Istana Seri Menanti (Seri Menanti Palace) in Negri Sembilan is a popular historic building in the state. Is it true it was constructed without a single metal nail?
VERDICT:
TRUE
No metal nails were used to build the beautiful palace in Negri Sembilan, which was constructed at the beginning of the 20th Century after the destruction of the previous palace, Istana Pulih.
Istana Pulih had been destroyed by British soldiers searching for Yamtuan Antah during the Bukit Putus War in 1875.
On the construction of Istana Seri Menanti, the entire structure of the palace is made of wood, from its pillars to its roof.
Influenced by Minangkabau elements, the palace is held together by pieces of wood called “pasak”, according to the National Archives of Malaysia.
“All 99 pillars in the palace represent the 99 warriors and commanders in Negri Sembilan,” read its website.
The four-storey palace was designed by two Malay architects called Kahar and Taib.
Both Kahar and Taib were both awarded the Dato’ Panglima Sutan title by Negri Sembilan's Ruler at the time, Yang di-Pertuan Muhammad Ibni Almarhum Yamtuan Antah.
The design was later refined and approved in November 1902, while the entire building was completed in 1908.
References:
http://www.arkib.gov.my/web/guest/istana-lama-seri-menanti
