JOHOR Baru City Council (MBJB) wants to clear the city of street begging and homelessness in the countdown to Visit Johor 2026 (VJ2026) in January.
Mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said this was also MBJB’s long-term objective.
“These are our ongoing efforts and not only to welcome VJ2026, a major state tourism campaign,” he said when met after chairing a town hall session with bazar karat (flea market) traders at Menara MBJB.
Mohd Haffiz said the city council has received public complaints about the existence of street beggars and homeless folk in the city centre.
“It is not an easy task to clear our streets, but we need to do it to improve our city’s image.”
He said MBJB would work closely with National Welfare Foundation (YKN) and Johor Social Welfare Department to address the problem.
An MBJB building in Jalan Kamunting, Kebun Teh, acted as a transit home, accommodating up to 50 residents at a time, he said.
The four-storey premises could house individuals for typically one or two weeks, he said, with YKN providing social and support-based solutions.
“YKN focuses on social intervention to help these individuals transition back into society and live independently.”
Separately, Mohd Haffiz announced that the previous Bazar Karat JB or night flea market site in Jalan Segget, in downtown Johor Baru, would undergo beautification.
He said the project was to be undertaken by a developer as part of the city centre rehabilitation and rejuvenation project.
Mohd Haffiz said the night flea market that is currently operating temporarily in Jalan Duke after it was relocated on Nov 25, would be relocated again to Jalan Syed Mohamed Mufti by mid-2026.
“We are looking at ways to attract visitors to nearby Dewan Jubli Intan and Johor Tourism Information Centre once the flea market starts operating at the new site mid-next year,” he said.
He added that the night flea market could attract more customers with programmes such as cultural shows, music events and street performances held at the two premises.
There were also plans, he said, to set up a food truck site with 30 operators near the Tabung Haji building, located just a few metres from Jalan Syed Mohamed Mufti.
Mohd Haffiz said MBJB would also discuss with Perbadanan Pengangkutan Awam Johor about free shuttle bus services to the new flea market site.
