Singapore’s Researcher locates 20 former palace locations

via Straits Times, 14 January 2020: A researcher in Singapore has traced the locations of 20 istanas or palaces used by Malay royals that are no longer standing today. Unfortunately, the story is behind a paywall.

“Singaporeans generally know of two istanas in Singapore – the office of the Republic’s President and Istana Kampong Glam, the present-day Malay Heritage Centre.

Heritage buffs might be familiar with another two: the Istana Woodneuk and the torn-down Istana Tyersall. These derelict buildings near the Singapore Botanic Gardens were once the palaces of Johor’s former Temenggong Abu Bakar Daeng Ibrahim.

Temenggong, is an old Malay title of nobility, usually given to the head of public security.

Singapore was once home to as many as 30 istanas, some of which were located in heartland areas, such as Bedok, Serangoon Road and Telok Blangah.

This is what heritage researcher, Mr Sarafian Salleh, learnt after studying archival research and conducting interviews with the descendants of families who built and owned these istanas.

Mr Sarafian has pinpointed the locations of 20 of these former istanas and found information on their various owners, in what is understood to be the first such project of its kind.”

Source: Singapore’s lost palaces: Researcher locates 20 former istanas , Singapore News & Top Stories – The Straits Times