Malaysia’s oldest zoo in Johor, closed since 2020 for upgrades, to reopen by year end

JOHOR BARU, June 12 — The Johor Zoo, said to be the oldest in Malaysia, is expected to reopen to the public by the end of this year, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said today.

The 95-year-old zoo closed in 2020 for upgrading work, The Star reported today.

“It is expected to reopen soon with the consent of Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar,” Onn Hafiz was quoted as saying in his opening speech at the Johor Smart City Forum at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre here today.

In February, it was reported that the Johor Zoo, which is located in the city, will have a new look once upgraded.

Sultan Ibrahim has said that Johor Zoo, which is the oldest zoo in Malaysia, needs to be made into one of the new tourist locations in the state to attract visitors from home and abroad.

“The Johor Zoo is a legacy of the late Sultan Sir Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Sir Abu Bakar and is the oldest zoo in the country.

“The state government needs to focus on various facets when restoration works are carried out, among them the drainage system, animal placement, ticket prices and many more in order to attract visitors.

“It needs to be promoted as one of the new tourist locations in Johor that can attract visitors from within and outside the country,” said Sultan Ibrahim in a statement issued by the Royal Press Office on his official Facebook.

The Johor Zoo, located along Jalan Gertak Merah, first opened in 1928.

Back then, it was named Kebun Binatang or animal garden, and was the first of its kind in South-east Asia at that time.

On April 1, 1962, the zoo was handed over to Johor state government and was opened to the public that same year.