonesia, the second largest city on the island of Borneo. Several centuries ago, some of them had travelled to many places in the Malay...

 & Javanese origin who founded the resistance guerillas troop Tentera Selempang Merah but unfortunately its many heroic stories were distorted and tainted with many factless, unbelievable and illogical myths. The Group of Seven or Orang Tujuh of Muar which consists of Tun Dr Awang Hassan(the former Governor of Penang), father of Tun Dr Ismail Dato Abdul Rahman Mohd Yasin(father of Tun Dr Ismail former Deputy Prime Minister), his brother Datuk Sulaiman Abdul Rahman, Tan Sri Datuk Hassan(former Menteri Besar) and Dato Hj Kosai Mohd Salleh was said to be active fighting the formation of Malayan Union
Malayan Union
The Malayan Union was a federation of the Malay states and the Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca. It was the successor to British Malaya and was conceived to unify the Malay Peninsula under a single government so as to simplify administration. The Malayan Union later became the independent...

 and advocating the independence of Malaya.

Geography

Muar district formerly covers 2346.12 km2, with a population of 328,695 (2000). The town of Muar is located at 2°3′N 102°34′E, at the mouth of the Muar River
Muar River
The Muar River or Sungai Muar is a river which flows through the states of Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang in Malaysia. The river also flows through Muar town.- History :...

. The town is about 150 km (93.2 mi) southeast of Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...

, and about the same distance (179 km) northwest of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

. It is 45 km south of Malacca Town
Malacca Town
Most tourist attractions are concentrated in its small city centre which encompasses Jonker Walk which houses Malacca's traditional Chinatown that exhibits Peranakan architecture. A Famosa Fort, St. Paul Hill are among the tourist attractions located in the Bandar Hilir, old city area. There are...

. It is also 50 km north of Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat
Batu Pahat is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies south-east of Muar, south-west of Kluang, north-west of Pontian, and south of Segamat and the new Ledang district. The capital of the district is Bandar Penggaram, Batu Pahat....

. The whole Muar district
Muar (district)
Muar District is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. The name "Muar" is also used for the name of its district, which formerly sub-divided between the Town of Muar and the sub-district of Tangkak. Tangkak sub-district has been upgraded into a full district known as Ledang District in year...

 (North and South) is roughly the size of two and a half Singapore.

The flat terrain of Muar's geographical ground and areas has enable the extensive use of bicycle and tricycle vehicles as the main and major mode of transportion in Muar in the early days. This believe to be the main factor and reason Muar was once the town with the most bicycles and the only town that requires valid license issued by the town council to own and use a bicycle in the country.

Climate

Muar, like the rest of peninsular Malaysia, enjoys a year-round tropical rainforest climate
Tropical rainforest climate
A tropical rainforest climate, also known as an equatorial climate, is a tropical climate usually found along the equator...

 which is warm and sunny, along with plentiful rainfall, especially during the southwest monsoon from April to September. The climate is very much dictated by the adjacent sea and the wind system.
In the 2006/2007 floods, unusually heavy rainfall in the states of Johor and Melaka resulted in the worst flooding in southern Peninsular Malaysia in history. Muar was not spared from this dreadful disaster which lasted almost a month. Many areas of Muar such as Pagoh
Pagoh
Pagoh is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. Pagoh is accessible via one of the main interchanges on the North-South Expressway, the major expressway on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia...

, Lenga, Kundang Ulu, Bukit Gambir
Bukit Gambir
Bukit Gambir is a small town in Ledang, Johor, Malaysia. It is also situated near Tangkak town....

 and Sawah Ring
Sawah Ring
Sawah Ring is a village in northern Johor, Malaysia. This village is famous for the beautiful Mount Ledang scenery that can be seen from the paddy field...

 were seriously flooded with some areas up to 10 feet (3 m). About 22,933 people were evacuated to relief centres

Administration

Muar District
Muar (district)
Muar District is a district in the state of Johor, Malaysia. The name "Muar" is also used for the name of its district, which formerly sub-divided between the Town of Muar and the sub-district of Tangkak. Tangkak sub-district has been upgraded into a full district known as Ledang District in year...

 was formerly divided administratively into Muar
Muar
Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...

 (Bandar Maharani) municipality and Ledang
Ledang
Ledang is a new district in Johor, Malaysia. The district's principal town is Tangkak. The new Ledang district covers Tangkak town, Tanjung Agas, Kesang, Sungai Mati, Serom, Sagil and Bukit Gambir. The district is formerly the northern part of the Muar district which is separated from the southern...

 (Tangkak
Tangkak
Tangkak is a district capital of Ledang, in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies close to the neighbouring state of Melaka, especially to Jasin town and district of the state and about half an hour drive from Melaka city centre. The town is nicknamed "Fabric Town" or "Syurga Kain" in honor of its...

) township. Upon upgrade of Tangkak sub-district to full fledge Ledang district, Bandar Maharani of Muar is now administered by Muar Municipal Council
Majlis Perbandaran Muar
See also Muar town and Muar district.Majlis Perbandaran Muar or Muar Municipal Council is a local authority which administrates Muar District. This agency is under Johor state government...

 (formerly South Muar Town Council, later Muar Town Council) under the Muar District Office, while Tangkak of Ledang is administered by Tangkak Town Council (formerly North Muar Town Council) under the Ledang District Office.

Muar

  • Bandar Maharani
  • Sungai Balang
    Sungai Balang
    Sungai Balang is a small town in the district of Muar, Johor, Malaysia. It is located on Federal Route between the town of Muar and Batu Pahat.Sungai Balang also noted as a sanctuary of migratory birds stopover along its coast beside Parit Jawa.-History:...

  • Sri Menanti
  • Parit Jawa
    Parit Jawa
    Parit Jawa is a main town in Muar district, Johor, Malaysia. Directly translated - "Javanese Drain",PJ is located about 15km from Muar town and 39km from Batu Pahat town. It is famous for its seafood because they are fresh and also Kuah Asam Pedas the famous Malay cuisine...

  • Parit Bakar
    Parit Bakar
    Parit Bakar is a small town in Muar, Johor, Malaysia. It is well known for its furniture industry. It is subdivided to "Parit Bakar Darat" and " Parit Bakar Laut". Parit Bakar Laut is 1 km towards the coastline from Parit Bakar town centre. Parit Bakar is located about 8 km away from Muar...

  • Bakri
  • Bukit Naning/Air Hitam
    Bukit Naning
    Bukit Naning is a main town in Muar, Johor, Malaysia. It is situated in the parliamentary constituency of Bakri....

  • Sungai Terap
  • Jorak/Pagoh
    Pagoh
    Pagoh is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. Pagoh is accessible via one of the main interchanges on the North-South Expressway, the major expressway on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia...

  • Lenga
  • Bukit Kepong
    Bukit Kepong
    Bukit Kepong is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. It is located near the Muar River. The town is infamous for the tragic Bukit Kepong Incident. Bukit Kepong is situated near the towns of Lenga, Chaah and Labis....


Ledang

  • Tangkak
    Tangkak
    Tangkak is a district capital of Ledang, in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies close to the neighbouring state of Melaka, especially to Jasin town and district of the state and about half an hour drive from Melaka city centre. The town is nicknamed "Fabric Town" or "Syurga Kain" in honor of its...

  • Kesang
    Kesang
    Kesang is a suburb of Muar, Johor, Malaysia. It lies on the border of the states of Johor and Melaka....

  • Serom
  • Grisek
  • Kundang
  • Bukit Serampang


A new administration hub to be called Muar 2 is being planned to be built at the location near Muar Bypass
Muar Bypass
Muar Bypass, Federal Route is the first highway build in Muar, a town in Johor, Malaysia.-History:The purpose to build the second bridge and a highway bypass in Muar began in 1998 because of massive jams which occurred on Sultan Ismail Bridge and the main town was a factor to build it.The Public...

 to house all state and federal government agencies and departments.

