Skudai

Skudai (also spelled Sekudai) is a rapidly expanding suburb of Johor Bahru, the largest city in and the capital of the state of Johor in southern Malaysia. Skudai is part of the new growth corridor of southwest Johor, which includes the Senai International Airport, Tanjung Pelepas Port and the proposed new administrative capital of Johor, Bandar Nusajaya. Its population ranges between 160,000 and 210,000. It is the headquarters of the Johor Bahru Central Municipal Council and it is home to the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia campus.

Skudai is located 8 km, 4 km and 16 km from Kulai, Senai and Johor Bahru city (bandaraya) respectively.

Nearby towns and housing areas are Taman Universiti, Taman Sri Skudai, Taman Desa Skudai, Taman Sri Putri, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Taman Pulai Utama, Mutiara Rini, Taman Melawati, Taman Damai Jaya, Taman Nesa, Taman Nesa 2, Taman Bukit Gemilang, Taman Impian Skudai, Taman Sutera Utama, Bandar Selesa Jaya, Taman Bukit Indah, Taman Timor, Taman Seri Orkid, Taman Tan Sri Yaakob, Taman Jaya, Taman Skudai Baru, Taman Pulai Utama, Taman Pulai flora, Taman Skudai Indah, Taman Nusa Bestari, Taman Nusa Bestari 2, Taman Skudai Ria and Taman Impian Emas.

Mas Selamat bin Kastari of the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist organisation was a most wanted fugitive who escaped from Singapore police custody. He was recaptured in the vicinity of Skudai in April 2009.

Shopping

Skudai has a large catchment area, hence the number of shopping centres built around Skudai. The shopping centres that are in and within Skudai are Skudai Parade, Jusco Taman Universiti, KIP Mart, Skudai Mall, The Store in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Sutera Mall in Taman Sutera Utama, U Mall in Taman Pulai Utama, Bestmart in Taman Nusa Bestari, Giant Hypermarket which along the Jalan Skudai. The latter two shopping centres were abandoned. Skudai plaza was abandoned due to bankruptcy attributing to poor business while Kemayan City was abandoned during the period of economic downturn. In fact, Kemayan City was planned to be Johor Baru's single biggest integrated shopping and commercial development project with its 64,800 sq m of retail space. Kemayan City will be refurbished and redeveloped into a contemporary shopping mall known as B8 mall starting mid 2010. It is expected to be completed to the end of 2012.

Food

Malay, Chinese, and Indian food are being served in restaurants and food stalls. A large variety is available throughout the area. Mamak restaurants are mostly available in Taman Universiti.

Economy

As is the norm with many parts of southern johor, many people in Skudai are from other states in Malaysia, attracted by better employment opportunities and double the exchange rate in neighbor Singapore. These immigrants would rent houses in Skudai and other parts of johor, with many preferring to settle down here some years down the road. This has created a housing boom in this area as many local young people are also starting families of their own. The higher income that residents can earn from working in Singapore have resulted in higher disposable income too, thus spurring the entertainment and automotive sectors in johor.

Schools

The secondary schools in Skudai are

• SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN TAMAN TUN AMINAH
• SEKOLAH MENENGAH TAMAN SKUDAI BARU,
• SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN TAMAN SELESA JAYA 1,
• SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN TAMAN SELESA JAYA 2,
• SEKOLAH MENENGAH TAMAN UNIVERSITI,
• SEKOLAH MENENGAH TAMAN UNIVERSITI 2,
• SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN SKUDAI,
• SEKOLAH MENENGAH TAMAN DESA SKUDAI,
• SEKOLAH MENENGAH TAMAN MUTIARA RINI 1,
• SEKOLAH MENENGAH TAMAN MUTIARA RINI 2,

As for tertiary education institution, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), a leading university in Engineering in Malaysia has its main campus situated 3 km from at Taman Universiti. Besides, Skudai also has Southern College in proximity.