The Sultan Ibrahim Building is the secretariat building of the state of Johor where the state government departments are situated. The building itself is located at Bukit Timbalan in the city of Johor Bahru of Malaysia. It was constructed between the year 1936 and 1939 and was then officially opened a year later by the late Sultan Ibrahim of Johor. The Sultan Ibrahim Building was the tallest building in the country during the pre-Merdeka era and stood unchallenged in its own state until the 1970s when the Merlin Tower was completed.

However in 1942 during the Japanese occupation of Malaya, the Japanese Imperial Army used the building as its fortress as well as a command center centre so that they could keep an eye on the activities of the British in the neighboring country of Singapore, where the Japanese would launch attack days later. Unfortunately the building was damaged during the Japanese invasion and the damage is still even visible today.

The building’s architecture boasts of both Malay and colonial influences that also includes Saracenic design. It is considered a landmark of Johor Bahru because of the design elements that have been incorporated into the architecture as well as the building’s tower. The building was designed by the renowned British architecture firm of Palmer and Turner. They are also responsible for a number of designs in Johor as well as, such as the Johor Bahru General Hospital which is now known as the Hospital Sultanah Aminah. Their designs can also be found on several prominent landmarks located in Singapore. Currently the building is used as the office for the state’s Menteri Besar or Chief Minister in English as well as the State Assembly hall.