Transportation

Besides federal roads, Muar is also accessible via the North–South Expressway, Malaysia through the Tangkak and Pagoh interchanges exits which are located 20 km and 30 km from the town, respectively.

Sultan Ismail Bridge
Jambatan Sultan Ismail
Sultan Ismail Bridge is a bridge in Muar town across the Muar River in Johor, Malaysia. The bridge replaced old ferry services in 1960s.-History:...

, the first bridge across the Muar River
Muar River
The Muar River or Sungai Muar is a river which flows through the states of Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang in Malaysia. The river also flows through Muar town.- History :...

 is the landmark of the town, build in 1960 and completed in 1962 to replaced old ferry services in 1960s.

The new Muar Second Bridge
Muar Second Bridge
Muar Second Bridge is a famous landmark in Muar, Johor, Malaysia. It crosses the Muar River.-History:Muar Second Bridge is built to overcome the traffic problems on Sultan Ismail Bridge. The idea of constructing the bridge was mooted in 1998. The bridge was constructed between March 2001 and June...

 connecting Parit Bunga at the north and Sabak Awor at the south across the river is part of the 13 km Muar Bypass
Muar Bypass
Muar Bypass, Federal Route is the first highway build in Muar, a town in Johor, Malaysia.-History:The purpose to build the second bridge and a highway bypass in Muar began in 1998 because of massive jams which occurred on Sultan Ismail Bridge and the main town was a factor to build it.The Public...

 highway that was completed in 2005 is the latest landmark of the town. The highway that traverses through the outskirts of the town has ease the journey by diverting the traffic from Muar town.

Muar with status as an important trading and administrative town in the state of Johor for both the colonial British and the old Sultan's Johore State governments in the early days has contributed in shaping the landscape of the town.

Nearest airports to Muar are the Malacca's Batu Berendam Airport
Batu Berendam Airport
Malacca Airport Malacca Airport Malacca Airport (formerly known as Batu Berendam Airport is an airport located in Batu Berendam, Malacca in Malaysia. The Airport serves the city and the state of Melaka, as well as northern Johor....

, Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...

's Senai International Airport
Senai International Airport
Senai International Airport , officially known as Sultan Ismail International Airport , is an airport located in the town of Senai, near Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The airport is the secondary hub for Firefly.-History:Opened in 1974, it serves the state of Johor as well as people from the southern...

 and the Sepang's KLIA and LCCT
LCCT
LCCT, or also known as the Laurens County Community Theater, is a community theater organization located in Clinton, Laurens County, South Carolina, United States. It is also used as the district office for the local school district 56....

 airports. While the nearest train railway stations are Segamat
Segamat
Segamat is a town and district located in the north of the state of Johor in Malaysia, bordering two other states of Malaysia . It is located roughly 172 kilometres from Johor Bahru, the capital city of Johor State. It is 95 km travel distance via North-South Expressway from Johor Bahru to...

 or Seremban
Seremban
Seremban is the capital of the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan, located within the district of Seremban, one of the seven districts of Negeri Sembilan. The town's administration is run by the Seremban Municipal Council or Majlis Perbandaran Seremban...

 and Kluang
Kluang
Kluang is a town and district located roughly in the middle of the state of Johor in Malaysia. Kluang lies about 110 km north of Johor Bahru, east-southeast of Batu Pahat, west of Mersing and south of Segamat...

. Transfer by bus or taxi has to be taken from these airports and rail stations to redirect to Muar.

There are also express bus coaches to all the nearby towns and the major cities of Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...

, Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...

, Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...

, Kuantan
Kuantan
Kuantan is the state capital of Pahang, the 3rd largest state in Malaysia. It is situated near the mouth of the Kuantan River and faces the South China Sea. If one measures the distance along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, it is located roughly halfway between Singapore and Kota Bharu...

, Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....

, Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...

 etc. and also Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

 and Hat Yai
Hat Yai
Hat Yai is a city in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. Located at , it has a population of 157,359 in the city itself and about 800,000 in the greater Hat Yai area. Hat Yai is the largest city of Songkhla Province, the largest metropolitan area in Southern, and third largest...

 (south Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

). There are two bus stations in Muar; Hentian Maharani Bus Station and Bentayan Express Bus Station (formerly Pagoh Bus Station).

Ferry services to Dumai
Dumai
Dumai is a city in Riau province on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The city has an area of 1727 km² and has 174,465 inhabitants . Dumai is an important transport and trade centre, both regionally and international ....

, Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...

, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

 is also available on regular basis, departing from the Custom Jetty. Muar is the only district (besides the state capital Johor Bahru) in Johor that has its own Custom and Excise Duty Department office and checkpoint at its own jetty.

Traveling in town easily can be done by walking, or by taking a trishaw, public bus and taxi.

Telecommunication and Postal Service

Muar area is using the prefix +06 Area Calling Code of Malacca instead of the +07 Area Calling Code of Johor beside the +60 Country Calling Code of Malaysia.

The coverage of reception signal are extensive in all the Muar area for all the major mobile telecommunication service provider companies.

Free internet broadband wi-fi connection are widely available in many cafes and even hotels.

The postal area code for the main town of Muar is 84000 while the rest of the smaller area are using the postal code of 84+++.

Economy

Muar is internationally wellknown as the hub of the furniture industry of Malaysia. Industrial estates within Muar district are located at Tanjung Agas, Bukit Bakri, Jorak, Parit Bakar
Parit Bakar
Parit Bakar is a small town in Muar, Johor, Malaysia. It is well known for its furniture industry. It is subdivided to "Parit Bakar Darat" and " Parit Bakar Laut". Parit Bakar Laut is 1 km towards the coastline from Parit Bakar town centre. Parit Bakar is located about 8 km away from Muar...

, Pagoh
Pagoh
Pagoh is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. Pagoh is accessible via one of the main interchanges on the North-South Expressway, the major expressway on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia...

 and Tangkak
Tangkak
Tangkak is a district capital of Ledang, in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It lies close to the neighbouring state of Melaka, especially to Jasin town and district of the state and about half an hour drive from Melaka city centre. The town is nicknamed "Fabric Town" or "Syurga Kain" in honor of its...

. There are notably three big factories of multinational companies, i.e. STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is an Italian-French electronics and semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.While STMicroelectronics corporate headquarters and the headquarters for EMEA region are based in Geneva, the holding company, STMicroelectronics N.V. is registered in Amsterdam,...

, Micron Semiconductor Malaysia, (MICRON) and Pioneer at Tanjung Agas. The shopping centres and supermarkets or hypermarkets in Muar are Wetex Parade, The Store, Giant Hypermarket
Giant Hypermarket
Giant Hypermarket is a major supermarket and retailer chain in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and UAE. It is a subsidiary of Dairy Farm International Holdings .-History:...

, Econsave, Astaka Shopping Centre, Lagenda Complex, K-Mall and Hentian Maharani. The town is robust of business and trading activities, with many old traditional Chinese shops offering variety of products at reasonable and attractive price.
Muar agriculture is mainly made up of the major crops of rubber and oil palm beside some coconut, cocoa, fruits (durian, rambutan, duku, mangosteen, banana, papaya, pineapple, dragon fruit etc.), vegetables and livestock, poultry and fish farming.
Fishing are the major economy of some fishing villages like Parit Jawa
Parit Jawa
Parit Jawa is a main town in Muar district, Johor, Malaysia. Directly translated - "Javanese Drain",PJ is located about 15km from Muar town and 39km from Batu Pahat town. It is famous for its seafood because they are fresh and also Kuah Asam Pedas the famous Malay cuisine...

