Istana Bukit Serene
Encyclopedia
Istana Bukit Serene is the royal palace and official residence of the Sultan of Johor
, located in Johor Bahru
, Malaysia. The palace faces the Straits of Johor
and has a bird's eye view of Singapore
, a former possession of the Sultanate.
From historical records, the palace was completed in 1933.
. Tourists are also amazed by the unique carvings on the walls on this historical building which features Art Deco influences.
The palace has a huge sprawling garden which is a common site for many royal gatherings and celebrations. The palace is well guarded by the Johor Military Force, the Sultan's own private army.
, and his ancestors were military leaders (Shogun
in Japanese) which ruled Japan
from the 16th to the 19th centuries. When the Japanese invaded Malaya
, Tokugawa accompanied General Yamashita Tomoyuki
's troops and was warmly received by Sultan Ibrahim when they reached Johor Bahru
at the end of January 1942.
Yamashita and his officers then stationed themselves at Istana Bukit Serene and the state secretariat building, Sultan Ibrahim Building
to plan for the invasion of Singapore
. From the palace, he had a splendid view of the positions of the Australian Army and Navy across the Straits of Johor
. Yamashita
used the palace tower as viewing point as it had a bird's eye view of Singapore
.
Although advised by his top military personnel that the palace is an easy target, Yamashita
was confident that the British Army would not attack Istana Bukit Serene because it was the pride and possession of the Sultan of Johor
. Yamashita
's prediction was correct as the British Army did not dare attack the palace.
Shortly before the Japanese surrendered in 1945, Sultan Ibrahim was expelled from his residence at Istana Bukit Serene and was forced to reside at Istana Pasir Pelangi
, the crown prince's palace.
Sultan of Johor
Sultan of Johor is a hereditary seat and the nominal ruler of the Malaysian state of Johor. In the past, the sultan held absolute power over the state and was advised by a bendahara...
, located in Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
, Malaysia. The palace faces the Straits of Johor
Straits of Johor
The Straits of Johor is a strait that separates the Malaysian state of Johor to the north from Singapore to the south....
and has a bird's eye view of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, a former possession of the Sultanate.
From historical records, the palace was completed in 1933.
Overview
Istana Bukit Serene has a tower measuring 35m in height and is among the famous tourist attractions in Johor BahruJohor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
. Tourists are also amazed by the unique carvings on the walls on this historical building which features Art Deco influences.
The palace has a huge sprawling garden which is a common site for many royal gatherings and celebrations. The palace is well guarded by the Johor Military Force, the Sultan's own private army.
Japanese Occupation (1941-1945)
Sultan Ibrahim became a personal friend of Tokugawa Yoshichika during the 1920s. Tokugawa was a scion of the Tokugawa clanTokugawa clan
The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...
, and his ancestors were military leaders (Shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
in Japanese) which ruled Japan
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
from the 16th to the 19th centuries. When the Japanese invaded Malaya
Japanese Invasion of Malaya
The Japanese Invasion of Malaya, or Battle of Kota Bharu, began just after midnight on 8 December 1941 before the attack on Pearl Harbor...
, Tokugawa accompanied General Yamashita Tomoyuki
Tomoyuki Yamashita
General was a general of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. He was most famous for conquering the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, earning the nickname "The Tiger of Malaya".- Biography :...
's troops and was warmly received by Sultan Ibrahim when they reached Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital city of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is the southernmost city of the Eurasian mainland...
at the end of January 1942.
Yamashita and his officers then stationed themselves at Istana Bukit Serene and the state secretariat building, Sultan Ibrahim Building
Sultan Ibrahim Building
Sultan Ibrahim Building is the former state secretariat building of Johor. It is located at Bukit Timbalan in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The building was constructed between 1936 and 1939 and was completed in 1940 as the British colonial government attempted to streamline the state's administration...
to plan for the invasion of Singapore
Battle of Singapore
The Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of the Second World War when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in Southeast Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
. From the palace, he had a splendid view of the positions of the Australian Army and Navy across the Straits of Johor
Straits of Johor
The Straits of Johor is a strait that separates the Malaysian state of Johor to the north from Singapore to the south....
. Yamashita
Tomoyuki Yamashita
General was a general of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. He was most famous for conquering the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, earning the nickname "The Tiger of Malaya".- Biography :...
used the palace tower as viewing point as it had a bird's eye view of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Although advised by his top military personnel that the palace is an easy target, Yamashita
Tomoyuki Yamashita
General was a general of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. He was most famous for conquering the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, earning the nickname "The Tiger of Malaya".- Biography :...
was confident that the British Army would not attack Istana Bukit Serene because it was the pride and possession of the Sultan of Johor
Sultan of Johor
Sultan of Johor is a hereditary seat and the nominal ruler of the Malaysian state of Johor. In the past, the sultan held absolute power over the state and was advised by a bendahara...
. Yamashita
Tomoyuki Yamashita
General was a general of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. He was most famous for conquering the British colonies of Malaya and Singapore, earning the nickname "The Tiger of Malaya".- Biography :...
's prediction was correct as the British Army did not dare attack the palace.
Shortly before the Japanese surrendered in 1945, Sultan Ibrahim was expelled from his residence at Istana Bukit Serene and was forced to reside at Istana Pasir Pelangi
Istana Pasir Pelangi
Istana Pasir Pelangi is a royal palace of the Tunku Mahkota of Johor. It is located in the royal town of Pasir Pelangi, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.-See also:*Istana Besar*Istana Bukit Serene*Pasir Pelangi...
, the crown prince's palace.
External links
- A palace in the sun, Fauziah Ismail, New Straits TimesNew Straits TimesThe New Straits Times is an English-language newspaper published in Malaysia. It is Malaysia's oldest newspaper still in print , having been founded as The Straits Times in 1845, and was reestablished as the "New Straits Times" in 1965. The paper served as Malaysia's only broadsheet format English...