Kluang
Town and district capital
Kluang Town Bandar Kluang
Clock tower Jalan Batu Pahat Sunway Kluang Mall Street Art Alley Mengkibol River Jalan Mersing
Seal
Motto(s):  Maju Sejahtera "Progress, Prosper" (motto of Kluang Municipal Council)
Interactive map of Kluang
Kluang    Kluang in    Johor Show map of Johor Kluang Kluang (Malaysia) Show map of Malaysia Kluang Kluang (Southeast Asia) Show map of Southeast Asia Kluang Kluang (Asia) Show map of Asia
Coordinates: 2°2′1″N 103°19′10″E / 2.03361°N 103.31944°E / 2.03361; 103.31944
Country	Malaysia
State	Johor
District	Kluang
Establishment	1915
Granted municipal status	8 May 2001
Government
• Type	Municipal council
• Body	Kluang Municipal Council
• President	Mohd Fahmy Yahya
Area
• District	2,852 km2 (1,101 sq mi)
• Urban	126.57 km2 (48.87 sq mi)
Population  (2022)
• District	323,762
• Density	113.5/km2 (294/sq mi)
• Urban	204,964
• Rural	19,340
Time zone	UTC+8 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+8 (Not observed)
Postcode	86000
Calling code	+60-7
Vehicle registration	J
Website	www.mpkluang.gov.my

Kluang, formerly spelled Keluang, is a town and the district capital of Kluang District, Johor, Malaysia. Founded in 1915 by the British as the administrative capital for central Johor, Kluang is situated in the central geographical core of the state and lies within a 90-minute drive of major urban hubs across Johor.

Combined with neighboring Batu Pahat, central Johor encompasses a total market catchment exceeding 700,000 residents. Throughout the 20th century, Kluang's agricultural economy transitioned from natural rubber cultivation to large-scale palm oil production. In recent decades, it has developed a major organic farming sector alongside ecotourism destinations such as Zenxin Organic Park, UK Agro Farm, and Kahang Organic Eco Rice Farm. The district also houses a significant industrial base, particularly in ceramic tile manufacturing, earning it a reputation as the "tile capital of Malaysia".

History

The name Kluang originates from the Malay word keluang, referring to a species of flying fox or fruit bat that was historically abundant in the region prior to widespread deforestation and habitat loss.

Kluang was established in 1915 as the administrative hub for central Johor under British colonial rule.^[1] The construction of the main Malayan Railway line passing through the town accelerated its early urban and economic growth, which was further supported by road links connecting Kluang south-eastward to Johor Bahru, south-westward to Batu Pahat, and north-eastward to Mersing.

During World War II, Imperial Japanese forces occupied Kluang on 25 January 1942 during their swift advance southwards following the retreat of Allied troops toward Singapore. General Tomoyuki Yamashita relocated his forward headquarters from Kuala Lumpur to Kluang on 27 January 1942. The Japanese military subsequently operated the local airfield as an airbase for bombing strikes targeting Singapore and Sumatra.

In the mid-1950s, during the Malayan Emergency, the airfield served as a base for reconnaissance aircraft and military helicopters tracking communist insurgents operating in the Gunung Lambak area, as well as an artillery base. The airfield hosted the Kluang Flying Club, which operated Tiger Moth biplanes. Insurgent activity around Kluang largely subsided in the months leading to Malayan Independence in 1957. The surrounding area was developed into a major military garrison hosting various units and a field hospital. The 75 Aircraft Workshop, an aviation support unit, was based in Kluang from 1946 until 1970.^[2]

In 1969, Kluang experienced a major disaster when the Mengkibol River overflowed by 7 to 10 ft (2.1 to 3.0 m), causing extensive property damage throughout the town center.^[3]

Today, the Malaysian Army maintains a significant presence in Kluang at Kem Batu Tiga and Kem Mahkota, the latter housing the Malaysian Army Aviation unit (881 Squadron).

Geography

Kluang is situated in central Johor and is entirely landlocked. The town lies in a terrain of undulating hills; its most prominent geographical landmark is Gunung Lambak, an isolated peak standing at 510 metres (1,670 ft) above sea level situated on the eastern outskirts of the town. In the eastern segment of the district lies the Gunung Belumut Recreational Forest.

The administrative area governed by the Kluang Municipal Council covers approximately 126.57 km² (48.87 sq mi).^[4] Three main watercourses flow through the town area: the Mengkibol River bisects the town center, while the Melantai River runs through the eastern sector and the Sembrong River flows across the west.

Urban expansion from the 1970s through the 2000s saw Kluang grow horizontally along major east-west arterial corridors. Over this period, the commercial core expanded significantly as former rubber and oil palm agricultural land was redeveloped into residential subdivisions and commercial precincts.

