Royal rooms opened to public from Feb 1.

Date: 22 January 2013

Royal rooms opened to public from Feb 1.

KUALA LUMPUR - The main building of the old Istana Negara located along Jalan Syed Putra will be opened to the public on Feb 1.

However, Museums Department director-general Datuk Ibrahim Ismail could not say whether the public will need to pay a fee to see the former official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong. According to him, further details about the old Istana Negara tour would be made known prior to its opening.

"Several educational activities would be carried out for the visiting public to understand the building's historic significance," he told reporters after hosting a two-hour media tour of the former national palace yesterday. During the tour, members of the media were ushered into bedrooms and ceremonial rooms which were never opened to the public previously.

Built in 1928, the old palace had been the residence of 13 Yang di-Pertuan Agongs since independence in 1957. The 14th king, Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah's installation ceremony took place at the new Istana Negara located in Jalan Duta, in November last year.

In March last year, Information Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim told Parliament that the main building of the old palace will be preserved as a national heritage and opened to visitors with its original features and furnishings maintained. He also said the ministry planned to set up a gallery on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as a constitutional monarchy at a building behind the main building.

By Elly Fazaniza newsdesk@thesundaily.com

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