FORMER ISTANA NEGARA ... the new tourists attraction

The new Istana Negara at Jalan Duta ... 

Blogger's son  :  I wish 1 day , I like to visit the palace ...

Former  Istana Negara ( National Palace )  opens its door.


Royal Abode : Members of the public can now visit the various rooms at the former palace which were once highly restricted areas .



THE ORIGINS :

The former Istana Negara , once the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Raja Permaisuri Agong was originally a two storey bungalow , built in 1928 , and the residence of a Chinese millionaire , Chan Wing.

During the Japanese Occupation (1942 to 1945 ) it was used as the Japanese officers' mess . After World War 11 , it was bought by the Selangor government and became the palace for the Sultan of Selangor . In 1957 , the Federal goverment bought the building from the state government for RM1.4 million and turned it into the Istana Negara or National Palace . It underwent several renovations and extensions .

The most extensive renovations were made in 1980 with the extension of the Balairong Seri Utama ( the Throne Hall ) and , for the first time , the installation ceremony was held at the Istana Negara when Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah was installed as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong . Prior to this , the installation ceremonies were held at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Hall in Jalan Ampang .

It was the official residence of the King and Queen for 54 years . On Nov 25 , 2011 , the official royal residence moved to the new palace in Jalan Duta .