Johor regent may sell S$3.5 billion S'pore land plot: Bloomberg

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the Regent of Johor and the eldest son of the Malaysian king Sultan Ibrahim, may sell a prime plot in Singapore owned by the Johor royal family.

According to Bloomberg, people familiar with the matter said that Ismail has engaged with developers and potential buyers in Singapore.

Talks are at an "early stage", may not result in sale

According to Bloomberg, there are reportedly talks with potential developers and buyers in Singapore.

The 16.6ha property, located around the junction of Holland Road and Tyersall Avenue, is estimated to be worth at least S$3.5 billion, based on two separate assessments by local property experts Ku Swee Yong and Nicholas Mak.

The potential sale follows a June 2025 agreement with the Singapore government to exchange plots near the Botanic Gardens.

The move was intended to ensure that any future development on Ismail's land would be situated further away from the Botanic Gardens.

According to Bloomberg, Ismail's representatives declined to comment, and the Johor royal family's press office did not respond to requests for a statement.

Sources told Bloomberg that Ismail is weighing options to either sell part or all of the land outright or retain a minority stake in any development.

They added that talks are at an "early stage" and may not ultimately result in a sale.

Singapore authorities not involved in plans

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said in a joint statement to Bloomberg on Sep. 25 that they are "not involved in plans by private property owners".

The agencies said: "URA and agencies will assess any development applications and ensure that the proposed development is sensitive to the surrounding site context. Prior to the commencement of any works, the development will be subject to environmental studies to mitigate any potential impact on the environment."

Mothership has reached out to SLA and URA for comment.

Top photos via hrhcrownprinceofjohor/Instagram & URA/SLA