Labis

Town in Johor, Malaysia

2°22′55″N 103°01′12″E / 2.38194°N 103.02000°E / 2.38194; 103.02000CountryMalaysiaStateJohorDistrictSegamatGovernment • TypeLocal government • BodyLabis District Council • PresidentRudy Rizal Mohd HanapiArea • Total422 km² (163 sq mi)Population • Total36,053 • Density85/km² (220/sq mi)Websitemdlabis.gov.my

Labis District Council Majlis Daerah Labis
Type
Type	Local authority
History
Founded	29 December 1976
Preceded by	South Segamat District Council
Leadership
President	Rudy Rizal Mohd Hanapi
District Secretary	Fazaruddin Salamat
Meeting place
Majlis Daerah Labis 85300 Labis, Segamat, Johor Darul Ta'zim
Website
www.mdlabis.gov.my

Labis is a town and a mukim (township) in Segamat District in northern Johor, Malaysia. A main trunk road that runs north-south Peninsular Malaysia passes through it, as well as the KTM railway line that connects it with the state's capital in the south, Johor Bahru.^[1]

History

Labis started as a small village known as Kampung Paya Merah. The village got its name from a type of river grass which became the favorite food for river terrapins. In early 20th century, British officers came to the villages to survey for new areas to be developed in Segamat district.

The British officers were surprised to see the river terrapins since they had not seen those animals before. They asked the villagers the name of those animals and the villagers answered, "Labi-labi, tuan," ("River terrapins, sir"). Because they didn't know the name of those animals, the British officers referred to them as labis in the plural form. Therefore, the British officers decided to name the settlement Labis.

Another theory is that in the 17th century, a member of the Malaccan royal family was travelling through the area. He saw something that intrigued him. He called out to his advisors to tell him what it was, he went "Habis? Habis?" thus accidentally blurting out the name Labis.

Malays here planted paddy field and poultry as the main source of food, living in villages such as Kampung Paya Merah, Kampung Tenang and Kampung Sungai Gatom. During the British era, there was a rubber estate known as North Labis Estate was established and the British brought Indian labor as the workforce. During the communist insurgency around 1948, the government brought in Chinese ethnic to the town.

Geography

Labis is situated in the north of Johor, bordering the Segamat sub-district and the state of Pahang to the north, the mukim of Bekok to the east, the mukim of Pogoh to the west and the mukim of Cha’ah to the south.

Labis covers an area of 422 km², making it the second largest mukim in Johor after Bekok.^[2]

Labis town, along with the adjacent commune of Bekok and Cha’ah, are granted autonomy from Segamat and administered by the Labis District Council (Majlis Daerah Labis).

There is a waterfall known as Taka Melor famous among locals situated 15 km from the town near Pekan Air Panas and Kampung Tenang.

Economy

Labis is an agricultural town whose main export is rubber and is one of the main rubber producer in Johor.

Education^[3]

General topics

Topics	Elections Government Executive Sultan Menteri Besar Legislative Johoreans Monarchy Monarchs Geography Symbols Anthem Flag and coat of arms

Administrative
divisionsCity councils
(Majlis Bandaraya)

Johor Bahru (part of Johor Bahru district)	City Centre Bakar Batu Century Danga Bay Larkin Majidee Melodies Nong Chik Pasir Pelangi Stulang Suria Tebrau Dato' Onn Daya Johor Jaya Kangkar Tebrau Molek Mount Austin Pandan Setia Indah Tampoi Bandar Baru UDA Damansara Aliff Kempas Setia Tropika Plentong Permas Jaya Ulu Tiram
Iskandar Puteri (part of Johor Bahru district)	City Centre Kota Iskandar Ledang Heights Nusa Bayu Medini Bukit Indah Perling Skudai Lima Kedai Mutiara Rini TUTA Universiti Pulai Kangkar Pulai Bandar Baru Kangkar Pulai Pulai Hijauan Pulai Indah Pulai Mutiara Gelang Patah Forest City Pendas Tanjung Kupang Tanjung Pelepas
Pasir Gudang (part of Johor Bahru district)	Pasir Gudang Tanjung Langsat Masai Kong Kong Kota Masai Seri Alam Taman Scientex

Municipal councils
(Majlis Perbandaran)

Muar (Muar district)	Bandar Maharani (City centre) Bukit Treh Parit Bakar Parit Sakai Sungai Abong Bakri Bukit Bakri Bukit Naning Parit Jawa Parit Unas Bukit Pasir Pagoh Bandar Universiti Pagoh Bukit Kepong Lenga Panchor Sungai Balang
Batu Pahat (Batu Pahat district)	Bandar Penggaram (City centre) Minyak Beku Segenting Taman Bukit Pasir Taman Flora Utama Taman Setia Jaya 2 Tongkang Pechah Rengit Parit Raja Semerah Senggarang Sri Gading Pura Kencana
Kluang (Kluang district)	Kluang Taman Sri Lambak Mengkibol Paloh Chamek Kahang
Kulai (Kulai district)	Kulai Bandar Indahpura Bandar Putra Kulai Senai FELDA Taib Andak Saleng Seelong Senai International Airport Kelapa Sawit Bukit Batu Sedenak Ulu Choh
Segamat (Segamat district)	Segamat Genuang Kampung Tengah Batu Anam Buloh Kasap Gemas Baru Jementah
Pengerang (Kota Tinggi district)	Pengerang Tanjung Pengelih Sungai Rengit Teluk Ramunia Pasir Gogok Bandar Penawar Bandar Mas Desaru Tanjung Balau Johor Lama Teluk Sengat
Pontian	Pontian Kechil Kampung Kayu Ara Pasong Pekan Nanas Ayer Baloi Benut Kukup

District councils
(Majlis Daerah)

Kota Tinggi	Kota Tinggi Lombong Bandar Tenggara Sedili FELDA Lok Heng FELDA Waha
Mersing	Mersing Air Papan Tenggaroh Jemaluang Endau
Tangkak	Tangkak Sagil Sungai Mati Bukit Kangkar Sengkang Bukit Gambir Kesang Parit Bunga Tanjung Agas
Labis (Segamat district)	Labis Air Panas Sungai Karas Tenang Bekok Chaah
Yong Peng (Batu Pahat district)	Yong Peng Ayer Hitam Parit Sulong Sri Medan Parit Yaani
Simpang Renggam (Kluang district)	Simpang Renggam Machap Layang-Layang Renggam