An aerial view of Istana Negara, which features 22 domes resembling an arrangement of betel nut leaves.
NESTLED within 100ha of botanical garden, Istana Bukit Serene faces the Johor Straits, where it serves as the Johor Ruler’s official residence.
In 1935, then Sultan Ibrahim Abu Bakar and his consort Sultanah Helen had chosen an area located on the hilltop facing the straits to build a palace.
According to the Johor Sultanate Portal website, the architecture of the palace drew upon Cornish Manor-style inspiration, with its walls built from rough granite rubble and a sloped roof with green tiles brought all the way from The Netherlands.The two-storey palace has two bedrooms for the Rulers, three other bedrooms for their families and a dining room, among others.
A 35m-tall tower was also built east of the building where the water tank is located.
The palace, which was completed in 1937, was gifted by the Johor government to Sultan Ibrahim to commemorate the 40th anniversary of his ascension to the throne.
To avoid confusion over the status of palaces, the current Johor Ruler – who is also His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia – has commanded that only buildings where the Ruler
is residing would be called Istana (or palace), while other buildings which his family members are staying in would be called residences.
Laman Mahkota, located in front of the grand entrance to Istana Bukit Serene, Johor Baru.
Istana Besar in Johor Baru was built in 1864 during the reign of Sultan Abu Bakar. The palace was designed with the “Anglo Indian in build, in style renaissance” as described by Briton Florence Caddy, who stayed at Istana Besar while travelling with the Duke of Sutherland in 1880.
Once it was completed on Jan 1, 1886, the palace became the official residence of the Johor Sultan.
The opening of the palace also coincided with the renaming of Johor’s capital from Iskandar Puteri to Johor Baru.
The palace also served as the Audience Hall as well as the royal guest residence. Among the royal guests who stayed in the palace were the Duke of Edinburgh (1869), Russian Grand Duke (1871), Prince Henry of Prussia (1880) and King David Kalakua of Hawaii (1881).
Istana Besar also houses the Abu Bakar Royal Museum which officially opened on May 11, 1990, showcasing artefacts of the modern Johor Sultanate.
Another notable palace is Istana Pasir Pelangi, which got its name from a dairy farm that was opened by the late Sultan Ibrahim in 1898, when he saw a rainbow during the opening ceremony.
In 1911, proceeds from the rubber tree plantation in the farm were used to build Istana Pasir Pelangi, which was equipped with a horse stable and a garage for motor vehicles.
Aside from the palaces in Johor Baru, there were several others located in different districts of the state. These include Istana Batu Pahat (also known as Rumah Tempat Datang-Datang), Istana Shooting Box in Segamat, Istana Tanjung in Muar and Sri Lambak in Kluang.
As the 17th King of Malaysia, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim will now reside at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur.
Sultan Ibrahim would be the fifth King residing in the palace, which spreads across 97.65ha.
The well-manicured and landscaped garden is an equally prominent feature of the royal palace.
The palace started operations on Nov 11, 2011, during Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin’s tenure as the nation’s 13th King, replacing Istana Negara Lama located along Jalan Istana.
Consisting of three main components – formal, royal and administration – the Istana Negara also houses other facilities such as a surau that can accommodate up to 1,000 worshippers, a security office, elevated roads, a visitors
square, underground parking, a multi-purpose hall, a medical treatment room, a helicopter pad, stables and sports facilities including a swimming pool.
Distinctively standing out with two large gold domes, the palace has a total of 22 domes which resemble an arrangement of sireh (betel nut) leaves.
Each suite and royal hall is distinctively decorated with traditional Malay-themed ornate carvings, drawings and designs that incorporate Islamic features.
Islamic elements are also evident in the three-dimensional geometry, carvings of Quranic verses and lamps used throughout the palace, especially in the surau.
The Balairung Seri, or the main throne room, has been used for official functions, including ceremonial occasions of taking the royal pledge, the installation ceremony of a new elected King and the appointment of a new prime minister and the federal government.
Other formal occasions held here include investiture ceremonies and the taking of oaths by government ministers and state governors. This is also where the presentation and acceptance of foreign diplomatic appointments are held. It also sometimes serves as a banquet hall.
The iconic Royal Throne room is finely decorated with Malay traditional carvings and calligraphy of Quranic verses, the handiwork of famous woodcarving masters from Kelantan and Terengganu.
The royal section of the palace is specially designed for the use of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,
the Raja Permaisuri Agong and other members of the royal family.
It consists of bedrooms, the King’s office, dining and living rooms, as well as rooms for royal guests.
