 The city is administered by the Johor Bahru City Council . The current mayor as of March 2016 is Haji A. Rahim Haji Nin , who took over from Dato ' Haji Abdul Rahman Mohamed Dewam on 16 August 2015 . Johor Bahru obtained city status on 1 January 1994 . The area under the jurisdiction of the Johor Bahru City Council includes Central District , Kangkar Tebrau , Kempas , Larkin , Majidee , Maju Jaya , Mount Austin , Pandan , Pasir Pelangi , Pelangi , Permas Jaya , Rinting , Tampoi , Tasek Utara and Tebrau . This covers an area of 220 square kilometres ( 85 sq mi ) . 
