Finally a new palace to replace the old spooky palace.
On 15 Nov 2011 at 10.25am, the King's private flag was raised in the New Palace for the first time.
Went to have a look at our brand new National Palace out of curiosity. The Palace building is situated on top of a gentle hillslope with a commanding view of the KL skyline. Visible in the distance is the Twin Towers and KL Tower. The landscaping and gentle hilllocks on the left and right side of the Palace looks in tune with chinese "feng shui" - representing the Dragon and Tiger. Another small hillock in front representing the Turtle with a water feature - a small pond.
There are not many tourists and the place looked deserted. Workers are seen working on the landscaping. The King (our Agong) has not moved in yet, but will the King really reside/live in this new Palace? All the previous Agongs did not reside in the Old Palace except the First Agong. Why? Some say its spooky and haunted.
After Malaysia achieved its independence on 31 August 1957, the first appointed Agong moved into that (old) Palace in Jalan Istana near Jalan Syed Putra. Two and a half years later, on 1st April 1960, he died in his sleep in that Palace. His teak coffin and lying in state took place in the Banquet Hall.
Some facts about this old palace: This double-storey mansion was built in 1928 by Chan Wing, a Chinese immigrant from Canton who made his millions through tin mining. I heard stories from my ancestors that the "feng shui" of the mansion was not auspicious and the location in geomancy terms was on a "white tiger", therefore occupants of this mansion would not enjoy longevity. (This would make an interesting urban legend. Are geomancy and feng shui for real?)
Chan Wing fled to India with his numerous wives and family during the Japanese occupation and the Japanese army took over the mansion. After the war, it was sold, changed ownerships a couple of times. The Sultan of Selangor was using it as his palace when it was taken over hastily by the new government to be used as a royal palace for the soon-to-be first Agong (from Negri Sembilan), when the country obtained independence from the British in 1957.
Chan Wing fled to India with his numerous wives and family during the Japanese occupation and the Japanese army took over the mansion. After the war, it was sold, changed ownerships a couple of times. The Sultan of Selangor was using it as his palace when it was taken over hastily by the new government to be used as a royal palace for the soon-to-be first Agong (from Negri Sembilan), when the country obtained independence from the British in 1957.
The next (second) Agong, the Sultan of Selangor, died from a mysterious unidentified illness on the day appointed for his official installation as Agong on 1st Sept 1960. He died at the guest palace in Istana Tetamu (Near Carcosa) in Taman Tasik Seri Perdana where he was staying while waiting to be installed as Agong. Istana Tetamu was previously owned by the British goverment. It was opened in 1913 and named Governor's House, then named King's House to house the British King. Later renamed to Istana Tetamu after the Malaysian government took over the mansion.
The second Agong didnt get installed officially, died 5 months after the first Agong. The first Agong didnt complete his term of Kingship of 5 years. He died in his sleep inside the old palace...probably his dead soul is still reigning there.
Since then all the other Agongs reside at their own private residences in Kuala Lumpur. The Palace was used for ceremonial purposes only.
The Old Palace
The Old Palace main gate
The Old Palace Guards and Horse
New Palace under construction. Location - Jalan Duta.
See the wet floor underneath this horse. I think this horse shitted and the floor had to be washed. There was a stench of dung in the air. (The other horse's floor was dry).
The hillock in the background looks artificially created (representing turtle).
Cost = RM800 million or a few billion ringgit?
Total number of domes = 22
Highest dome = 40m (as tall as 10 storeys)
The 14th Agong (Kedah's Sultan) will be installed here on 13 Dec 2011.
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Must see pictures of the interior of the new palace - very grand, luxurious, majestic! Wow! All the Agongs will definitely want to move in and live, eat, sleep, play...and forever be Agong. Click
One of the picture is this bedroom....which i likeeee.
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." - James 1:27 (KJV)
Update : 13 Dec 2011 (Tuesday)
Our 14th King was installed this morning. The oath taking and signing ceremony was shown live on TV. Presenting our new King (84 years old) and Queen from Kedah State, who will reign for 5 years beginning today. (The King is merely a figurehead and does not rule the country. Power is in the hands of the Prime Minister and an elected government.)
List of Agongs (Kings) since Independence Day in 1957
1. YANG DI-PERTUAN BESAR OF NEGRI SEMBILAN (Born 24.8.1895 - Died 1.4.60)
Tuanku Abdul Rahman Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad. He was installed as the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 2, 1957 (at the age of 62), but died while in office on April 1, 1960.