, Parit Raja, Parit Tiram, and Kesang.

Architecture

In the town centre, rows of well preserved pre-war commercial buildings still dominate the town’s architecture. There are many old shop houses and Chinese guilds and associations buildings with unique and beautiful elements in their structure and achitechture still preserved in the town.

Further up the town along the river where the main government administrative area located at the Jalan Petrie, Jalan Othman, Jalan Junid and Tanjung Emas area, many magnificent government buildings with the British colonial achitechture influence are easily visible. The Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim
Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim
Sultan Ibrahim Jamek Mosque is a historical mosque in the town of Muar in the Malaysian state of Johor. It is situated along Jalan Petri, close to the mouth of Muar River.-History:...

 mosque, the Sultan Abu Bakar Building, the High Court Building, the Police Traffic Department building, the Muar High School building, the old Telekom building, the Jabatan Kerja Raya(JKR) building, the 2nd Battalion Rejimen 501 AW's territorial army camp building, the Custom Department building and the official District Officer resident and others government official resident houses are the many old, heritage and historic buildings still standing in the area. The Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim
Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim
Sultan Ibrahim Jamek Mosque is a historical mosque in the town of Muar in the Malaysian state of Johor. It is situated along Jalan Petri, close to the mouth of Muar River.-History:...

 mosque with the English Victorian style architecture and its identical Masjid Jamek 2 Sultan Ismail mosque on the opposite side of the river provides a majestic view. Appreciating the splendour these the priceless heritage buildings accompany by the beautiful colonial influenced landscaping of rows of big shady trees by the riverside garden at Tanjung Emas park now would bring one’s memory back to the nostalgic yesteryears colonial times and also the past glory of the town.

Muar being the northern royal town of Johor have an official royal palace with a helipad situated at the Muar river bank at Jalan Petrie near Tanjung Emas.

Religious Buildings and Worship Places

  • Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim
    Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim
    Sultan Ibrahim Jamek Mosque is a historical mosque in the town of Muar in the Malaysian state of Johor. It is situated along Jalan Petri, close to the mouth of Muar River.-History:...

    , Tanjung Emas -completed in 1930 and was officially opened by Johor's Menteri Besar, Dato Mustafa bin Jaafar to replace the old wooden building build in 1887. Located along Jalan Petri, close to mouth of Muar River. The building captures an unusual combination of the Anglophile's Victorian and Moorish architectural influences similar to the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque in Johor Bahru will be of interest to any visitor with a fine eye for aesthetics.

  • Masjid Jamek 2 Sultan Ismail, Tanjung Agas -built in 1999, on the opposite bank of Muar River
    Muar River
    The Muar River or Sungai Muar is a river which flows through the states of Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang in Malaysia. The river also flows through Muar town.- History :...

     in Tanjung Agas, is exactly an identical replica of the Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim. The 2 majestic mosques are just like reflection image of each other on the other side of river is a breathtaking sight at the mouth of Muar River
    Muar River
    The Muar River or Sungai Muar is a river which flows through the states of Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang in Malaysia. The river also flows through Muar town.- History :...

    . This 2nd mosque can accommodate 5,000 Muslim congregations at any time.

  • Nan Hai Fei Lai Goddess of Mercy Temple - , also called Ah Nio Keng is located the riverside main road of Jalan Maharani opposite the Bentayan Express Bus Station, is the oldest Chinese temple in Muar.

  • Kerng Tang Kou Bioh Temple (粤东古庙) - The temple also called Tua Lau Yah Keng (大老爷宫) is located at the Muar Kwangtung Association building at the beginning point of intersection of Jalan Bakri and Jalan Meriam in town centre was founded by Dato'
    Malay titles
    The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....

     Chua Tuah Soon and early Teochew people
    Teochew people
    The Chaozhou people are Han people, native to the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong province of China who speak the Teochew dialect. Today, most Teochew people live outside China in Southeast Asia especially in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. They can also be found almost anywhere in the...

     immigrants in 1895. It is one of the oldest temples in Muar town. Its name Kerng Tang Kou Bioh(粤东古庙)in Teochew dialect means "East Guangdong's Ancient Temple" was derived from Teochew
    Chaozhou
    Chaozhou is a city in eastern Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China. It borders Shantou to the south, Jieyang to the southwest, Meizhou to the northwest, the province of Fujian to the east, and the South China Sea to the southeast...

    ’s geographical location in east of Guangdong
    Guangdong
    Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...

    /Kwangtung(粤东/广东) province in China and its ancient Teochew patron deity worshipped at the temple, the "Tua Nang Yah Kong" (大人爷宫) or "Xuán Tiān Shàngdì"
    Xuan Wu (god)
    Xuan Wu , posthumously known as The Dark/Mysterious Heavenly Upper Emperor , as well as True Warrior Grand Emperor , and commonly known as The Northern Emperor or Emperor Lord or Teh Kong in Hokkien...

     (玄天上帝) (literally the Lord of Profound Heaven or Black Heavenly Emperor God). It was initially brought in from Riau Islands archipelago, Indonesia
    Indonesia
    Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

     by Tan Song Hai(陈松海) for worship in a shop house at Jalan Maharani before it was saved in a fire and relocated and installed at present premises in 1913. The temple was renovated several times and a major one was when the entrance arch with traditional Chinese temple architecture and the big sitting deity statue at the compound build erected in 1998. During the "Chap Goh Mei" celebration on the 15th day of first lunar month of Chinese calendar
    Chinese calendar
    The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well...

    , the last day of Chinese New Year
    Chinese New Year
    Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...

     festival, drove of Teochew
    Teochew people
    The Chaozhou people are Han people, native to the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong province of China who speak the Teochew dialect. Today, most Teochew people live outside China in Southeast Asia especially in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. They can also be found almost anywhere in the...

     devotees will throng to congregate to pray at the temple and to observe a traditional custom, called "Puak Tau Sai"(博豆狮).

  • San Chai Temple, Parit Unas (善才爷庙) - The Parit Unas (南亭寺) Nán Tíng Sì Temple was founded by late Dato Kor Thian Peng, the temple's medium who was touted to be the foster son of late Johor Sultan
    Johor Sultanate
    The Sultanate of Johor was founded by Malaccan Sultan Mahmud Shah's son, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II in 1528. Johor was part of the Malaccan Sultanate before the Portuguese conquered Malacca's capital in 1511...

     for their close relationship ever since the medium helped to cure an illness of a Johor Sultan royal family member and conferred the Johor datukship award. According to legend, the temple divine deity god had protected devotees who seek to hide in the temple during 1969 May 13 racial riots and has in many occasions helps many devotees from near and far especially, droving flocks of local and Singapore to throng the temple to worship especially during the birthday of the divine god, San Chai Yeah(善才爷) on the 23rd day of the 1st moon of Chinese lunar calendar(around January/February after Chinese New Year) every year. A Chinese primary school adjacent to the temple, SRJKC San Chai was built with the Sultan's donation and operates with the aids of the temple.

  • Sian Kong San Temple, Bukit Bakri (神公山庙) - A beautiful and tranquil Buddhist temple located on top of a hill at Bukit Bakri with magnificent scenery.

  • Nattukottai Chettiars' Sri Murugan Temple - The oldest Hindu temple in Muar town in Jalan Meriam has a unique and beautiful steeple of the dome with old Indian Hindu achitechture element, but has been torn down as it is now undergoing some major re-construction. It is also fondly known as the Nattukottai Chettiars temple for the contribution of the community in building the temple where local devotees visit for the divine Lord Murugan's blessing since the early days it was built. There is a grand annnual celebration with a chariot procession. Tel : 06-9537358.

  • Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple - ஸ்ரீ முத்து மாரியம்மன் கோவில் Located at 29 Jalan Mohammadiah,, celebrated around October end yearly with the procession of the Amman Chariot.

