Segamat (GPS: 2.50957, 102.8128) is a small town in the central part of Johor. It is located within the Segamat District which borders on Negri Sembilan to the west and Pahang to the north. The Segamat River flows right through the town. Segamat is the fifth largest town in Johor. It has a population of 80,000 people, excluding another 20,000 in the neighbouring towns of Pekan Jabi, Bukit Siput, Segamat Baru and Bandar Putra Segamat.
Shops in Segamat https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Segamat#mediaviewer/File:Wisma_Jakel.jpg Adiput
History of Segamat
The town of Segamat was originally known as Rantau Panjang. Its history goes back to the 16th century. Following the fall of the Malacca Sultanate to the Portuguese in 1511, Malay noblemen led by the Datuk Bendahara (a title equivalent to present-day prime minister) were retreating from the advancing Portuguese forces. They arrived at a river in northern Johor. Stopping to rest, the Datuk Bendahara quenched his thirst on the clear river water, which he pronounced to be "Segar Amat!" meaning "exceedingly fresh". The words "segar amat" became corrupted to "Segamat", and it was the name given to the river.
Until the end of the 19th century, Segamat was one of the four sub-districts, or mukim, under Muar District, along with the sub-districts of Parit Jawa, Chohong and Lenga. Segamat District was formed in 1933 following a major realignment of district boundaries by the state government of Johor, which split the four Johor districts of Muar, Batu Pahat, Johor Bahru and Sedili into eight districts namely Muar, Batu Pahat, Johor Bahru, Pontian, Kota Tinggi, Mersing and Segamat. Another realignment in 2008 created Ledang and Kulaijaya districts.
360° View of Segamat on Google Maps Street View
Getting there
Segamat is nowhere near the North-South Expressway. To reach it from there, you need to exit the expressway at the Simpang Ampat Interchange (Exit 227) in Malacca, if you're coming from the north, or at the Yong Peng Interchange (Exit 242) in Johor, if you're coming from the south, and take the old trunk road (Route 1). Follow the signage for Segamat. Route 23 from Muar also goes to Segamat via Tangkak and Jementah.
If you are coming to Segamat by bus, you will arrive at the
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