Oooohs, Aaaahs, And A Bit Of Storytelling At Seri Negara

 

Seri Negara is now open to the public after a refurbishment that finished ahead of schedule, and we finally made our way there. It really is splendid. The kind of place that makes visitors pause at the entrance of each gallery, mouths slightly agape, instinctively going “ooooh” and “aaaah”. That happened a lot. The exhibitions are thoughtfully curated, making them accessible for foreigners and, just as importantly, engaging enough for our young ones to grasp the history of both the building and the nation.

The tour guide did a decent job, though perhaps because everything is still fresh, he leaned a little too heavily on the script on his tablet. Things took a more personal turn for me when we entered the gallery on Malaysian pop culture. I found myself naturally slipping into storyteller mode, chatting with a few visitors — including some from Singapore — who seemed genuinely entertained. The group even asked to take a photo with me, which was unexpected, mildly amusing, and oddly flattering.

Walking around Seri Negara also means you’re free to explore the grounds at your own pace, taking as many photos or videos as you like. Built in 1913, this 112-year-old former King’s House has been beautifully restored in just 10 months under Khazanah Nasional’s Warisan KL initiative. Today, it houses cultural and heritage galleries, displays 14 artworks from Khazanah’s collection (some dating back to the 1960s), and offers inviting spaces like Semuka Café and Serai House for a nostalgic break. Entry is free, with registration via the Sahabat Seri Negara programme — always a bonus.

Being there also stirred up a personal memory. Back in 2010, I co-hosted an episode of Malaysia Hari Ini at nearby Carcosa. While many people lump the two together, Carcosa and Seri Negara are actually distinct historic colonial mansions within the Perdana Botanical Gardens, collectively known today as the Carcosa Seri Negara complex. Carcosa, built around 1898, was once the official residence of the British High Commissioner, while Seri Negara — originally called the King’s House — was completed in 1913 and served as an official guest house for VIPs. Standing in Seri Negara again, years later, felt like history looping back in a quiet, personal way.