  • Nagamalai Koil Alaiyam Temple, Bukit Pasir - Snake Hill temple, Bukit Pasir
    Bukit Pasir
    Bukit Pasir is a small town in Johor, Malaysia. One in Muar District, and another in Batu Pahat District.Pekan Bukit Pasir in Muar is small town between Muar Town to Pagoh Toll. About 30 minutes driving journey from Muar Town....

    , Muar. Local folks call it Hindu snake temple. This temple, located in the Sime Darby Palm Oil Plantation in Bukit Pasir is said to be a very auspicious temple among Hindus in Malaysia and Singapore. There are small shrines on the forested hill with cobra and Hindu God statues. According to The Star, Nagamalai Alaiyam is the third most important hill temple in Malaysia after Batu Caves
    Batu Caves
    Batu Caves , is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, located in Gombak district, north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.The cave is one of the...

     in Kuala Lumpur
    Kuala Lumpur
    Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...

     and Thannimalai temple in Penang
    Penang
    Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...

    .

  • Sri Maha Kaliamman Alayam Temple - is located at Jalan Junid Dalam, Parit Perupok Laut, Muar. Annual temple celebration, celebrated around end of October.

Historic Places

  • Balai Polis Bukit Kepong - This police station at Bukit Kepong
    Bukit Kepong
    Bukit Kepong is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. It is located near the Muar River. The town is infamous for the tragic Bukit Kepong Incident. Bukit Kepong is situated near the towns of Lenga, Chaah and Labis....

     with a history museum is famous for the brutal attack by the notorious communist terrorists on 23 Februari 1950 in the Bukit Kepong Incident
    Bukit Kepong Incident
    Bukit Kepong Incident was an armed encounter which took place on February 23, 1950 between the Federation of Malaya Police and the communist terrorists of Malayan Communist Party during the Malayan Emergency. This conflict took place in an area surrounding the Bukit Kepong police station in Bukit...

     during the Malayan Emergency
    Malayan Emergency
    The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....

     period.

  • Kubu Bentayan - The last fortress of the retreating last Malacca Sultanate
    Malacca Sultanate
    Established by the Malay ruler Parameswara, the Sultanate of Malacca was first a Hindu kingdom in 1402 and later became Muslim following the marriage of the princess of Pasai in 1409. Centered in the modern town of Malacca, the sultanate bordered the Ayutthaya Kingdom of Siam in the north to...

    's Sultan Mahmud Shah before it falls during the attack of the Portuguese
    Portugal
    Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

     in the 15 century situated at mouth the Sungai Bentayan, the Bentayan Express Bus Station (formerly Pagoh Bus Stand) location now. Another fortress but built by the Portuguese later, Fortaleza de Muar was also believed to be situated at the same area.

  • Makam Panglima Lidah Hitam, Parit Sakai - The grave of a legendary Malay warrior Panglima Lidah Hitam (the Black Tongue Warrior) or Baginda Zahiruddin from Padang Pariaman
    Padang Pariaman
    Padang Pariaman is a regency of West Sumatra, Indonesia. The regency capital is Parit Malintang. It has an area of 1328,79 Km2, and the population is 387,452 people...

    , Minangkabau, Sumatera, Indonesia
    Indonesia
    Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

    ; the founder Silat
    Silat
    Silat Melayu is a blanket term for the types of silat created in peninsular Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Singapore. The silat tradition has deep roots in Malay culture and can trace its origin to the dawn of Malay civilization, 2000 years ago...

     Lintau, whose tongues was black in colour when he died and buried in Parit Sakai Laut, Jalan Junid, Muar.

  • Makam Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah I, Kampung Raja, Pagoh - The tomb of Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah I
    Alauddin Riayat Shah of Malacca
    Alauddin Riayat Shah was a sultan of the Malacca Sultanate from 1477 to 1488.He was famous for going undercover at night to personally check on the well-being of his people, as well as on the condition of his sultanate itself. On one of these nights he was even reported to have run after a thief...

    , 7th Sultan of Malacca Sultanate from 1477 to 1488 is located at Kampung Raja, Ulu Pagoh.

  • Tapak Sejarah Kota Buruk, Jorak
    Kota Buruk
    Kota Buruk, literally mean "Fort of Ruins" in Malay is a historic site believed to be located at the today's Kampung Tanjung Selabu, Jorak, Sungai Terap, Bukit Pasir, Pagoh, Muar, Johor, Malaysia. This site purportedly said to be identified as the original Kota Buruk location and is being preserved...

      - The Kota Buruk
    Kota Buruk
    Kota Buruk, literally mean "Fort of Ruins" in Malay is a historic site believed to be located at the today's Kampung Tanjung Selabu, Jorak, Sungai Terap, Bukit Pasir, Pagoh, Muar, Johor, Malaysia. This site purportedly said to be identified as the original Kota Buruk location and is being preserved...

     fortress historical site located at Tanjung Selabu, Jorak, Bukit Pasir
    Bukit Pasir
    Bukit Pasir is a small town in Johor, Malaysia. One in Muar District, and another in Batu Pahat District.Pekan Bukit Pasir in Muar is small town between Muar Town to Pagoh Toll. About 30 minutes driving journey from Muar Town....

    , Pagoh
    Pagoh
    Pagoh is a town in the Muar district of Johor, Malaysia. Pagoh is accessible via one of the main interchanges on the North-South Expressway, the major expressway on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia...

    , Muar is where the founder of the Malacca Sultanate, Parameswara, stayed for more than 10 years upon his exile from Temasik before proceeding to open Malacca. It is said another historic fort 'Biawak Busuk
    Biawak Busuk
    Kota Biawak Busuk, literally mean "Fort of Smelly Monitor Lizard" in Malay is a historic site believed to be located near the site of another historic site the Kota Buruk, most possibly nearby or at today's Kampung Tanjung Selabu, Jorak, Sungai Terap, Bukit Pasir, Pagoh, Muar, Johor, Malaysia...

    ', opened by Parameswara, is also located just nearby.

Food and Cuisine

Local Malay foods such Mee Bandung, Rojak Petis
Rojak
Rojak or Rujak is a traditional fruit and vegetable salad dish commonly found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore...

, Satay
Satay
Satay , or sate, is a dish of marinated, skewered and grilled meat, served with a sauce. Satay may consist of diced or sliced chicken, goat, mutton, beef, pork, fish, other meats, or tofu; the more authentic version uses skewers from the midrib of the coconut palm frond, although bamboo skewers are...

 and Asam Pedas are the signature cuisine of Muar. Javanese cuisine such as Soto
Soto (food)
Soto, sroto, tauto or coto is a common dish, found in many regional variations of Indonesian cuisine. It is a traditional soup mainly composed of broth, meat and vegetables. There is no clear definition of what makes a soto, but normally many traditional soups are called soto, whereas foreign and...

, Mee Rebus
Mee rebus
Mee rebus or Mie rebus , is a noodle dish popular in Indonesia , Malaysia, and Singapore.The dish is made of yellow egg noodles, which are also used in Hokkien mee, with a spicy slightly sweet curry-like gravy...

, Lontong
Lontong
Lontong is an Asian dish made of compressed rice wrapped inside banana leaf that is then cut into small cakes as staple food replacement of steamed rice...

 and Nasi Ambeng are also available. Dessert includes goreng pisang(fried banana) and goreng tempeh
Tempeh
Tempeh , or tempe , is a traditional soy product originally from Indonesia. It is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form, similar to a very firm vegetarian burger patty...

