Pontian District

Etymology

The name of Pontian was derived from the Malay word “Perhentian” which means a stop, a reference to the sailors travelling to and from Singapore or Malacca stopping at Pontian Besar River for shelter from the rough waters in the Strait of Malacca.

Administrative divisions

Pontian District is divided into 11 mukims:

• Api-Api
• Ayer Baloi
• Ayer Masin
• Benut
• Jeram Batu
• Pengkalan Raja
• Pontian
• Rimba Terjun
• Serkat
• Sungai Karang
• Sungai Pinggan

2 big towns (bandar):

• Benut
• Pontian Kechil

And 1 small town (pekan):

• Pekan Nanas

Administration

BN (23)

• UMNO (13)
• MCA (8)
• MIC (2) (since 3 February 2025) (since 15 January 2024) (Faithfully We Serve)

The entire Pontian District is administered by the Pontian Municipal Council (, MPPN), which was previously known as the Pontian District Council (, MDPontian). The latter was formed on 1 November 1976 by merging the Pontian Town Council and the local councils of Pekan Nanas, Benut, Ayer Baloi and Permas. The upgradation of the District Council as the Municipal Council took place on 31 July 2021.

Presidents

Departments

• Management Services (Khidmat Pengurusan)
• Treasury (Perbendaharaan)
• Valuation and Property Management (Penilaian dan Pengurusan Harta)
• Urban Planning and Landscape (Perancang Bandar dan Landskap)
• Public Health (Kesihatan Awam)
• Licensing and Enforcement (Pelesenan dan Penguatkuasaan)
• Engineering and Building (Kejuruteraan dan Bangunan)
• Community Development (Pembangunan Masyarakat)

Units

• Public Relations and Corporate (Perhubungan Awam dan Korporat)
• Law (Undang-undang)
• Internal Audit (Audit Dalam)
• One Stop Centre (Pusat Sehenti)
• Tourism (Pelancongan)

Administration areas (zones)

As of 2025, Pontian District is divided into 23 zones represented by 23 councillors to act as mediators between residents and the municipal council. The councillors for the 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2025 session are as below:

Demographics

|1991 |129356 |2000 |142697 |2010 |149938 |2020 |173318 |graph-pos=bottom In 2000, the annual population growth of Pontian District was 2.36%.

Economy

The main economic activities in the district are agriculture, construction, ecotourism, fishery and marine and food processing industries. The former includes pineapple farms and palm oil plantations, which are mainly focused in the town of Pekan Nanas.

Transportation

Road

The district is accessible by bus from Larkin Sentral (Mybas Johor- T50, Maju - 96) in Johor Bahru.

Sea

There are regularly scheduled ferries connecting fishing village Kukup in Serkat Mukim with Tanjung Balai Karimun in Riau Islands, Indonesia.

References

References

1. "Rancangan Tempatan Daerah Pontian (Penggantian) 2030".
2. (16 August 2021). "Pontian".
3. "Pontian".
4. "Pejabat Tanah Pontian".
5. "Background".
6. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=756384623202170&set=pcb.756386629868636
7. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1009079091266054&set=pcb.1009081464599150
8. "President Profile".
9. "Councillor Profiles".
10. "Johor State Town and Country Planning Department Handbook".
11. "Pontian".
12. Benjamin, Nelson. (15 January 2018). "A positive change in its fortunes". The Star Online.
13. "Muafakat ke Arah #Johor Berkemajuan".
14. "Bus Routes in Johor Bahru".
15. "Bus Routes and Schedule".
16. {{in lang. ms [https://web.archive.org/web/20180823174532/http://www.sinarharian.com.my/mobile/edisi/johor/terminal-feri-kukup-kembali-sibuk-1.542507 Terminal Feri Kukup kembali sibuk]