JOHOR BARU: The clock is ticking towards next month’s reopening of the Johor Zoo, but local folk are cautiously optimistic since there had been a postponement before.
Malaysia’s oldest zoo, which first opened in 1928, has been closed since 2020 for upgrading works.
It was supposed to reopen in April this year, but that date was subsequently deferred to next month due to issues involving septic tanks and a reservoir wall.
“We live in Kampung Melayu Majidee, which is a 15-minute drive to the zoo.
“My eight-year-old son loves animals, so we often drive along the road by the zoo and stop just to catch a glimpse of them,” said factory operator Wan Amin Ahmad.
The last time Wan Amin, 30, brought his family to the zoo, which is located in Jalan Gertak Merah here, was before the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I can see that some upgrading works are still being done at the zoo’s entrance.
“Hopefully, the reopening date will not be postponed again,” he said in an interview.
According to previous reports, about RM9mil was allocated for the first phase of the zoo’s development.
This includes a visitor walkway and entrance arch, an outdoor parking area and an online ticketing system, among others.
When contacted, state housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said that the upgrading works at the Johor Zoo were progressing well.
“I did a working visit to the zoo last month and saw that the works were being carried out as scheduled.
“God willing, I will be doing another visit to the zoo next week to see the contractor and check on the progress of the works,” he said.
Housewife P. Shanti, 35, said her family was looking forward to the zoo’s reopening.
“From the outside, the Johor Zoo’s new look is really nice,” she said.
However, she hoped that the admission fee would stay affordable, especially to those from the middle- and lower-income groups.
“The state government can still keep the price ticket affordable as most family-friendly places in Johor are expensive, especially for those who have big families,” said the mother of four.
A Bernama report in February, quoting Mohd Jafni, said new prices would be announced at a later date.
Previously, tickets to the zoo cost RM2 for adults and RM1 for children.