 (fried Javanese fermented soya bean cake) with thick soya sauce with hot chili deeping. The local version of Nasi Beriani Gam is also available. Ikan bakar
Ikan Bakar
Ikan Bakar is an Indonesian, Malaysian and most of the South East Asian countries dish of fish or other forms of seafood grilled using charcoal. The word literally means "burnt fish" in Malay. Usually, the meat is marinated and then grilled; sometimes with a banana leaf between the seafood and...

 are local grilled fish and accompanied by sea foods such as prawn, squid, crab, mussel, and clams are eaten with banana leaf wrapped Nasi Lemak
Nasi lemak
Nasi lemak is a dish sold in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Riau Islands and Southern Thailand. The dish is considered the national dish and a national heritage of Malaysia. It is not to be confused with Nasi Dagang sold on the east coast of Malaysia or Terengganu and Kelantan although both dishes...

. They are available at Medan Ikan Bakar Sabak Awor, Jalan Bakariah and Medan Ikan Bakar Parit Karang, Kesang. Mee Siput; a local delicious snack eaten with sambal, local chili paste condiment is only available in Muar. Johor Laksa
Laksa
Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from the Peranakan culture, which is a merger of Chinese and Malay elements found in Malaysia and Singapore, and to a lesser extent Indonesia.- Origin :The origin of the name "laksa" is unclear...

 is another delicious local food.

Muar is also famous for many Chinese foods like the Muar Otak-otak
Otak-otak
Otak-otak is a cake made of fish meat and spices. It is widely known across Southeast Asia, where it is traditionally served fresh, wrapped inside a banana leaf, as well as in many Asian stores internationally - being sold as frozen food and even canned food.-Distribution:Otak-otak is found in...

 (乌达) , Teochew Or-Luak/Or-Chien(Fried Oyster omelette
Oyster omelette
Oyster omelette is a Chinese dish of Teochew/Fujian origin, made famous in Taiwan...

), Hainanese Steamed Chicken Rice ball, Muar Char Kway Teow
Char kway teow
Char kway teow, literally "stir-fried ricecake strips", is a popular noodle dish in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore. The dish was typically prepared at hawker stalls especially in Penang, Malaysia.It is made from flat rice noodles of approximately 1 cm or...

 (fried kueh teow with clam), Hokkien Char Hae Mee (Fried Prawn Mee), Cantonese Wonton Mee, Muar Char Siew Perng(Red Roasted Meat Rice), Teochew Lo-Ak-Perng(Braised Duck Rice), Teochew Mee Pok
Mee pok
Mee pok is a type of Chinese noodle characterized by its flat and yellow appearance, varying in thickness and width. The dish is of Teochew origin and is commonly served in a number of countries such as Chaoshan , Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand...

(Fish Ball Thin Noodle), Teochew Her-Moi(Fish Soup Porridge
Porridge
Porridge is a dish made by boiling oats or other cereal meals in water, milk, or both. It is usually served hot in a bowl or dish...

), Teochew Kueh-Chap(Big Pieces Flat Kueh Teow in Soup with Braised Meat, Offal, Egg and Bean Curd), Teochew Chwee Kueh
Chwee kueh
Chwee kueh is a type of steamed rice cake, a cuisine of Singapore and Johor.To make chwee kueh, rice flour and water are mixed together to form a slightly viscous mixture. They are then placed in small cup-shaped containers that look like saucers and steamed, forming a characteristic bowl-like...

 (cup shaped steamed rice flour cakes topped with chopped preserved/salted radish), Teochew Chai Tao Kueh
Chai tow kway
Chai tao kway is a common dish or dim sum of Teochew cuisine in Chaoshan , Singapore and Malaysia, consisting of stir-fried cubes of radish cake.-Names:...

 (fried raddish cake), Cantonese Chok
Chok
Chok may refer to:*A Singaporean masculine given name:** Goh Chok Tong , second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore** Lionel Chok , Singaporean film-maker and director*Chok, a handwoven cloth from Central Thailand...

 (Congee
Congee
Congee is a type of rice porridge popular in many Asian countries. It can be eaten alone or served with a side dish. Names for congee are as varied as the style of its preparation...

), Simpang Jeram's Loy Her Bee Hoon (haruan/snake head fish vermicelli soup), Bak Kut Teh
Bak kut teh
Bak-kut-teh is a Chinese soup popularly served in Malaysia, Singapore, Mainland China and Taiwan and also, neighbouring regions like Riau Islands and Southern Thailand.The name literally translates as "meat bone tea", and, at its simplest, consists of meaty pork ribs simmered in a complex broth...

 (herbal pork ribs soup), Teochew Ter Chap Cheng Therng(Pig's organ soup
Pig's organ soup
Pig's organ soup is a Malaysian and Singaporean soup originating in Teochew/Chaozhou, China. The dish is a clear and refreshing soup; the reason why sometimes referred just as chhing-thng , served with other optional side dishes as well as rice...

), Curry Laksa
Laksa
Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from the Peranakan culture, which is a merger of Chinese and Malay elements found in Malaysia and Singapore, and to a lesser extent Indonesia.- Origin :The origin of the name "laksa" is unclear...

, Hakka Yong Tau Foo
Yong tau foo
Yong tau foo is a Chinese soup dish with Hakka origins commonly found in China, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. There are also Teochew and Hokkien variations....

 (Stuffed Bean Curds variety), Chee Cheong Fun, Mi/Bang Chien Kueh (Kuih Apam Balik Cina) etc. are must-try local Chinese delicacies for visitors. Foods centres can be found at Muar Bus Station (Malay), Tanjung Emas (Mixed), Jalan Bentayan's Bentayan Hawker Centre(Chinese) and Jalan Haji Abu (Chinese), famously known as "T'am Cjia Kuay" (贪吃街) literally "the glutton voracious eating street" by the Chinese befitting its reputation as the food haven of the town. There are also a few Chinese restaurants serving nice Pau and Dimsum (Chinese bun and dumpling) for breakfast.

There are also many Chinese restaurants and Malay food stalls offering variety of local cuisine on their menus. On different days of the week there are Pasar Malam or night markets and Pasar Tani selling many local foods at different locations of the town. Famous local Chinese festival delicacies like Thong Chiew Guek Peah-Mooncakes, Tao Sah Peah-Red Bean Paste Cakes are available at the Yong Sheng Confectioneries and Gift Shop and Muar Yuen Chen Siang shop for their famous Bak Kua-Barbecued Pork.

Indian cuisine such as Banana Leaf Rice, Nasi Kandar, Mee Rojak, Rojak Mamak, Putumayam, variety of bread like Roti Canai, Roti Telur, Roti Sardin, Roti Prata, Roti Jala, Tosei, Roti Nan, Murtabak, Kebab with their superb Indian curry and dal gravy; great soups like Sup Kambing, Sup Tulang and Sup Ekor; and not forgetting refreshing cold dessert; Ice Shaved Cendol with thick coconut milk and coconut brown sugar and Teh Tarik at some Indian foods stalls and restaurants.

Muar is popular for its Sirap Bandung (Rose Syrup with milk with optional soda and cincau) beverage which is normally served during Malay wedding reception, but also easily available at most Malay food stalls and restaurant. Pear Juice sold at the fruit stalls at Jalan Yahya have a unique taste compared to pear juice from other areas.

Visiting some restaurants and coffee shops in Muar would give nostalgic experience since the environment and food/beverage being served have not changed since the 60s and 70s. Coffee bean and powder of Muar is famous among the locals and tourists. A standard breakfast includes a cup Muar coffee, the butter and kaya spread roti bakar (bread toast) and half-boiled egg.

Culture and Tradition

Muar is the birthplace of ‘Ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...

