JOHOR BARU: The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, today proclaimed Pasir Gudang a city, the third city in Johor after Johor Baru and Iskandar Puteri.
With the proclamation, the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MPPG) will now be known as the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG).
The proclamation document was signed and handed to Menteri Besar, Datuk Hasni Mohammad, in a ceremony at Istana Pasir Pelangi, today.
Present at the ceremony was Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
With a population of around 500,000, Pasir Gudang – a former fishing village – is one of Malaysia's biggest industrial zones as well as a major contributor to Johor's growth and progress.
It was declared a municipality on July 1, 2008, with Zainor Adani serving as its current president.
In line with its proclamation as a city, the president's post in the local authority will now be upgraded to that of mayor.
Earlier, Sultan Ibrahim granted an audience to the Menteri Besar; state Secretary Datuk Azmi Rohani; Johor Council of the Royal Court president, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Ramli; and Johor Mufti, Datuk Yahya Ahmad, in conjunction with the ruler's 62nd birthday today.