In May 2025, I visited the Tun Razak Memorial with my friend Pek Foong. Click here for a report. We share an interest in Malaysian history, and when she suggested to visit two more historic places in Kuala Lumpur, I was eager to accept her invitation.
Our first destination was the Galleria Sri Perdana, the former residence of Mahathir, Malaysia’s fourth PM. When he became PM in 1981, he should have moved to Sri Taman, the official PM residency, where both Tun Razak and Hussain Onn had lived during their tenure. Instead, he decided to build a new residency and converted the old residency into a memorial for Tun Razak.
HIs government acquired Sri Timah on Federal Hill, the residence of the Malaysia Mining Corporation chairman, demolished it and rebuilt it for RM 11 million as Sri Perdama. Mahathir and his family lived there from 1983 until 1999, when they moved to the present Sri Perdana in Putrajaya. The residency was handed over to the National Archives in 2000 and last year reopened to the public as a gallery.
The Galleria Sri Perdana is located on a 46-acre site, visitors have to park outside the gat. A friendly security guard said he could take me to the gallery on the back of his bike. I thanked him, but said I still could walk 😉
The entrance to the gallery is free of charge; you only have to register. Not many other visitors.
After registration, we were directed to a separate section of the residency, meant for important guests. It has its own staircase and leads to a luxury apartment.
Paintings show the former occupants of the mansion, Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Siti Hasmah.
The ground floor of the residency was meant for official use, cabinet meetings, state banquets, etc.
The location of the residence on Federal Hill allows abundant views of the KL skyline.
The basement would not look out of place in a grand hotel.
The first floor houses the family’s private quarters and is, for me, the most interesting part. The room of his daughter, his private office.
Kitchen and dining room. You wonder if Siti Hasmah sometimes prepared dinner for the family.
The master bedroom and bathroom.
Mahathir had his personal barber and his private gym.
At the end of our visit, we had a look at the official cars, used while he was the PM. It had started to rain, Pek Foong had an umbrella and was allowed to drive her car to the entrance, where she could pick me up.
It was an interesting visit.
Next, we drove to Sri Negara. Here is a Google Earth screenshot. It is located near the KL Lake Gardens. I have marked the lake with its original name, Sydney Lake, and also marked the location of the Tun Razak memorial. The building was designed by the famous architect A.B. Hubback and completed on1913.It was a guesthouse for high-ranking British officials, it was never a residency. Nearby, also marked in the map is Carcosa, another design of Hubback, but completed 15 years earlier. It was the residency of Frank Swettenham, the first Resident-General of the Federated Malay States.
Basically I understand why the two mansions are often taken together as Carcosa Sri Negara, but it is unfortunate and very confusing. See the appemdix
The guesthouse (King’s House, Governor Rest House, Federal Lodge, Sri Negara) has been opened to the public since the end of 2025 as a gallery to highlight Malaysia’s development to independence in the 20th century.
When we visited the gallery, it was free access, but you had to book a time slot for a guided tour. We arrived a bit early, there is a cafe on the ground floor.
While waiting for the guided tour, we visited the ground floor which is an art gallery
Our guide told about the history of the building and took us to the galleries on the first floor We started with a audiovisual presentastiom.
In each gallery the guide gave a short introduction, after which we could walk around.
The galleries mainly contain posters with documentation. A guided tour is not really suitable, it would be better if you walk around at your own pace.
Also her you have a spectacular view of the Merdeka 118 skyscraper.
Both floors are surrounded by verandas.
The rain had stopped, so I could walk around the mansion and admire the architecture.
It is in the planning to restore also Carcoa. It would be wonderful if the government decides to make it a museum of colonial history,
A few weeks later I came back to Sri Perdana, this time with Aric and our UK friend Rodney. Main reason was to have a look at the cars, as he is fond of (old) car models. No rain this time, so I could take a picture of the exterior.
We visited the memorial again, but I didn’t take many photos this time.
Of course I gad to take a photo of Aric and the laundry facilities in the basement. And during my first visit I had overlooked the cupboard with the shoe racks at the entrance of the family quarters. Malaysian culture, you take off your shoes when entering a private home.
Part of the car collection.
