Malaysia's National Museum completes interior facelift

Malaysia’s Muzium Negara, or National Museum, recently completed a four-year-long renovation process and boasts a fresh new interior for visitors. The museum houses 4 permanent collections, including galleries for Malaysian Prehistory and Malay Kingdoms.

A fresh look for the National Museum
The Star, 31 July 2010

Since its opening on Aug 31, 1963, our National Museum has undergone various tweaks and transformations. But its latest facelift in 2006 has proved to be the most successful one yet, with many history lovers and pseudo-intellectuals finally taking notice.

“Yes, we realised how old and worn the museum was getting,” says Datuk Ibrahim Ismail, director-general of the Department of Museums in Malaysia. “People visit once, and they don’t come back. We want to change that.”

Four years and RM20mil later, the transformation is complete. The museum, still retaining its old shell, was relaunched without much fanfare. Life for those in it went on pretty much as usual, albeit with one difference.

“You can actually see how excited our visitors are now,” says Zamrul Amri Zakaria, senior assistant director of the National Museum’s conservation centre. “They’re all smiling and snapshot-happy, unlike last time.”