Kedah Sultan Visits Sultan Abdul Samad Building

KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Kedah, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, today visited the Sultan Abdul Samad Building (BSAS), a heritage landmark that played a significant role in Malaysia's history.

His Royal Highness, who arrived at about 10.30 am, was received by Khazanah Nasional managing director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir.

Also present were Khazanah Nasional chief corporate officer and general legal adviser Datuk Mohamed Nasri Sallehuddin and head of real assets Selvendran Katheerayson.

During the visit, the Sultan toured the Confluence Hall, which houses a gallery on the origins and development of Kuala Lumpur, and was briefed by Think City senior manager Mariana Isa on its exhibits.

His Royal Highness also visited the Visionary Hall, featuring models and multimedia displays related to the capital city's development, before proceeding to the balcony above the Porte Cochere.

The Sultan later visited the School of Hard Knocks, operated by Royal Selangor, and attended a light luncheon before departing BSAS at about 1.15 pm.

Amirul Feisal said the royal visit was deeply appreciated and was significant to Khazanah Nasional's efforts to preserve the heritage building, which extend beyond conserving its physical structure to highlighting the history of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Malaysia's development.

He said BSAS has received about 200,000 visitors since opening to the public on Feb 2.

"The visit by His Royal Highness the Sultan of Kedah is a tremendous honour and recognition of our efforts to preserve the nation's history, which is meaningful not only to society but also to the royal institution," he said.

On Jan 31, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, officiated the completion of Phase One restoration works at BSAS following 11 months of conservation under the Khazanah Heritage Fund programme.

Originally known as the Secretariat Building, BSAS once served as the centre of the nation's administration and witnessed the lowering of the Union Jack and the raising of the Federation of Malaya flag for the first time in 1957.

-- BERNAMA