Demographics

In 2010, the population of Kluang District stood at 319,629 residents.^[5]

By 2022, the district population reached 323,762 people out of four million statewide, with males accounting for 55.4% of the population.^[6]

Government and politics

Kluang Municipal Council Majlis Perbandaran Kluang
Emblem
Type
Type	Local authority of Kluang
History
Founded	8 May 2001
Preceded by	Kluang North District Council
Leadership
President	Mohd Fahmy Yahya (Since 20 October 2024)
Secretary	Azmi Ahmad (Since 1 January 2024)
Structure
Seats	24
Political groups	Councillors:   BN (24)   UMNO (14)   MCA (8)   MIC (2)
Length of term	1 April 2024–31 December 2025
Motto
Maju Sejahtera (Progress, Prosper)
Meeting place
Wisma Baharu Majlis Perbandaran Kluang, Persiaran Utama Bandar Primer, 86000 Kluang, Johor
Website
www.mpkluang.gov.my

The Kluang Municipal Council (Malay: Majlis Perbandaran Kluang, MPKluang), formerly known as the Kluang North District Council (Malay: Majlis Daerah Kluang Utara), is the local government body administering Kluang town and surrounding areas. It was elevated to municipal council status on 8 May 2001. The former North District Council was created on 1 January 1977 through the merger of the Kluang Town Council (originally established as the Kluang Town Board in 1920) with local councils governing Kampong Paya, Kampong Gajah, Sri Lalang, Chamek, and Paloh.^[7] The council headquarters relocated to Wisma Baharu MPKluang on Persiaran Utama Bandar Primer on 1 July 2025, moving from its long-time facility at Jalan Kota Tinggi.^[8]

Agriculture

Following its founding in 1915, Kluang developed predominantly as a center for rubber cultivation under major plantation companies including Guthrie Ropel, Asiatic Plantations, and Harrisons & Crosfield. Industrial innovations, such as the vacuum evaporation of latex developed by Revertex, were introduced locally. Notable rubber plantations surrounding the town included Lambak Estate, Mengkibol Estate, Kluang Estate, Coronation Estate, Wessington Estate (renamed Simpang Renggam Estate), Benut Estate, Paloh Estate, Sepuloh Estate, Chamek Estate, Niyor Estate, Kahang Estate, Pamol Estate, and Kekayaan Estate.

Starting in the 1970s, rubber estates were systematically replanted with oil palms. Today, Kluang houses extensive oil palm holdings, as well as cocoa and tea cultivation. Pamol Estate, owned by IOI Corporation, is an active producer with 12,044 hectares (29,760 acres) of certified sustainable palm oil plantations producing over 56,000 tonnes annually.^[13]

The district also developed an organic farming industry. The 100-acre Zenxin Agri-Organic Food farm is among the largest organic vegetable producers in Malaysia.^[14] The Kluang Modern Agriculture Project (Projek Pertanian Moden Kluang), launched in 2004 across 9,000 acres, houses livestock and herbal farms including UK Agro Farm.^[15] In Kahang, the Kahang Organic Eco Rice Farm operates as Malaysia's first certified organic rice paddy enterprise.

Industry and commerce

Kluang maintains a diverse industrial manufacturing sector alongside its agricultural base, producing polymers, paper products, textiles, ceramics, industrial coatings, and electrical goods.

The town is a manufacturing center for ceramic tiles. Companies such as MML (Malaysian Mosaics), Terreal, Venus Ceramic, and Guocera operate major industrial facilities in Kluang, contributing to Malaysia's global tile production.

Multinational manufacturing facilities in the district include Kimberly-Clark's tissue paper manufacturing plant and Liebherr Group's refrigeration unit production plant. Synthomer plc operates a major nitrile latex manufacturing complex in Kluang, inheriting facilities originally established by Revertex Ltd. The facility produces nitrile latex utilized in the global medical glove manufacturing industry.

The downtown commercial district lies within the Kluang Inner Ring Road and hosts major commercial banks, retail complexes, and services.

Transport

Road

Kluang is accessible via Exit 244 (Ayer Hitam) on the PLUS Expressway. Federal Route 50 connects Batu Pahat through downtown Kluang eastward toward Kahang, Jemaluang, and Mersing.

Bus

The Kluang express bus terminal is located on Jalan Bakawali next to Plaza BCB. Express intercity buses connect Kluang to major urban centers in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.

Infrastructure

Kluang is served by a district police station and a fire station.

Kluang Hospital is managed by the Ministry of Health and located in the southern part of the town. There also a KPJ Kluang Utama Specialist Hospital.

Education

Sekolah Menengah Sains Johor (SMS Johor), was the first government boarding secondary school with a special emphasis on science subjects. It was founded in 1973 and currently has over 500 students.

Kluang High School or Sekolah Tinggi Kluang is one of the best known schools in Kluang and was founded in 1939. It now has over 1,500 students.^[16]

The Chong Hwa High School is the third biggest Chinese secondary school^[17] in Malaysia and was financially established by reputable Chinese settlers in the 1940s.^[18] The school enrolls over 3,000 students.

Culture and tourism

Kluang is a center for agritourism and nature recreation. Hiking trails on Gunung Lambak and Gunung Belumut are popular local destinations.

The town is also noted for its regional coffee culture, represented by Kluang RailCoffee at the main railway station, which has operated since 1938.

Sister cities

• Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia^{[citation needed]}
• Taiping, Perak, Malaysia^{[citation needed]}

Notable people

• Samy Vellu, President of Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)(1979–2010), Minister of Works (1995–2008)
• Ali Hamsa, Chief Secretary to the Government
• Chieh Yuan (1945–1977), Actor and martial artist
• Lee San Choon, President of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)(1975–1983)
• Ng Tian Hann, Malaysia Chinese Movie Director
• Shebby Singh, Malaysian former footballer
• Nur Izzuddin, badminton player
• Noraniza Idris, singer and actress
• Bishop Dato' Charles K. Samuel, Suffragan Bishop of the Anglican Church of West Malaysia

See also

• Kluang (federal constituency)
• Kluang District

References

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kluang.

• Kluang KTM Railway Station