Landmarks of Selangor: Gedung Raja Abdullah

Entrance to Gedung Raja Abdullah (CNB 2013)

Gedung Raja Abdullah in Klang, is the oldest Malay building in Selangor. A departure from traditional all-timber construction, this building was built in 1856. Raja Abdullah, appointed by Sultan Mohamed as Chief  of Klang, built it as his house (first floor) and store (for tin, mining implements and supplies). It was modelled after his father's house in Lukut.

This half-brick half-timber structure has housed many tenants after Raja Abdullah left Klang in 1867 during the civil war fought against Raja Mahadi. The building was bought by the colonial government and used by the British Resident as his headquarters, the State Treasury, Survey, Land and Post Offices. In the 1880s the police took it over until 1974. In 1984 Badan Warisan Malaysia undertook conservation of Gedung Raja Abdullah and in 1985 it was re-opened as the State Museum's Muzium Timah.

Gedung Raja Abdullah (CNB 2013)

The first time I set eyes on this interesting building was four years ago and it was closed and looked sadly neglected then. Last Saturday (05/01/13) when we went there, it was still closed and still looked sadly neglected. (There was a proposal in 2006 to move the building brick by brick to another site near the Istana Alam Shah because the present site is 'traffic logged').

According to the current Perbadanan Adat Melayu & Warisan Negeri Selangor* brochure, this building is undergoing conservation and upgrading work.

* In 2009 this body took over the functions and responsibilities of the Lembaga Muzium Selangor (State Museum)
Ref: Landmarks of Selangor. Jugra Publications, 2003.