Food traders at Johor Tourist Information Centre’s (Jotic) Anjung Selera are bracing themselves for the reality that their business will suffer once Johor Baru Court Complex next door relocates in January 2027.
The complex’s new home will be in Kota Iskandar, with infrastructure housing High Courts, Sessions Courts, Magistrate’s Courts and a special court, alongside judges’ chambers, offices, temporary detention facilities and a multipurpose hall, among others.
The new RM194.5mil, five-storey Johor Baru Court Complex is scheduled to start operations on Jan 1, 2027.
Stall proprietor Norizah Ismail is expecting her daily earnings to be affected, as the majority of her customers comprise court staff and policemen, lawyers, prison officials, visitors and Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) employees.
“Journalists covering court cases are also among my customers, as they normally come to the food court to file their stories after a hearing,” she told StarMetro.
“We are going to miss our regular customers,” said Norizah, 60, who has operated her nasi campur business at the site since the mid-1990s.
She hopes the government will repurpose the court premises in Jalan Ayer Molek once the building is handed back.
She added that while office workers from nearby Menara Tabung Haji, Wisma Persekutuan and Employees Provident Fund also frequented the area, they had their own cafes and canteens.
Cafe owner Huzaimah Rahmat, 57, said there had already been a drop in customers after the 2018 upgrading project.
She said finding a parking spot at Jotic was a problem as MBJB has designated the parking bays for its employees.
She noted that the nearest parking space for Anjung Selera customers was at Menara Tabung Haji and the open carpark next to Wisma Persekutuan.
“However, the bays at Wisma Persekutuan are usually taken up by people visiting the federal agencies and departments.”
Huzaimah hopes Tourism Johor will organise activities at Jotic to attract a crowd and bring in business for food operators.
The food court in the city centre is popular for its affordable Malay food.