', Johor’s traditional musical heritage, which has a Persian
Persian literature
Persian literature spans two-and-a-half millennia, though much of the pre-Islamic material has been lost. Its sources have been within historical Persia including present-day Iran as well as regions of Central Asia where the Persian language has historically been the national language...

 origin. Muar is also the birthplace of several type of Zapin
Zapin
Zapin is a dance form that is popular in Malaysia and in Indonesia, especially in Malay-populated provinces in Sumatera and West Kalimantan...

 dances like Zapin Lenga, Zapin Parit Bagan, Zapin Muar and Zapin Putar Alam and also the Ceracap Inai dance. Zapin is a combination of semi-squatting style Malay dance with Arabic influence. The dancers usually perform in pairs and are accompanied by a traditional music ensemble normally consists of the gambus, accordion, violin, marwas (bongos), rebana (drum) and dok. Usually Zapin
Zapin
Zapin is a dance form that is popular in Malaysia and in Indonesia, especially in Malay-populated provinces in Sumatera and West Kalimantan...

 music is very alive and energetic. Keroncong is a popular and favourite musical and songs among the Malays
Malays
Malays may refer to:* Ethnic Malays, the ethnic group located primarily in the Malay peninsula, and parts of Sumatra and Borneo.* Malay race, a racial category encompassing peoples of South East Asia and sometimes the Pacific Islands....

 of Javanese descends in Muar.

The traditional Javanese 'Kuda Kepang', a traditional horse dance and 'Barongan' dance originating from Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

 is believed to be best performed by the Muar Malays
Malays
Malays may refer to:* Ethnic Malays, the ethnic group located primarily in the Malay peninsula, and parts of Sumatra and Borneo.* Malay race, a racial category encompassing peoples of South East Asia and sometimes the Pacific Islands....

 of Javanese origin especially the Sg. Balang, Parit Bugis, Parit Yusof, Lenga or Bukit Gambir troupes.

It is generally acknowledged that the local dialect of Malay spoken here (and throughout the state of Johor), the Johor-Riau dialect is the common and standard official version of the Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...

 adopted throughout the country.

Other than the above, the Muar is well known for their Chinese community's Lion Dance
Lion dance
Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The lion dance is often mistakenly referred to as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two people, while a dragon needs many people...

. Muar "Kun Seng Keng" 关圣宫 Temple's Lion Dance
Lion dance
Lion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume. The lion dance is often mistakenly referred to as dragon dance. An easy way to tell the difference is that a lion is operated by two people, while a dragon needs many people...

 troupe had been national champion for 32+ times and world champion for 17+ times in the International Championship for Lion Dance since 1992 beside many winning other various championship.

Higher education

  • Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN), Pagoh
  • Institut Latihan Perindustrian (ILP), Sagil
  • Kolej Matrikulasi Johor
    Kolej Matrikulasi Johor
    Johor Matriculation College is a pre-university tertiary education college preparing students for the entrance of university. Its campus is in Tangkak Ledang Muar Johor.-History:...

     (KMJ), Tangkak
  • Kolej Komuniti Ledang, Tangkak

Secondary Schools

  • Muar High School (麻坡高级中学)
  • St. Andrew School (圣安德鲁中学)
  • Convent Girl School (康文女中)
  • Sultan Abu Bakar Girl School (苏丹阿布巴卡女中)
  • SMK Dato' Sri Amar Diraja (SEDAR)
  • SM Sains Muar
    Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar
    Sekolah Menengah Sains Muar, literally Muar Science School or simply acronyms SAMURA or SMS Muar is a Malaysian full boarding public residential school located in Muar, Johor, Malaysia. It is the only government funded school in the Muar district bearing the title Science School.The school was...

  • Maktab Rendah Sains Mara(MRSM Muar)
  • SM Teknik Muar ( formerly known as Sekolah Menengah Vokasional Muar)
  • SMK Jalan Junid
  • SMK Sri Muar
  • SMK Bandar Maharani (SMKBM)
  • SMK(A) Ma'ahad Muar
  • SMK Tengku Mahkota (SMTM)
  • SMK Raja Muda
  • SMK Tun Perak Muar
  • SMK Tun Mamat
  • SMJK Pei Hwa
  • SMK Bukit Pasir
  • SMK Lenga
  • SMK Parit Bunga
  • SMK Tun Dr. Ismail (STUDI), Bakri, Muar.

Chinese Independent School

  • Chung Hwa High School,Jalan Junid (中化中学)
  • Pei Hwa High School,Sungai Mati (培华独中)

National Primary Schools

  • SK Bakri Batu 5, Bakri, Muar
  • SK St. Andrew (SAS)
  • SK Ismail 1
  • SK Ismail 2
  • SK Convent Infant Jesus
  • SK Abdullah
  • SK Sawah Ring
  • SK Bukit Gambir
  • SK Simpang Lima
  • SK Serom 3
  • SK Parit Bunga
  • SK Seri Jong

Chinese Primary Schools

  • SJK(C) Chung Hwa 1A (中化一小A校)
  • SJK(C) Chung Hwa 1B (中化一小B校)
  • SJK(C) Chung Hwa 2A (中化二小A校)
  • SJK(C) Chung Hwa 2B (中化二小B校)
  • SJK(C) Chung Hwa 3 (中化三小)
  • SJK(C) Chung Hwa Presbyterian (中华基督小学)
  • SJK(C) Sing Hwa (醒华小学)
  • SJK(C) Chian Kuo (建国华小)
  • SJK(C) Hwa Ming (华明小学)
  • SJK(C) Pu Nan (辅南华小)
  • SJK(C) Pei Yang (培养小学)
  • SJK(C) Yu Jern (育人学校)
  • SJK(C) San Chai (善才小学)
  • SJK(C) Sin Ming (新民小学)


Muar High School (麻坡高级中学) began as a Government English School and it was first housed in an attap (the processed leaves of nypa fruticans) shed known as ‘Balai Kuning’ which was actually used by the Sultan as a reception hall whenever he visited Muar. It was located at the site of the present High Court Building. The school was founded in 1902. It was under the charge of one Mr. C.P. Frois, a Eurasian gentleman from Malacca. He was the first headmaster cum teacher of the school and the enrollment of the school then was about 40 pupils.

It was not until 1904, the majestic colonial style historical school building started its construction and completed in 1915 and it is still standing. During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, the school was used as a Japanese concentration camp. Its alumni include national and state leaders, high-ranking government officials and industrialists, such as Tan Sri Osman Saat, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Dato Seri Abdul Ghani Othman, His Excellency(Rtd) Dr Bahar Munip (ref:Parit Jawa
Parit Jawa
Parit Jawa is a main town in Muar district, Johor, Malaysia. Directly translated - "Javanese Drain",PJ is located about 15km from Muar town and 39km from Batu Pahat town. It is famous for its seafood because they are fresh and also Kuah Asam Pedas the famous Malay cuisine...

), Tan Sri Hussin Hj Ismail

Chung Hwa High School is the oldest Chinese Independent high school in Malaysia. It will celebrate its 100th year anniversary in July 2012.

Hospitals

Muar and Tangkak are served by two government hospitals as well as numerous primary health centres. The two hospitals are:
  • Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital (Hospital Pakar Sultanah Fatimah). Formerly Muar District Hospital, which has recently been upgraded to specialist hospital status and renamed.

  • Tangkak District Hospital


Currently, both hospitals also serve as teaching hospitals for Melaka Manipal Medical College
Melaka Manipal Medical College
Melaka Manipal Medical College is a Malaysian private medical college which offers 2 twinning undergraduate degrees, the Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery degree and also the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree...

.

Notable people

Politicians and Public Servants

  • Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman
    Abdul Ghani Othman
    Dato' Hajji Abdul Ghani Bin Othman . is the current Menteri Besar of the state of Johor in Malaysia. He has been in office since 1995. Born in Sungai Mati, Ledang, Muar, Johor, Malaysia. He is a member of the United Malays National Organisation...

    , Menteri Besar
    Menteri Besar
    The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...

     of Johor
    Johor
    Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...

