SHAH ALAM: The 170-year-old Gedung Raja Abdullah in Klang, Selangor, will move to a more suitable site at Taman Bandar Diraja Klang, adjacent to the Tugu Keris Klang, says Selangor housing and culture committee chairman Datuk Borhan Aman Shah.
Following the decree for its relocation, Borhan said the building, which had been closed for over 10 years, was expected to reopen as a tin museum at the new location by the end of the year, subject to the progress of restoration work.
In response to a question from Sallehin Mukhyi (PN-Sabak) about the building's status, Borhan said it was constructed by Raja Abdullah Ibni Almarhum Raja Jaafar in 1856 and played an important role in the early history of tin trading and administration in Klang.
“As the structure is made of timber, it requires careful repair and conservation works to ensure its continued preservation as a heritage object under the National Heritage Act,” he said during the Selangor State Assembly sitting at Wisma Dewan Negeri Selangor, Shah Alam, today (April 29).
Borhan said the state executive council has approved the new location to preserve the building’s heritage and transform it into a tourism and educational landmark for the public.
He said the current location, next to the busy Jambatan Tengku Kelana, would generate vibrations that could pose a risk to the old timber structure.
“These continuous vibrations may affect the building’s timber joints, which were not designed to bear such loads, increasing the risk of long-term structural instability.
“From a technical perspective, the site has a groundwater level of less than one metre in depth, resulting in increased dampness in the walls, higher soil moisture levels and reduced site stability.
“Its proximity to the South Klang district police headquarters and limited parking facilities is also not suitable,” he said.
He said the state, through Selangor Malay Customs and Heritage Corporation (Padat) would be working on the building’s physical conservation, build high-quality exhibition content and integrate promotional strategies, in collaboration with relevant agencies.
“The museum will be incorporated into the Klang heritage tourism trail alongside other attractions such as the Masjid Diraja Sultan Suleiman and Galeri Diraja Sultan Abdul Aziz to strengthen the local heritage tourism ecosystem.
“This approach is expected not only to revive the function of the historic building but also to position it as an iconic and competitive heritage tourism product in the state,” he said.
