Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Royal Museum - The Old Istana Negara

Old Istana Negara - The Royal Museum

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.


The Royal Museum - Side View
The History
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.


The Main Gate of The Old Istana Negara - Now The Royal Museum






The Royal Museum

The Balai Rong Seri

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.