The name Segamat is said to have originated from a Malay legendary folklore in which during the 16th century, Sultan Ahmad Shah and his followers left Malacca because they were attacked by the Portuguese Forces. They first retreated to Pagoh, then to Bukit Penarikan (in present-day Bahau, Negeri Sembilan) and finally downstream to Pahang. On the way to Bukit Penarikan, Sultan Ahmad and his followers stopped near a tree by the river and rested there for two days. As they took a sip of water from the river to quench their thirst, they found the water as very refreshing (Segar Amat in Malay), hence they named the place Segamat.
History
Buyong Adil in his book "Sejarah Alam Melayu" wrote that Segamat is one of the nine states that became a part of Negeri Sembilan as a result of a legendary event. Martin Lister, the British Resident of Negeri Sembilan between 1895 and 1897 also mentioned that Segamat was one of the states that was said to be collectively known as Negeri Sembilan in the past which was controlled by Temenggong Abdul Rahman and appointed a local governor, Temenggong Konit to administer Segamat and Muar from 1801. Segamat was then seceded to Johor by the British, along with Ulu Pahang (Bera and Temerloh) to Pahang, Beranang (Kajang, Semenyih and Hulu Langat) and Klang (Sepang and Kuala Langat) to Selangor excluding Lukut which is now part of Port Dickson.[2]
The local council of Segamat, Segamat Municipal Council was originally a Town Board established in 1912 to register vehicles and dogs, provide street lighting, manage water supply, fire services and public markets. Only in 1925, the control of public health was made one of its main functions. Then in 1935, the control of public and private roads, buildings, urban development, urban planning and other services and facilities were added to the list of functions and responsibilities.[3]
In 1933, the district of Segamat was formed after its separation from the district of Muar following a major district boundary realignment by the government of Johor to split the original 4 districts (Muar, Batu Pahat, Johor Bahru and Sedili) into eight districts (before the 2008 realignment which added the Kulai and Tangkak districts to form 10 districts in Johor).
After the formation of Segamat District, the government began to develop Segamat, mainly with agricultural activities to boost the economy of Segamat. This included the construction of the national railroad system passing the town of Segamat and also the construction of the main road known today as Federal Route 1.
In the 1970s, Tun Razak Highway was constructed to boost the economy of Segamat as an agricultural hub, to shorten the travelling time to Kuantan and to speed up the development progress of the poorly developed areas in southern Pahang.
In 1996, the Segamat Land Port was constructed to make Segamat an important transport hub like Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. By constructing the land port, manufacturers may just transport their goods to Segamat Land Port which then will be transported to the nearest sea ports such as Pasir Gudang by train. However, the plan did not materialise as planned; the space was subsequently rendered largely vacant as of February 2012.
In 1999, the second bridge of Segamat, funded mainly by private developers, was constructed to reduce congestion at the main bridge. The second bridge was included as a part of Segamat Inner Ring Road package consisting the road upgrade to 4-lane road at Jalan Pemuda, Jalan Hassan, Jalan Pee Kang Hai and Jalan Chia Chin Koon, which was completed in August 2005. The inner ring road package is useful to divert the traffic flow when the main roads at the town center are closed for special occasions and events such as National Day.
Segamat experienced floods during the 1950s, 1984, 18 December 2006 and most recently 2 March 2023, which was caused by 3–4 days of nonstop rain. The one in 2006, which was caused by Typhoon Utor in the Philippines, was generally considered to be the worst flood to have happened in Segamat and Johor. The latest flood to happen was in March 2023 and was the worst in 17 years.[4]
On 24 August 2025, a 4.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Segamat. Later that day, a weak earthquake strikes again on this town on early morning which sparks concern of the populations of the town.
Segamat Municipal Council (Malay: Majlis Perbandaran Segamat), formerly known as the Segamat Town Board (Malay: Lembaga Bandaran Segamat) from 1912 until 1951, Segamat Town Council (Malay: Majlis Bandaran Segamat) from 1951 until 1976, the North Segamat District Council (Malay: Majlis Daerah Segamat Utara) from 1 January 1977 until 29 November 2000 and the Segamat District Council (Malay: Majlis Daerah Segamat) from 30 November 2000 until 31 December 2017, is the local authority of Segamat town.[5][6]
Emblem history
The former emblem of Segamat District Council consisted of three hexagons on a pole or pillar, each contained from left to right a Spanish Cherry (Malay: Bunga Tanjung, said to be the State flower of Johor), buildings and durian (said to be the most popular fruit in Segamat District) encircled by the name of the local government in Jawi and Romanised Malay.[7]
Upon the upgradation of Segamat District Council as the Segamat Municipal Council on 1 January 2018, the newly established municipal council adopted an emblem with a completely new design that looks like the Coat of arms of Johor. It consists of a shield with colours of the Segamat District Flag (divided per bend in red and white) charged with a combined image of tree, buildings, human figures and cogwheel in Gold and White colour (symbolising urban planning) under the Council's motto in Jawi Malay – Khidmat Untuk Rakyat (Serve the People) and a yellow crescent and star. The shield is supported by two Johor State arms tigers on both sides and is topped by the Johor Royal Crown. At the bottom of the shield is a blue ribbon decorated with black pepper wreaths as the state's agricultural product, written with the name of the Municipal Council in both Jawi and Romanised Malay.[8]
Emblem of Segamat District Council (2000–2018)
Emblem of Segamat Municipal Council (2018–present)
Departments
Management Services (Khidmat Pengurusan)
Finance (Kewangan)
Urban Planning and Landscape (Perancangan Bandar dan Landskap)
Valuation and Property Management (Penilaian dan Pengurusan Harta)
Licensing (Pelesenan)
Corporate Communications and Community (Komunikasi Korporat Masyarakat)
Building and Engineering (Bangunan dan Kejuruteraan)
Environmental Health (Kesihatan Persekitaran)
Enforcement and Safety (Penguatkuasaan dan Keselamatan)
Units
Law (Undang-undang)
Internal Audit (Audit Dalam)
Integrity (Integriti)
One Stop Centre (Pusat Sehenti)
Commissioner of Building (Pesuruhjaya Bangunan)
Information Technology and Media (Teknologi Maklumat dan Media)
Earning (Perolehan)
Administrative areas (zones)
As of 2025, Segamat is divided into 24 zones represented by 24 councillors to act as mediators between residents and the municipal council.[9] The councillors for the 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2025 session are as below:
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