Gedung Raja Abdullah was built around 1857, making it probably the oldest surviving building in Klang, if not the whole of Selangor.

This two-storey heritage building was originally used as a warehouse (‘gedung’ means godown or warehouse) by Raja Abdullah, the first Malay tin-mining pioneer, who lived upstairs with his family while storing his tin ore and other goods on the ground floor.

Conflict broke out between Raja Abdullah and his rival, Raja Mahadi around 1867 and the warehouse had to be fortified.

The spreading unrest caused by this dispute gave the British an opportunity to spread their influence into Selangor and a British Resident was appointed to oversee state affairs.

He was initially based in Klang, which was the royal capital of Selangor at the time. The warehouse became a government office and then, around 1880, was taken into use as the police headquarters for Klang district.

Iron grille doors were added to various rooms, which became cells.

The building was used as a police station for nearly 100 years until the new headquarters was constructed next door in the 1970s.

At this time, the building was recognised as a national monument and converted into a tin museum.

However, the museum closed after the Sultan Alam Shah Museum in Shah Alam was opened in 1989 and many of the tin-related exhibits were transferred there.

It was initially set to be demolished and converted to tennis courts but was saved from that fate by Badan Warisan.

There was talk in 2006 of dismantling it and rebuilding it brick by brick at a new location near Istana Alam Shah, but nothing appears to have happened with that idea.

The warehouse has been vacant and unused for many years but it is being maintained, although the gate is padlocked and visitors are not allowed inside.

When this picture was taken in January 2011, it was looking neat with a fresh coat of paint. However, upon revisiting in February 2016, the paint was peeling off and the building was looking rather sad.

Buildings need to be occupied and looked after and Gedung Raja Abdullah is no exception. It needs to be given a new purpose.

As Klang does not need another museum, it is better to rent it out for retail use to art galleries, handicraft shops, clothing shops and so on. It would even make an excellent kopitiam.

Whatever this historical space may be used for, the rental income could be used to pay for ongoing maintenance. After all, it is quite a lovely historical building that could serve a purpose once more.

Address:
Gedung Raja Abdullah,
Jalan Besar, Kawasan 1
41200 Klang, Selangor

GPS Coordinates:
3.043398, 101.447573
3°02’36.2″N 101°26’51.3″E

This article first appeared in Malaysia Traveller.