Batu Pahat (GPS: 1.84808, 102.93352), also called Bandar Penggaram, is the administrative capital of the Batu Pahat District in Johor. Batu Pahat is located to the southeast of Muar, to the southwest of Kluang, northwest of Pontian and south of Segamat. The district of Batu Pahat has a population of over half a million people, and a total area of 1872 sq km. The town develops over the eastern bank of the Batu Pahat River, from which it got its name. Its other name, Bandar Penggaram, was derived from Bukit Penggaram, a hill in the area, and was first used as early as 1894, when the town was officially called Bandar Penggaram.
Batu Pahat, as we know it today, was founded in 1893 by Dato Bentara Luar, on the orders of Sultan Abu Bakar. Dato Bentara Luar had also established Muar earlier, in 1885, and the success of that township provided him the credentials to be called upon again to found another settlement.
However, the area has seen human habitation going back to the 15th century and perhaps earlier. It acquired its name, which means "chiseled rock", from a 15th century legend that tells of Siamese troops chiselling the rocks near the village of Kampung Minyak Beku to create a well. The Siamese were chased out by the Malaccan troops headed by Tun Perak, the Bendahara of Malacca, during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah (1446-1459). In Kampung Minyak Beku today, you can still see the old well chiselled by the Siamese.
Batu Pahat is known for its salted fish industry, and earned the nickname of Bandar Penggaram, which translates roughly as "makers of salted products".
The district, or daerah, of Batu Pahat comprises the several subdistricts, called mukim. They are Lubok, Bagan, Peserai, Simpang Kiri, Simpang Kanan, Linau, Tanjung Semberong, Sri Gading, Kampung Minyak Beku, Kampung Bahru, Sungai Punggor, Sungai Kluang, Chaah Bahru and Sri Medan. There are also 524 gazetted villages, called kampung.
The town of Batu Pahat is the second most industrialised in Johor after Johor Bahru. The industries here include plastic, textile, timber, food-processing, porcelain and electronics. It is the biggest textile producing town in the country. The industrial zones in Batu Pahat are at Tongkang Pecah, Parit Raja and Sri Gading.
Going to Batu Pahat
By Car
Coming from the north, exit the North-South Expressway Southern Route (E2) at Exit 241 (Yong Peng Interchange). From the south, exit the expressway at Exit 244 (Air Hitam Interchange). Take the Batu Pahat - Kluang Road (Route 50) in the direction of Batu Pahat (watch for signages). The road ends at a roundabout at Jalan Rahmat, one of the major roads in Batu Pahat.
By Bus
There are bus services to Batu Pahat from most major cities and towns in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. The terminus for long-distance buses is Terminal Bas Ekspres Batu Pahat on Jalan Abu Bakar. You can book your bus tickets online via Bus Online Ticket or any other online bus ticket booking companies. From the state capital Johor Bahru, there are long-distance buses to Batu Pahat from the Larkin Sentral.
Batu Pahat Post Office (12 September, 2016)
The Batu Pahat Post Office (GPS: 1.84942, 102.93001) is located along Jalan Rahmat, diagonally across the road from the Batu Pahat Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
360° View of Batu Pahat on Google Maps Street View
Batu Pahat
View of Batu Pahat at the intersection of Jalan Bakau Condong and Jalan Zabedah.
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