Istana Negara
The Royal Museum along Jalan Istana was the former National Palace and former residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. It stands on a 13-acre site, located on a commanding position on the slope of a hill of Bukit Petaling overlooking the Klang River, along Jalan Syed Putra. Istana Negara is Malaysia’s National Palace. Built in 1928, it is located along Jalan Istana and the 13-acre castle used to be the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia. In June 2011, it was replaced by a new, extravagant RM800 million palace near Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur. The old Istana Negara is situated on a slope in Bukit Petaling overlooking the Klang River, along Jalan Syed Putra. Its grounds are not open to the public, so the Main Palace Entrance is usually the spot where tourists take pictures. Also called The Big House, it was originally a double-storey mansion owned by local Chinese millionaire Chan Wing.
History of Istana Negara
From 1942 – 1945, Istana Negara housed the Japanese governor during the Japanese occupation. In 1945, after the Japanese surrendered, the British Military Administration (BMA) commandeered the mansion as a senior military officers’ mess. The formation of the Federation of Malaya in 1950 saw the house rented out by the Selangor State Government until Malaysia’s independence (merdeka) in 1957.
Later on, Istana Negara was renovated and turned into the Sultan of Selangor’s home and in 1957 the property was sold to the Federal Government. Officials then officially converted the building to be used as the residence of the newly-created sovereign post of Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaya.
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