Tenure: Aug 3, 1957 - April 1, 1960.
2. SULTAN OF SELANGOR (Born 13.5.1898 - Died 1.9.60)
Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ala’iddin Sulaiman Shah. He died on Sept 1, 1960, just hours before his installation as the second Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Tenure: He had been performing the duties of Yang di-Pertuan Agong since April 4, 1960 (62 years old), following the death of Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
3. RAJA OF PERLIS (Born 25.11.1920 - Died 16.4.2000)
Tuanku Syed Putra Ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail. He was installed as the third Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 4, 1961, at the age of 40, making him the youngest ruler to have been elected to the post.
Tenure: Sept 21, 1960 - Sept 20, 1965.
4. SULTAN OF TERENGGANU (Born 24.1.1907 - Died 20.9.79)
Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin. He was installed as the fourth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 21, 1965, at the age of 58.
Tenure: Sept 21, 1965 - Sept 20, 1970.
5. SULTAN OF KEDAH (Born 28.11.27)
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah. Installed as the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Feb 20, 1971, at the age of 44.
Tenure: Jan 21, 1970 - Sept 20, 1975.
6. SULTAN OF KELANTAN (Born 10.12.17 - Died 1979)
Sultan Yahya Petra Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim. He was installed as the sixth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Feb 28, 1976, at the age of 59, but died while in office on March 29, 1979.
Tenure: Sept 21, 1975 - March 29, 1979.
7. SULTAN OF PAHANG (Born 24.10.30)
Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mu’adzam Shah. He was installed as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong on July 10, 1980, at the age of 50.
Tenure: April 26, 1979 - April 25, 1984.
8. SULTAN OF JOHOR (Born 8.4.32 - Died 22.1.2010)
Sultan Mahmood Iskandar Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail. He was installed as the eighth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Nov 15, 1984, at the age of 57.
Tenure: April 15, 1984 - April 25, 1989.
9. SULTAN OF PERAK (Born 19.4.28)
Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuff Izzuddin Ghafarullahulahu Shah. He was installed as the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 18, 1989, at the age of 61.
Tenure: April 26, 1989 - April 25, 1994.
10. YANG DI-PERTUAN BESAR OF NEGERI SEMBILAN (Born 19.7.22 - Died 27.12.2008))
Tuanku Ja’afar Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman. He was installed as the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 22, 1994, at the age of 72.
Tenure: April 16, 1994 - April 25, 1999.
11. SULTAN OF SELANGOR (Born 8.3.26 - Died 21.11.2001)
Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Hishamuddin Alam Shah. He was installed as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 23, 1999, at the age of 73, but died while in office on Nov 21, 2001.
Tenure: April 26, 1999 - Nov 21, 2001.
12. RAJA OF PERLIS (Born 17.5.43)
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail. He was installed as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on April 25, 2002, at the age of 59.
Tenure: Dec 13, 2001 - Dec 13, 2006.
13. SULTAN OF TERENGGANU (Born 22.1.62)
Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah. He was installed as the 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on April 26, 2007, at the age of 45.
Tenure: Dec 13, 2006 - Dec 12, 2011.
14. SULTAN OF KEDAH (Born 28.11.27) His second time as Agong. (formerly 5th Agong).
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah. He was elected the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Meeting of the Conference of Rulers on Oct 13, 2011.
His tenure started today Dec 13, 2011.
He is 84 years old now. By the time he finishes his term he will be 89 years old. Hope he does not die while in office. Or maybe they like to die while they are King - grand burial. Whatever...wait and see.
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Some trivia: The Agongs are elected by the Conference of Rulers which consists of all the Sultans.
The current Sultan of Johor is of mixed parentage (malay and caucasian).
The current Sultan of Selangor is divorced. His father died while in office as Agong, his grandfather died on his installation day as Agong. So is he fearful of being jinxed? His male heir from his second marriage is of mixed parentage too (malay and caucasian). His two daughters from his first marriage are mixed-race too = (3/4 malay 1/4 chinese). His ex-wife's mother from his 1st marriage was chinese.
UPDATE: 11 April 2012 (Wednesday)
This morning our elderly new King was officially installed. I saw the ceremony live on TV1.
A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment, but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life. (Proverbs 28:16 NIV)..
