Property News

Seri Negara reopens, Anwar urges inclusive public access

by AUFA MARDHIAH
SERI Negara has reopened after a major heritage restoration, with the government stressing that the historic site must remain accessible to ordinary Malaysians and not be treated as an exclusive “hall of power”.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the restored site should remain inclusive, with space for schoolchildren, youth and the public to enter and learn, within reasonable controls. 

“These buildings can become the chosen halls of the ruling elite. There is nothing wrong with institutions, but do not stop ordinary people from enjoying these facilities,” he said at the completion ceremony for the conservation of Seri Negara today.
The site’s programmes, he said, should help young Malaysians see that independence was hard-won, marked by hardship and sacrifice, rather than a neat, simplified story.
Anwar also linked the nation’s historical understanding to the strength of local arts and culture, saying the narrative should be enriched by cultural voices, artists, and writers who shape a clearer sense of what Malaysia means. 
The development and economic momentum, he added, should move alongside the protection of identity and culture, describing a synergy between technology, development, investment and economic drive, together with safeguarding local values and arts.

In a separate address, Khazanah Nasional Bhd MD Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir said Category 1 heritage conservation usually takes around two years, but Seri Negara was restored within 10 months of the February handover, helped by coordinated work across multiple agencies.
Under the Warisan KL initiative, Khazanah was mandated to conserve eight heritage and historical assets, including Seri Negara and Carcosa at Bukit Carcosa, plus six blocks within the Sultan Abdul Samad Building complex, and it also includes building a new bridge linking Carcosa, Seri Negara and Perdana Botanical Garden.  
The restoration effort initially began in March 2017 when the Asian Heritage Museum (AHM) came in as a social tenant and started cleanup work and minor repairs, before the federal government assumed control of the property in 2019 and moved the project into a broader, full-scale restoration plan.
Amirul Feisal said the effort is aimed at building long-term value by strengthening Kuala Lumpur as a liveable economic-and-cultural hub, with spillovers for tourism, recreation and the creative industry. 
Seri Negara will house the Galeri Seri Negara tracing Malaysia’s journey from 1913 to the present, alongside a Serai Group cafe and restaurant. It is also expected to be reopened to the public on Dec 20, 2025.

Source: The Malaysia Reserve