Old Istana Negara - The Royal Museum
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| The Old Istana Negara - The Royal Museum |
The
first National Palace or Istana Negara which located along Jalan
Istana but now turned to a museum. Now officially known as The Royal
Museum. The National Palace or Istana Negara is the official
residence of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di Pertuan Agong
and Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong the King
and Queen of Malaysia. This National Palace or Istana Negara served
to be the residence since 1957 until 15th
November 2011.
The
Istana Negara located at Jalan Istana is now turned into a Royal
Museum and now open to the public. The new official residence for the
King and Queen of Malaysia is now located at new palace complex at
Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur.
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| The Royal Museum - Side View |
Let
us now gather some insight and knowledge about the 1st
Istana Negara located at Jalan Istana, or the history.
The
Istana Negara located on an 11 hectares site within the long time
green belt right at the city center of Kuala Lumpur. The need to have
an official residence for the King and Queen after
independence,overnment of Malaya at that time a plush mansion which
once own by a successful chinese mining tycoon known as Chan Wing. It
was built in 1928. A private own mansion of Chan Wing a Chinese who
is migrant from China or Hong Kong to Malaya and made his fortune
from mining activity under the name of Hong Fatt Tin Mine. The main
location of his mining activities are the now places around
Serdang,Balakong and area surrounding Country Height, The Mine and
Hotel Palace of The Golden Horse.
His
first house is located along Jalan Weld or now known as Jalan Raja
Chulan. His growing family then, make him to find another place to
built a bigger house. The new 13 arces site at Jalan Istana. It Cost
Chan Wing about Malayan Dollar 150,000 at that time to built his
plush residence with 13 bedrooms. Here he resides with his 26
Children, wife or wives.
His
new mansion was designed by the architect firm of Swann &
Mclaren. Chan
Wing being a strong believer in Confucianism thus wanted to have more
sons to carry on the family lineage.
Apart
from the tin mining venture he also known to be the co-founder of
Kwong Yik Bank in 1913. A wealthy Chinese tycoon of which is stature
are known to be the one who drive his own British made car for the
visiting Prince of Wales or King Edward V111 at that time , during
the colonial era. He came to Malaya in 1887 and only in 1918 he
brought his family from Hong Kong to Malaya. However he flee Malaya
during the Japanese Occupation, as he was the supporter of the
Anti-Japanese resistance in mainland China. The 2nd World
War he move to Cameron Highland and than to Mysore in India waiting
the war to end in 1946. However
he died in 1947 at the age of 74.
The
huge mansion was use as a Japanese Army Officers Mess. Later after
the Japanese surrender the mansion are used by the British Royal Air
Force HQ. Than bought over by the Selangor Government and temporarily
convert to temporary palace for the Sultan of Selangor. Upon the
completion of the new palace in Klang the mansion was left vacant for
a while.
Than
in 1957 the newly form Federal Government of Malaya bought the palace
from Selangor Government for Malayan Dollar 1.2 million, intensively
renovated, acquired the land around to 36 acres wide to built a new
palace for the official residence of the His Majesty Duli Yang Maha
Mulia, Yang di Pertuan Agong and Her Majesty Duli Yang Maha Mulia
Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaya.
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| The Main Gate of The Old Istana Negara - Now The Royal Museum |
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| The Royal Museum |
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| The Balai Rong Seri |
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| Old Photo of the Lobby Entrance. |
The Royal Museum - Tour of The Old Palace.
It is interesting to be
able to wander round a palace which until very recently was occupied
by the King and Queen. The official reception rooms are, as you might
imagine, elaborately furnished with extravagant use of yellow,the
royal colour,and plenty of gold leaf.
The private apartments
and bedrooms are more simply furnished and you get the impression
that perhaps the best items of furniture were transferred to the new
palace, leaving the second best items behind in the museum.
The palace also lacks the
personal possessions of the royal families who once occupied it and
for that reason I think there are better royal museums in Malaysia
such as the Royal Gallery in Klang, or the Galeri Sultan Azlan Shah
in Kuala Kangsar. The Royal Museum of Sri Menanti in Negeri Sembilan and others.
Still this Royal Museum
is well worth a visit.
Opening Hours
Open daily from 9am to
5pm.
Admission Fee
Adult RM10 (foreigners),
RM5 (MyKad holders).
Child (ages 6-12) RM 5
(RM2 for MyKad).
How To Get There
The location is marked on
my Top KL Attractions page. The palace is surrounded by busy highways
so you really have to arrive by car, taxi or tour bus.
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