JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: Sultan Iskandar Ismail of Johor has reminded civil servants to carry out their duties well at Kota Iskandar, the state's new administration centre.

They must always work hard and give good service to the people and ensure the development of the state, he said when launching the centre in Nusajaya, about 25km from here yesterday.

The Sultan was accompanied by his wife Sultanah Zanariah Tunku Ahmad.

Present were Tunku Mahkota Tunku Ibrahim Ismail and his consort, and Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

Sultan Iskandar commended those involved in the construction of Kota Iskandar and described the centre as a landmark in Johor's history.

Abdul Ghani said Kota Iskandar would eventually house 76 state and federal agencies with a total staff strength of more than 6,000.

"Much of the design of Kota Iskandar has been conceptualised from the present administration centre in Bukit Timbalan in Johor Baru," he said adding that the new centre was more conducive for civil servants to provide their services to the people.

Four of the six opposition assemblymen in the state did not turn up at the function as they were not invited.

However, two PAS representatives went to the event despite not getting an official invitation.

The only opposition assemblyman to receive an official invitation was DAP's Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa.

Kota Iskandar, previously known as the Johor State New Administrative Centre, is a sprawling complex covering more than 130ha.

It features a combination of Moorish and Andalusian architecture.

The new Johor state assembly building, the mentri besar and state secretary's office, Dataran Mahkota and a mosque are located here.

The northern area has the federal buildings while the state government departments will be at the south area.

There are also three parks - Atrium Jauhar, Laman Kasturi and Laman Bunga Rampai - within the complex.

The total development cost of the centre is about RM1.5bil and would take several more years to be fully developed.

The project is undertaken by UEM Land Bhd's subsidiary Cahaya Jauhar Sdn Bhd, a joint venture company with the Johor state government. --The Star/ANN