     (1995–Current).
  • Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
    Muhyiddin Yassin
    Tan Sri Muhyiddin bin Yassin is a Malaysian politician and the current Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Education. He is also the Deputy President of the United Malays National Organisation , the main component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.Muhyiddin grew up in the state...

    , currently Deputy Prime Minister who was also a former Menteri Besar
    Menteri Besar
    The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...

     of Johor
    Johor
    Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...

    (1986–1995).
  • Tan Sri Othman Saat
    Othman Saat
    Tan Sri Othman bin Saat was a former Menteri Besar of the state of Johor in Malaysia. Born in Muar, he had been actively involved in politics since 1946. He was the third Mentri Besar of Johor from 1967 to 1982.-References:...

    , former Menteri Besar
    Menteri Besar
    The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...

     of Johor
    Johor
    Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...

    (1967–1982).
  • Tan Sri Haji
    Hajji
    Hajji or El-Hajj, is an honorific title given to a Muslim person who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca, and is often used to refer to an elder, since it can take time to accumulate the wealth to fund the travel. The title is placed before a person's name...

     Hassan Yunus
    Hassan Yunus
    Tan Sri Dato' Haji Hassan Yunus was the Chief Minister of Johor, Malaysia, serving from 1959 to 1967.-External links:* * *...

    , former Menteri Besar
    Menteri Besar
    The Menteri Besar is the chief executive of the state government for states in Malaysia with hereditary rulers. For states without a monarch, the title Chief Minister is used...

     of Johor
    Johor
    Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...

    (1959–1967).
  • Dato' Chua Jui Meng
    Chua Jui Meng
    Dato' Chua Jui Meng ; born October 22, 1943) is a Malaysian politician from the state of Johor. He was the country's longest serving Minister of Health, holding that position from 1990 to 2004....

    , former Bakri
    Bakri
    Bakri may refer to:* Bukit Bakri, a town in Muar , Johor, Malaysia.* Al-Bakri , a lunar crater.-Persons:* Al-Bakri, an Andalusian-Arab geographer and historian, full name Abu Abdullah al-Bakri.* Imad Bakri, a pseudonym of Imad Kebir....

    's Member of Parliament, former Health Minister of Malaysia and former Vice President of MCA.
  • Dato' Chua Tuah Soon , an early Chinese immigrants pioneer and community Kangchu
    Kangchu
    The Kangchu system was a socio-economic system of organization and administration developed by Chinese agricultural settlers in Johor during the 19th century. The settlers organized themselves into informal associations , and chose a leader from among themselves...

     leader or Kapitan Cina of Muar in the early 1990s.
  • Dato' Haji Kosai, former Parit Bakar state assemblymen and state exco, father of Dr Robia Kosai, state exco.
  • Dato' Chua Song Lim, former Muar state assemblymen and state exco, 2nd MCA Johor State Liaison Chairmen (1961–1973).
  • Datuk Dr
    Doctor (title)
    Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...

     Neo Yee Pan, former Acting President of Malaysian Chinese Association
    Malaysian Chinese Association
    Malaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...

     (MCA) (March 1983 to November 1985) and former minister.
  • Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Yusuf
    Abdul Kadir Yusuf
    Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Yusuf was a Malaysian politician. He was born in Parit Sakai, Muar, Johor. During his life, he was a member of the United Malays National Organization, the leading party in the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional. A lawyer by profession, Abdul Kadir held the posts of Attorney...

     , former Minister of Law and the Judiciary, Lord President
    Lord President of the Federal Court
    The title of Lord President of the Supreme Court was formerly the title of the head of the judiciary in Malaysia, until 1994 when the office was renamed "Chief Justice of the Federal Court"....

     of the Supreme Court
    Courts of Malaysia
    The Judiciary of Malaysia is largely centralized despite Malaysia's federal constitution, heavily influenced by the British Common Law and to a lesser extent Islamic law, and is mostly independent from political interference.-History:...

     and Attorney General of Malaysia
    Attorney General of Malaysia
    The Attorney General of Malaysia, also referred to as the A-G , is the principal legal adviser to the Government of Malaysia. The Attorney General is also the highest ranking public prosecutor in the country and is also known as the Public Prosecutor, or simply PP. The powers with regards to...

    ,his wife is Tun Dr Fatimah Hashim and their son, Tan Sri Ali Abdul Kadir is former Securities Commission chief.
  • Tun Dr
    Doctor (title)
    Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...

     Fatimah Hashim
    Fatimah Hashim
    Tun Dr. Fatimah Hashim was a Malaysian freedom fighter and who later served as a minister in the Malaysian cabinet...

    , the first woman minister, former Women, Family and Community Development.
  • Tan Sri Haji
    Hajji
    Hajji or El-Hajj, is an honorific title given to a Muslim person who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca, and is often used to refer to an elder, since it can take time to accumulate the wealth to fund the travel. The title is placed before a person's name...

     Mohamad Noah bin Omar
    Mohamad Noah bin Omar
    Tan Sri Haji Mohammad Noah bin Omar was a Malaysian politician. He was one of the leading figures during the founding of the United Malays National Organisation and became the first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.-Early Life:...

    , the former Minister of Home Affairs and first Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
    Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat
    The Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat is the presiding officer of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. He is responsible for convening sessions of the Dewan Rakyat, organising debates, and examining the admissibility of petitions, bills and amendments.In the absence of the...

    . Father of Tun Rahah Mohd Noah and Tun Suhaila Mohd Noah.
  • Tun Rahah Mohd Noah, wife of Tun Abdul Razak, Malaysian 2nd Prime Minister and mother of Dato Seri Najib Abdul Razak, current Malaysian 6th Prime Minister.
  • Tun Suhaila Mohd Noah, wife of Tun Hussein Onn
    Hussein Onn
    Tun Hussein bin Dato' Onn who is of 3/4 Malay and 1/4 Circassian ancestry was the third Prime Minister of Malaysia, ruling from 1976 to 1981. He was granted the soubriquet Bapa Perpaduan...

    , Malaysian 3rd Prime Minister and mother of minister, Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
    Hishammuddin Hussein
    Datuk Seri Panglima Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein is a Malaysian politician and member of the United Malays National Organisation . He is the current Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs. He is the former Minister of Education, having served from 2004 to 2009. He has been mentioned as a likely...

    .
  • Tun Sulaiman Ninam Shah, former UMNO former Umno permanent chairman, former Johor state assemblyman for Parit Jawa
    Parit Jawa
    Parit Jawa is a main town in Muar district, Johor, Malaysia. Directly translated - "Javanese Drain",PJ is located about 15km from Muar town and 39km from Batu Pahat town. It is famous for its seafood because they are fresh and also Kuah Asam Pedas the famous Malay cuisine...

     (1959–1964).
  • Tan Sri Haji Anwar bin Abdul Malik
    Haji Anwar bin Abdul Malik
    Tan Sri Haji Dato' Anwar bin Abdul Malik was a Malaysian Politician .-Political career:He was the man credited with giving United Malays National Organisation its name. After the second world war, the Malayan Union was formed by the British and it was strongly opposed by the Malays...

    , a close associate of Dato' Onn Jaafar
    Onn Jaafar
    Dato' Sir Onn bin Ja'afar, KBE was a Malay politician and a Menteri Besar of Johore in Malaysia, then Malaya. He was the founder of United Malays National Organization and was also responsible for the social economic welfare of the Malays by setting up the Rural Industrial Development Authority...

    , credited for giving United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) its name, initially United Malay Organisation.
  • Tun Datuk Dr
    Doctor (title)
    Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...

     Awang bin Hassan
    Awang bin Hassan
    Tun Datuk Dr Haji Awang bin Hassan was a Malaysian politician.He was born in Muar, Johor. He was educated by Sekolah Bukit Zahrah in Johor Bahru. Awang began attendance at the KE VII College of Medicine in the 1930s...

