JOHOR BARU: Visitors at Johor Zoo were surprised by an unofficial visit by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, with his children and grandchildren.
The Prime Minister, who arrived in Johor Baru via the Electric Train Service (ETS) from Kuala Lumpur, stopped at JB Sentral before heading straight to the zoo at around 3.10pm, where he and his family spent about an hour at Malaysia’s oldest zoo.
Many visitors took the opportunity to photograph him.
Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the Prime Minister’s visit was informal and unannounced, with state authorities receiving confirmation only a day earlier.
“We only received notice on Saturday (Jan 31), so we were not sure whether he would be able to come. Alhamdulillah, he did,” he said when met at the zoo here on Sunday (Feb 1).
Mohd Jafni said he took the opportunity to brief Anwar on the progress of Johor Zoo’s redevelopment, noting that phase one had been completed, while phase two was currently underway.
He said phase two would introduce more than 68 new animals, including species from overseas and feature new attractions such as an air-conditioned reptile zone.
“There will be snakes, frogs and other animals, including some from Japan. Several new sections will be opened to the public after the Chinese New Year,” he said.
According to Mohd Jafni, phase two involves an allocation of about RM8mil, funded through a combination of local council resources, the Mentri Besar’s Office and RM1.5mil from the federal government.
He added that accessibility improvements were also a focus, with about 80% of the zoo set to be disability-friendly once phase two opens.
“This is good news for families with young children, those using strollers and persons with disabilities, as most areas will be accessible,” he said.
Mohd Jafni said Phase Two would also see the introduction of animals such as leopards and black panthers, while Phase Three would focus on veterinary facilities and quarantine areas.
“Phase three includes animal treatment facilities, a quarantine centre, new offices and land upgrades, involving allocations of RM3.5mil and RM35mil,” he said.
He said Johor Zoo had recorded more than 1.2 million visitors over the past 14 months, generating about RM5.5mil in revenue last year, with visitor numbers exceeding 600,000.
“Despite this, Johor Zoo still maintains among the lowest ticket prices, at RM10 for adults and RM5 for children,” he said.
Mohd Jafni said Anwar praised the improvements at the zoo.
“He said it looks good and well-maintained now. Previously, there were issues such as dirty ponds and poor drainage, but these have all been addressed,” he said.
He added that the zoo’s sewage system had been upgraded to comply with current standards, including an integrated system, while ageing piping and electrical issues had also been resolved.
“All the infrastructure problems that used to cause disruptions have now been fully addressed,” he said.
Mohd Jafni said the Prime Minister’s visit was meaningful, especially in conjunction with Visit Johor 2026.
“This is like a gift to the people of Johor. The Prime Minister’s presence at Johor Zoo sends a positive signal and highlights one of the state’s key attractions,” he said.
