Today I returned to visit the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque in Johor Bahru after first visiting it in March 2018. At that time it was covered in scaffolding (see photo below) and a brusque workman shooed me away.
I was looking forward to seeing the gleaming interior with chandeliers from Czechoslovakia, a brass pulpit from Turkey, marble floor tiles from Italy, and much more besides. Afterall, many websites list this building as one of the top attractions in Johor Bahru. But disappointingly, non-Muslims are not allowed inside the mosque. This came as a surprise to me as this is not mentioned on any of the official websites, and the Masjid Sultan in Singapore positively welcomes visitors.
So, here are a few more photos of its exterior which now matches the colouring of the Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum.
One constant from my last visit was this charming artist selling his wares near the carpark outside the mosque. If you visit here, please do take a moment to chat with him and perhaps purchase one of his paintings of old Johor Bahru.
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