Editing Iskandar of Johor (section)

===State affairs===
Sultan Iskandar held annual open house events either at the [[Istana Bukit Serene]], his official residence, or at the [[Istana Besar]].<ref>[http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/13/nation/20071013145427&sec=nation Thousands at PM's open house (update 4)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304014002/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F10%2F13%2Fnation%2F20071013145427&sec=nation |date=4 March 2009 }}, Manjit Kaur, Royce Cheah and Ng Si Hooi, 13 October 2007, [[The Star (Malaysia)]]</ref> On these days, the Sultan and his eldest son, the Tunku Mahkota, held special sessions whereby Johoreans came up to pay their respects to him.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071015164059/http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F10%2F15%2Fsouthneast%2F19170015&sec=southneast Day of fun and feasting]}}, Teh Eng Hock and Meera Vijayan, 15 October 2007, [[The Star (Malaysia)]]</ref> The Sultan also bestowed honorary awards on distinguished Malaysians from his annual birthday honours list on his birthday.<ref>[http://thestar.com.my/news/list.asp?file=/2004/4/9/nation/7728463&sec=nation Sultan of Johor's birthday honours list] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223222518/http://thestar.com.my/news/list.asp?file=%2F2004%2F4%2F9%2Fnation%2F7728463&sec=nation |date=23 February 2009 }}, 9 April 2004, [[The Star (Malaysia)]]</ref> As a matter of convention, the state government made 8 April a state public holiday to mark his birthday.<ref>''Anniversaries and Holidays'' (2000), pg 109</ref><ref>[http://www.jmg.gov.my/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=442&extmode=view&extid=29 Event: 'Sultan Of Johor's Birthday'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304000527/http://www.jmg.gov.my/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=442&extmode=view&extid=29 |date=4 March 2009 }}, Minerals and Geoscience Department Malaysia (JMG), 13 February 2009</ref>

Shortly before he became Agong in April 1984, Sultan Iskandar issued a proposal for the [[Orang Asli]]s to be referred to as the "Bumiputera Asli" (literally, Original Sons of the Soil). The proposal was made as Sultan Iskandar suggested that the Orang Aslis maintained a distinct identity from the Malays as the majority of them were not [[Muslim]]s. The proposal was subsequently scrapped, and the government made subsequent attempts to assimilate the Orang Aslis with the mainstream Malay society.<ref>Benjamin, Chou, (2002), pg 121</ref> After his inauguration as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he donated his Agong's salary to various scholarship boards that were open to Malaysians of all races.<ref>Low (1988), pg 192</ref>
[[File:JBIstana Besar.jpg|left|thumb|Steps to the main hall of Istana Besar, Johor Bahru]]

Sultan Iskandar issued a decree in 2007 which only allowed residences and properties owned by the Sultan and the Tunku Mahkota to be called [[Palace|Istana]], while properties belonging to other members of the royal family are to be known as "Kediaman". The terms "Istana" and "Kediaman" are translated as "[[Palace]]" and "Residences" in English, respectively.<ref>[http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/JohorBuzz/Monday/MyJohor/2455469/Article/printarticle A palace in the sun] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124174839/http://nst.com.my/Current_News/JohorBuzz/Monday/MyJohor/2455469/Article/printarticle |date=24 January 2009 }}, Fauziah Ismail, JohorBuzz, New Straits Times</ref> The following December, Sultan Iskandar gave his endorsement for the state government to pass a law which would ban Muslims in the state from practising [[Yoga]], citing that [[Hindu]] elements in the exercise went against Islamic teachings. Applications to seek the Sultan's consent came from the state religious council, who acted under the instructions of the National Fatwa Council.<ref>[http://www.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20081205-105731.html Ban on yoga likely in Johor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304033233/http://www.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20081205-105731.html |date=4 March 2009 }}, 5 December 2008, New Straits Times</ref><ref>[http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/JohorBuzz/Saturday/Stories/2436274/Article/index_html Johor prepares to enforce yoga ban] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304010844/http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/JohorBuzz/Saturday/Stories/2436274/Article/index_html |date=4 March 2009 }}, JohorBuzz, New Straits Times</ref>

Sultan Iskandar graced the official landmark opening of the [[Southern Integrated Gateway#Sultan Iskandar Customs.2C Immigration and Quarantine Complex|Sultan Iskandar customs, immigration and quarantine complex]] on 1 December 2008, in the presence of the Tunku Mahkota and several key cabinet ministers. The complex was named in honour of the Sultan,<ref>[http://medkom.my/berita/bangunan-sultan-iskandar-jadi-pintu-masuk-kepada-sembilan-juta-pengunjung.html Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Jadi Pintu Masuk Kepada Sembilan Juta Pengunjung] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304032901/http://medkom.my/berita/bangunan-sultan-iskandar-jadi-pintu-masuk-kepada-sembilan-juta-pengunjung.html |date=4 March 2009 }}, Hamirul Hairi Mohd Noh, 2 December 2008</ref> who expressed optimism for its success during his opening speech.<ref>[http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/JohorBuzz/Tuesday/MyJohor/20081222200908/Article/index_html Glaring glitches mar historic opening] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126170821/http://nst.com.my/Current_News/JohorBuzz/Tuesday/MyJohor/20081222200908/Article/index_html |date=26 January 2009 }}, Syed Umar Ariff, 21 December 2008, [[New Straits Times]]</ref><ref>[http://medkom.my/video/dymm-sultan-iskandar-sultan-ismail-merasmikan-bangunan-sultan-iskandar.html DYMM Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail Merasmikan Bangunan Sultan Iskandar] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125010633/http://medkom.my/video/dymm-sultan-iskandar-sultan-ismail-merasmikan-bangunan-sultan-iskandar.html |date=25 January 2009 }}, 2 December 2008, MedKom</ref>