Johor In The Eyes Of The World

In the early years, the barter trade in Johor involved exchanging forest produce like timber, gutta-percha, rattan, amber, coconuts, fruits, and honey. From 1840 pepper (Piper Nigrum) and gambier (Uncara Gambier) accounted for the bulk of Johor's export to China and Europe. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1865 was an added boon to Johor's exports. Gambier products were used in China to soften animal hides to be turned into leather beltings for machinery. Indirectly, Johor contributed to the industrial revolution in China. Gambier and pepper were cultivated as a commercial joint venture by the Temenggong and the Chinese, and at one time, they held the monopoly of the trade of the commodities.

Iron ore mining activities in Sri Medan, Batu Pahat, started during the Reign of Sultan Abu Bakar and were operated by a Japanese company. The iron ore was exported to Japan. The iron ore mining industry increased from 1910 with the opening of mines in Bukit Kepong, Muar, Kota Tinggi, and Pengerang. Johor's iron ore was reputed to be of high quality and has attracted the attention of Japanese entrepreneurs, who gladly received Abu Bakar and Sultan Ibrahim, respectively, during their visits to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Johor's entry into the world stage was enhanced after Maharaja Abu Bakar's maiden voyage to London in 1866 and subsequently to Europe and the Far East. Altogether, he made seven voyages (1878, 1885, 1889, 1893, and 1895 to Europe and the Middle East), and between 1881 and 1883 to Java, Saigon, Hong Kong, China and Japan. The voyages had several purposes, firstly to introduce Johor to the world. Secondly, Abu Bakar wanted to gain support and sympathy in his quest for the title of Sultan. Thirdly, Abu Bakar wished to gain political support from foreign governments for Johor's independence, security and progress because, at that time, the British had placed many Malay States under their control and planned to do the same to Johor. Fourthly, Abu Bakar wanted to establish and expand international trade. Finally, the visits enabled Abu Bakar to witness the progress and development and bring back innovations and internal reforms for Johor and its people. As quoted by R.O.Winstedt, "Abu Bakar toured the country with an eye for his people". The British respected Sultan Abu Bakar's leadership due to his close friendship with Queen Victoria. However, feelings of jealousy and concern of the British increased when in 1886, Sultan Abu Bakar established The Johor Advisory Board in London, which was made up of former influential British officials.

Indirectly the Board advises Abu Bakar and embarks on strategies against the British forward movement without being subject to British interference. Abu Bakar's initiatives and subsequent actions earned him the moniker "Father of Modern Johor" and made him a global personality. As a strategy and effort to strengthen and improve international trade, the Johor government of Abu Bakar participated in the International Exhibition of 1862 United Kingdom, Paris Universalle 1867, Melbourne 1878, Calcutta 1883, Adelaide Jubilee Exhibition 1887 and World Colombia Exhibition Chicago 1893. Sultan Ibrahim continued this effort when Johor participated in the world trade fair at Golden Gate International Exposition San Francisco in 1933. The success of Johor's participation was not only the brainchild of Abu Bakar but equally important was the officers' ability to plan and execute the logistics and documentation given the distances and mode of transportation. Moreover, it proved Johor's civil servants were directly involved in external relations during his reign.

Cordial bilateral relations were forged when Abu Bakar was accorded a warm welcome and honoured during his visits to British and European courts like Romania, Italy, the Vatican City, the Middle East like Egypt and Turkey and Far Eastern royal courts including Japan. He was the first Malay and the first Malay Ruler to receive an audience with Pope Leo XIII at the Vatican in 1893 for his tolerance to Christianity when he granted land on a perpetual tenure to the Catholics in Johor to establish the Church of the Immaculate Conception. To honour his visits, the royal courts of the countries he visited conferred him various orders of chivalry, among which were:

Abu Bakar reciprocated the hospitality and enhanced bilateral relations by inviting the monarchs to be his guests in Johor. He honoured the royal guests by conferring them the Johor Royal Family Order. During each visit, Abu Bakar feted them at state banquets at the Grand Palace. Later he would accompany them on a tour of Johor Bahru and visited his coffee and tea plantations. Before departing, he would present them with souvenirs of Johor, including a box of Johor Tea. Abu Bakar's hospitality enhanced his status and reputation and carved Johor's name on the world stage. Among his royal guests were:

The cordial friendship of Abu Bakar and the foreign royalty was further enhanced when Abu Bakar conferred upon them the Johor Royal Family Order:

The role of the Sultanate in glorifying the state on the world stage and establishing cordial relations with foreign countries, as initiated by Abu Bakar, was later enshrined in Article 59 of the State Constitution, which states, "The Sovereign and the Government of Johor shall always and permanently remain in a state and condition of amity and good understanding with other States". Based on this spirit and advice, Sultan Sir Ibrahim continued his international relations by visiting England, Europe, Australia and the Far East. In 1905, he travelled to London to sign the Johor Railway Convention and negotiated with the British War Office for the placement of trainers and instructors for the JMF. Later in 1933, he travelled to Cambodia, Saigon, Haiphong, and Hong Kong. In 1934, Sultan Sir Ibrahim and Sultanah Helen embarked on a world trip to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Honolulu, San Francisco, Hollywood, Chicago, Washington, New York, London, Port Said and Algeria.

Following the footsteps of Abu Bakar, Ibrahim played hosts to foreign monarchs:

For his effort to enhance bilateral ties, Sultan Ibrahim was honoured with the following orders of chivalry:

In return, Sultan Ibrahim conferred the Johor Royal Family Order to:

Apart from foreign royalties, several high-ranking Japanese naval officers became guests of Sultan Ibrahim. The friendship resulted in Sultan Ibrahim being accorded a warm welcome on his visit to Japan, and the reason Johor Bahru was not destroyed during the Second World War. Among the guests of Sultan Ibrahim were officers of the His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship (HIJMS) battleship "Tokiwa" and "Akashi" (1915), "Izumo", and "Yakumo" under the command of Vice Admiral H. Sato (1922), Vice Admiral Tane Guchi of the Japanese Training Squadron (1922), and Vice Admiral Yeisuke Yamamoto, Price Fushimi and Prince Yamashima (1926).

ultan Ibrahim and Sultan Ismail respectively hosted Hollywood star and singer Frank Sinatra, writer Somerset Maugham, Lord Robin Maugham, British actor Orson Wells, Countess Mountbatten, Prince Sairuddin Khan, and a son of the German Kaiser. At the same time, electronic and print media such as Pathe News and Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer introduced Johor to the world audience. Journalists and writers such as Florence Caddy, who accompanied the Duke of Sutherland on his visit to Johor, gave an exciting picture of Johor and Sultan Abu Bakar. Frank S. Buck, in his book "Bring Them Back Alive", tells about Sultan Ibrahim's courage and bravado in hunting big game and man-eaters. While in San Francisco in 1934, Sultan Ibrahim was a special guest of Hollywood stars.

Sultan Ismail, Sultan Iskandar and His majesty Sultan Ibrahim were respectively conferred foreign awards as symbols of close relationships. Sultan Ismail received the following awards:

For his effort to enhance bilateral ties, Sultan Ibrahim was honoured with the following orders of chivalry:

The long-standing bilateral relation between Johor and Singapore was further strengthened when Sultan Iskandar conferred the First Class of the Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Johor Dato Sri Paduka Mahkota Johor (SPMJ) respectively to Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (1984), and Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong (1991). Consequently, The National University of Singapore conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa to Sultan Iskandar on 12 April 2007.

Among the foreign honours conferred to Sultan Iskandar are: