The Royal Museum, or Muzium Diraja in Malay, used to be the King of Malaysia’s palace (Istana Negara) from 1957 until November 2011. A newer, larger and more modern Istana Negara was built and the royal family moved to the new palace leaving the old one as a museum open to the public since 2013.
This two-storey property was built in 1928 and used to belong to Chan Wing who hailed from Guangdong China. He was a mining tycoon and built this huge house for his big family to stay. In his day, this building located on a 11.3 hectare land was one of the grandest building in Malaya. During the World War II, the Japanese army used it as one of their operation hub followed by the British Military after the war.
This palace was also the temporary abode of Sultan of Selangor from 1950 to 1957. This place was acquired by the Federal Government and became the official residence of the King in 1957.
While here, you will be able to see the halls, bedrooms, dining rooms, offices of the King and Queen, reading room, waiting rooms and the clinic. Shoes have to be taken off before entering this museum. Most of the sections have been cordoned off and you are only allowed to see them along the walkway in the palace.
In the collections part of the museum you can view the royal throne and some of the regal paraphenalia.
The whole area is fenced up and the Royal Insignia of His Majesty is placed on each steel bar between two pillars of the fence. At the front of the Istana Negara, there is the main entrance which resembles an arch. On each side of the arch, are two guard posts to shelter two members of the cavalry in their full dress uniform similar to the ones at Buckingham Palace, London. From 2013 onwards, the full dress uniform will be in Malay traditional attire as it was during the Malay Sultanate era.
In the grounds of the palace is a guard house for the members of the Royal Malay Regiment, one of the two Household Division units in the Malaysian Armed Forces (the other one is the Malaysian Royal Armoured Corps Mounted Ceremonial Squadron). There is also a six hole golf course, tennis courts and a lake in the far end of the grounds.
Passionate Photographer …. Lost in Asia
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I used to go to school right near to this palace ☺️ How wonderful to hear that it’s a museum now, maybe I can visit one day. Stunning photos!