From Johor Buzz
Johor is the first state in Malaya to have a coat-of-arms. It was designed by Sultan Abu Bakar in 1886. He added it to his royal regalia as a symbol of sovereignty and recognition of Johor as an independent state following the signing of the Anglo Johor Treaty of 1885.

The emblem depicted two young tigers flanking a shield surmounted by a crown. The crown symbolises sovereignty. At that time, Johor was the only state that had a crown for its ruler. The crown is placed at the apex signifying priority and homage to the ruler, as in the Malay saying "kerja Raja dijunjung, kerja sendiri dikelek".

The tigers depict strength, bravery and majesty. During the opening of Johor, the settlers had to face hardship in the wilderness. It required bravery and strength to develop the state. The tigers are seen to be protecting the crown.

The shield contains four five-pointed stars at each corner, depicting the four original Jajahan (divisions) Muar, Batu Pahat, Segamat and Endau. In 1834, Johor was made up of small settlements in Muar, Padang, Batu Pahat, Segamat, Benut, Sedili, Kukup and Endau. The settlement at Johor Lama have existed since the 16th century.

Sultan Abu Bakar first created two divisions -- Muar and the west, and Endau and the east, for ease of administration. Each division was administered by a Pesuruhjaya Kerajaan (state commissioner) appointed from among his siblings as his official representatives.

He also created the Western Dependencies administered by the Dato' Penggawa Barat (chief administrator of the West) that consisted of Pontian, Kukup and Benut. The eastern dependencies of Kota Tinggi, Sedili, Pengerang and Tanjong Surat were under the Dato' Penggawa Timor (chief administrator of the East).

In 1877, after the cessation of Kesang to Johor, the residency of Muar was created that included Tangkak. In 1888, Batu Pahat was recognised as a separate residency from Muar. In 1892, the Dato' Bentara Luar opened up Endau and Segamat on the orders of Sultan Abu Bakar. Each residency was headed by a resident commissioner.

In order to give full recognition and to enable the rakyat to pay homage to his official representatives, Sultan Abu Bakar designed flags for the resident commissioners of Muar, Batu Pahat, and Segamat. Endau had no flag as the residency was changed to Mersing during Sultan Ibrahim's reign.

The crescent and a five-pointed star in the middle of the shield denote Islam as the official religion of the state. The motto "Kepada Allah Berserah" (Unto God Resigned) is an endorsement in the belief in the Almighty. The two tigers stand on a stylised footing of gambier and pepper engraving. The two crops were the main agricultural produce during the reign of the Temenggongs. The intricate designs of pepper and gambier adorn the state regalia, the throne, buildings and arches and are being used as decorative borders of documents, carpets etc. The colour yellow denotes royalty.

The Temenggongs encouraged Chinese immigrants to Johor to cultivate pepper and gambier. Pepper was much sought after in the spice trade. Gambier tablets processed from the leaf of the gambier plant were barter traded with Chinese merchants for textile and food items. Gambier was used for curing, tanning and dyeing leather. A small amount was used for medicinal purposes like the making of lozenges.

The state capital Johor Baru which Sultan Abu Bakar renamed from Iskandar Puteri in 1866 was expanded into a district. The resident commissioners were answerable to the chief commissioner in Johor Baru.

In 1898, the residencies of Muar, Batu Pahat and Segamat were re-designated as districts. Mersing was chosen over Endau as a district due to a more favourable geographical environment, including deep water for a harbour. The western dependencies were restructured and became known as the district of Pontian. Kota Tinggi, a new district, replaced the eastern dependencies.

The district of Kluang was created separately from Endau. The post of resident commissioner was abolished in 1942. The districts were headed by district officers in line with new developments of a modern administrative system.

The core of Sultan Abu Bakar's government was the Jumaah Menteri, a privy council whose members included his siblings and his contemporaries of Bugis ancestory. The bureaucracy formed by Sultan Abu Bakar and subsequently strengthened by Sultan Ibrahim would effectively fend off the advances of the British expansionists until 1910.