KLUANG, Aug 23 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, officiated the Laman Rel Mahkota, an iconic 2.8-kilometre public park located near the Kluang train station today.
Accompanied by Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, the sovereign was driven to the park in a buggy after arriving at the Kluang Station.
His Majesty arrived in the KTMB Electric Train Service 3 (ETS3), which he personally drove after launching the service in Kuala Lumpur earlier today.
The Laman Rel Mahkota, developed under the Gemas-Johor Bahru Electric Double Track Project, is a unique transformation initiative that revitalises the old railway line in the heart of Kluang into a modern and inclusive green space for the local community.
Beyond serving as a recreational hub and venue for community activities, the park preserves elements of railway heritage by retaining old signage, tracks, platforms, stopovers, and pedestrian bridges — blending nostalgia with a contemporary landscape.
The project was contributed by SIPP-YTL JV, the local main contractor for the Gemas–Johor Bahru Electric Double Track Project, in conjunction with YTL Corporation Berhad’s 70th anniversary.
At 12.30pm, Sultan Ibrahim boarded the ETS3 for the trip back to Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, SIPP-YTL managing director Datuk Seri Yeoh Seok Hong said the Laman Rel Mahkota symbolises appreciation for the Kluang community and recognition of the town’s long-standing identity as a “Railway City” since 1909, while also becoming the country’s first modern rail park.
Railway Asset Corporation (RAC) chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Ahmad said one of the key upcoming events at the rail park will be the Sarong 2025 Railway on September 13.
The Transport Ministry announced that the Laman Rel Mahkota will be officially opened this Monday and will be accessible to the public daily from 6am to 9pm.
