BWM Talk Series : Reincarnation of Johor Bahru Prison
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Organised by Badan Warisan Malaysia
Session 1: Identity Reinterpretation of Johor Bahru Prison as a Difficult Heritage Site
Session 2: The Journey of KotaJail
Date : 24 January 2026 (Saturday)
Time : 10.30am
Location : Badan Warisan Heritage Centre, No. 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur
Fee: RM20 per person (non-members), Free for BWM members
Light refreshments will be served.
Click HERE to register.
About the Talk
“Difficult heritage” refers to sites or buildings that are challenging to preserve due to their complex cultural, social, and historical significance, or the sensitive issues they represent. These sites often involve polarizing themes with negative connotations that can spark public debate and opposition, especially when they relate to trauma, death, war, or tragedy.
A prominent example of “difficult heritage” in the Malaysian context is the Johor Bahru Prison, built in 1883. The site has witnessed the development of the modern Johor administration, the World Wars, the Japanese Occupation, the formation of Malaya, post-independence eras, and eventually its closure in 2005. In the case of difficult heritage buildings specifically, demolition has often been seen as the easiest option, as places associated with national or communal trauma can be distressing and are sometimes perceived as things better forgotten.
Through these two consecutive talk sessions, Muhammad Khusairi will invite the audience to explore the thought processes, philosophical concepts, conflicting opinions, and global perspectives surrounding how “difficult heritage” is often overlooked and gradually forgotten. Together with Zul Abas, they will share the journey of transforming the abandoned Johor Bahru Prison into what is now known as KotaJail, Johor Bahru’s first heritage prison.
About the Speakers
Muhammad Khusairi is a practicing architect and a PhD researcher in the built environment, specializing in heritage and conservation. His interest in the concept of “difficult heritage” began during his Master’s research at Universiti Malaya in 2022, where he explored sustainable adaptive reuse strategies for such heritage sites, using the then-abandoned Johor Bahru Prison as his case study. In early 2025, through mutual acquaintances, Muhammad Khusairi connected with Zul Abas, a former power plant engineer who has been running a creative agency under the JOHO brand in Johor Bahru since 2009, focusing on Johor’s potential in art, creativity, and tourism. Sharing a common vision for heritage preservation, they began collaborating to rethink the future of Johor Bahru Prison, now known as KotaJail. Their collaboration aims to shape a thoughtful direction for the conservation of the prison complex, ensuring its historical identity is preserved while embracing meaningful, community-driven reuse.
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