CHANGING POWER, CHANGING LANDSCAPES : URBAN TRANSFORMATION OF JOHOR BAHRU AND WOODLANDS : 1855-2009

Abstract

Johor Bahru and Woodlands, the border regions between Malaysia and Singapore, were once seen as sleepy towns marginal to their respective countries, abutting their common boundary. However, by the end of the twentieth century, they were bustling urban and industrial regions. Johor Bahru had transformed to be the second largest city of Malaysia while Woodlands was envisioned as the “Regional hub and Northern Gateway of Singapore” .

The urban developmental processes of Johor Bahru and Woodlands had generally been recounted separately and documented unevenly. But in fact, the two opposing coasts across the Johor Straits shared a rich developmental history together. This dissertation seeks to trace the common developmental patterns and cross-influences that occurred between these two border regions, from the founding of Johor Bahru in 1855 to present year, 2009.The abutting edges of the two countries are to be examined together, documenting the urban transformations under the influences of different political structures: the Johor Sultanate (1855-1910), the British Colonial Government (1910-1957/1965), and the Malaysia-Singapore Governments (1957/1965-2009). Settlements, villages, housings, town structures and industrial estates on both sides may be examined to illustrate the developmental connections across the straits. From there, the dissertation seeks to provide a different view on the roles and developmental patterns of the two border regions in relation to the political structures of its time.