Aug 18, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. The Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) plans to build a ‘furniture hub’ in Johor for the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia, ITTO reported. MTIB has selected a 1.96 hectare site in Mukim Tebrau, in the southern state of Johor, to establish a furniture and commercial timber products exhibit. The 300 thousand square foot center was expected to start operating under the 10th Malaysia Plan. The MTIB has said that the cities of Muar and Johor Baharu contributed nearly RM3 billion($1 billion) to the total value of furniture exports from the country. Johor has been identified as the city with the highest value of furniture exports. Muar is also important, with about 80% of Muar’s population having some involvement in the furniture and timber product industries.