Istana Negara, Jalan Istana

The Royal Museum (Muzium Diraja)
Old Istana Negara
The Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur
General information
Type	Official Palace of His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong (1957–2011) Royal Museum (2013 – present)
Architectural style	Western architecture
Town or city	Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory
Country	Malaysia
Groundbreaking	1928
Construction started	1928
Completed	1928
Inaugurated	1957
Renovated	1980

The Royal Museum (Malay for Muzium Diraja) along Jalan Istana was the former residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Supreme King) of Malaysia. It stands on a 13 acre (50,000 m²) site, located on a commanding position on the slope of a hill of Bukit Petaling overlooking the Klang River, along Jalan Syed Putra.

It was replaced by the new national palace as the official residence of the King in 2011. In 2013, it was converted into The Royal Museum and referred as "Old Istana Negara".

The palace was originally a double-storey mansion called The Big House built in 1928 by a local Chinese millionaire, Chan Wing. During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, it was used as the residence of the Japanese Governor. After the surrender of the Japanese on 15 August 1945, the British Military Administration (BMA) commandeered it for a senior military officers mess from the rank of brigadier. With the formation of the Federation of Malaya in 1950, the Selangor State Government rented the residence from the owners for Straits Dollars 5,000 a month until Merdeka or Independence in 1957. It was renovated to become the palace of His Majesty the Sultan of Selangor. In 1957, the owners sold the property of 13 acres to the Federal Government at an agreed valuation of Straits Dollars 1.4 Million.The Federal Government then converted the residence into the Istana Negara for the newly created sovereign post of Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaya which was about to achieve independence that August as scheduled. Since then it has undergone several renovations and extensions. But the most extensive upgrading was carried out in 1980, as it was the first time that the installation ceremony of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was held at the Istana Negara. Prior to this the Installation Ceremonies were held at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Hall in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur with the first one held in 1957.