The private sector in the state is encouraged to observe as a public holiday the coronation of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar as the fifth Ruler of modern Johor on March 23.

Head of the Johor Royal Council Datuk Abdul Rahim Ramli said the public holiday would provide an opportunity for people to come together to celebrate the coronation ceremony and to show their loyalty to the Sultan of Johor.

"The last coronation ceremony was held in 1960 when Almarhum Sultan Ismail Sultan Ibrahim ascended the Johor throne," he said at the briefing on the coronation ceremony, Friday.

March 23 had been declared a public holiday in Johor in conjunction with the coronation, which will be held at Istana Besar, here.

He said there would also be a seven kilometre-long royal procession and various cultural performances at the ceremony expected to be attended by over 40,000 people.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahim said Che' Puan Khaleeda Bustamam would be using Yang Mulia title starting March 15.

Che' Puan Khaleeda married Tunku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on Oct 24 last year.