    , former Member of Parliament of Muar, former Penang State Governor, the father of Dr Yahya Awang.
  • Tan Sri Dato' Dr
    Doctor (title)
    Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...

     Yahya bin Awang
    Yahya bin Awang
    Tan Sri Dato' Dr Yahya bin Awang , originally from Muar Johor, is a Malaysian cardiothoracic surgeon; born to the former state governor of Pulau Pinang Malaysia , Tun Datuk Dr Haji Awang bin Hassan and Toh Puan Khadijah Abdul Rahman, sister of Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, the 2nd Deputy Prime...

    , the famous cardiothoracic surgeon who performed the open heart by-pass surgery on Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammad in 1989; pioneered the establishment of The National Heart Institute of Malaysia in 1992; and performed the first heart transplant in Malaysia in 1998.
  • Tan Sri Dato' Dr
    Doctor (title)
    Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...

     Abu Bakar Suleiman
    Abu Bakar Suleiman
    Tan Sri Dato' Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman is a Malaysian medical professional and academic. He is currently Vice-Chancellor and President of International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur....

    , former Health Ministry Director-General
  • Sellapan Ramanathan, or SR Nathan, President of Singapore
    President of Singapore
    The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...

    , was born in Singapore
    Singapore
    Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

     but grew up in Muar and have spent his childhood with his three older sisters and parents in Muar.
  • Tan Sri Dato' G. Pasamanickam, Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) former Vice Chairman, Johor State Liaison Chairman and Muar
    Muar
    Muar may refer to* Muar District, a district in Johor, Malaysia* Muar , a town in the district of Muar.* Muar River * Muar River...

     division chairman, former Dewan Negara senator.
  • Tan Sri Datuk Hussin Hj Ismail, former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Royal Malaysia Police.

Entertainment

  • Ramlah Ram, Nash (Jamaluddin Alias), Zainal Alam Kadir a k a Mr Universe (Ghani’s cousin), TRO Group, Jaafar Onn, Famous singer/celebrity.
  • Yasmin Ahmad
    Yasmin Ahmad
    Yasmin Ahmad was a film director, writer and scriptwriter from Malaysia and was also the executive creative director at Leo Burnett Kuala Lumpur. Her television commercials and films are well-known in Malaysia for their humour, heart and love that crosses cross-cultural barriers, in particular her...

    , esteemed Malaysian Filmmaker/Producer/Director
  • Nurul Hana Che Mahazan or Nana (deejay), of Era.fm/XFM radio station, former student and finalist of Akademi Fantasia
    Akademi Fantasia
    Akademi Fantasia is Malaysia's first reality television show in which a number of contestants called students compete for the winning title and a chance to start their career in the entertainment industry. The first season premiered in June 3, 2003 and was one of Astro Ria's highest rated shows...

     AF1
    Akademi Fantasia, Season 1
    Akademi Fantasia, Season 1 premiered on June 9, 2003 and was the first season of Akademi Fantasia to be aired in Astro Ria. Concert held at the "Panggung Percubaan UPM" and the final concert held at Dewan Wawasan, Cheras. The winner was 23-year old Vincent Chong Ying-Cern from Kuala Lumpur...

     reality show.
  • Wayne Chua Poi Suan (Cai Peixuan)(蔡佩璇) a finalist in the Singapore
    Singapore
    Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

    's Mediacorp
    MediaCorp
    Media Corporation of Singapore, better known as MediaCorp, is a group of commercial media companies in Singapore, with business interests in television and radio broadcasting, interactive media, and, to a lesser extent, print publishing and film-making....

     Star Search 2003
    Star Search 2003
    From March 2003, Star Search 2003 began its 3-nation-wide talent search for individuals with star potential in Singapore, Malaysia and China. Auditions have been carried out in each of the 3 countries and training for the shortlisted star wannabes are ongoing...

     before acting in drama serial The Golden Path
    The Golden Path (TV series)
    The Golden Path is a 30-episode drama serial. Set in 1982 and spanning 25 years, it tells the story of a family embroiled in conflicts of interest, webs of deceit, love, hatred and vengeance...

     黄金路 (2008).
  • Namewee, controversial rapper who made headlines when he composed and sang the song Negarakuku, which is based from the Malaysian national anthem
    National anthem
    A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...

    , Negaraku
    Negaraku
    "Negaraku" is the national anthem of Malaysia. "Negaraku" was selected as a national anthem at the time of the Federation of Malaya's independence from Britain in 1957. The tune was originally used as the state anthem of Perak, which was adopted from a popular French melody titled "La Rosalie"...

    .

Sportspersons

  • Nordin Jadi, former Malaysia track runner athlete, represented in 200m and 400m track events in both Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988 (as Flag Bearer too) Summer Olympics.
  • Yap Kim Hock
    Yap Kim Hock
    Yap Kim Hock born on 2 July 1972 at Muar, Johor, is a retired male badminton player from Malaysia, specialized in men's doubles.-Career:Kim Hock represented Malaysia and competed at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics and the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics in the badminton men's doubles event with Cheah...

    , former top badminton player, silver medal winner in Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics in men's double with Cheah Soon Kit
    Cheah Soon Kit
    Cheah Soon Kit is a retired male badminton player from Malaysia, specialized in men's doubles.-Career:He has played for Malaysian team since 1986 especially in doubles. He always plays with different pairs such as Ong Beng Teong , Soo Beng Kiang and Choong Tan Fook during his carer in badminton...

    .
  • Kwek Chiew Peng, former national badminton player (1970s).
  • Malik Sulaiman
    Malik Sulaiman
    Commander Malik Sulaiman . is a Malaysian yachtsman and Navy officer of Royal Malaysian Navy . Born in June 1970, at Muar, Johor, Malaysia, he joined the Royal Malaysian Navy at the age of 18. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 2 June 2008.His interest in sailing started at age 17...

    , former Malaysian yachtsman, silver medalist in Bangkok
    Bangkok
    Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

     1998 Asian Games
    1998 Asian Games
    The 13th Asian Games were held from December 6 to December 20, 1998 in Bangkok, Thailand. This was the first time that Thailand bid for the event after it shouldered the two postponed hosting rights in 1970 and 1978.-Emblem:...

     Regatta
    Regatta
    A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...

     sport Super Moth
    Moth (dinghy)
    The Moth Class is the name for a small development class sailing dinghy. There are three "species" of moths currently in existence: the International Moth, a fast sailing hydrofoil dinghy with liberal restrictions; the Classic Moth, a traditional dinghy with tighter restrictions; and the British...

     category and Commander (Cdr) of Royal Malaysian Navy
    Royal Malaysian Navy
    The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...

    (RMN).
  • Mazlan Hamzah, former Malaysian track athlete, member of the Malaysian athletic team 1964 Tokyo Olympics

Community & business leaders

  • Chan Guan, a prominent and wealthy estate and rubber plantation owner, living in Muar in the 1950s. A philanthropist, he donated RM20,000 to the Chong Hwa Chinese High School and RM10,000 to the Chee Chi Club in Muar - huge sums of money for that time. He was also an ardent supporter of the Muar Khek Association. He lost his entire fortune due to the Malaysian communists and was also detained by the Malaysian police force for 3 and a half years.
  • Etican Ramasamy, Senior lawyer, founder of legal firm E.Ramasamy&Co, former Johore Bar Committee Chairman, former District Governor Rotary District 3310, former Muar town councillor, former National President EWRF, senior Freemason, former Board Of Governors member of Muar High School and Convent Girl's School Muar, former Muar Hindu temple committee chairman, prominent Indian community leader, Alumni of Muar High School Class of 1961 and a prominent citizen of Muar.

External links

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