Malay Heritage Centre

The Malay Heritage Centre is a cultural museum located in Kampong Glam, Rochor, Singapore, housed in the former Istana Kampong Glam. It showcases the history, culture and heritage of the Malay community in Singapore. The centre occupies the former palace of Sultan Hussein Shah, built between 1840 and 1843, and features permanent and temporary exhibitions, artefacts and interactive displays on Malay traditions and the historic Kampong Glam district.

Visitors can explore the restored Istana Kampong Glam building and its surrounding compound with landscaped grounds. Inside, permanent galleries display artefacts, multimedia exhibits and dioramas tracing Malay history in Singapore and the Kampong Glam area. Temporary exhibitions, cultural programmes and guided tours are offered. The setting includes traditional architecture, exhibition halls and outdoor spaces within the historic Kampong Glam precinct near Sultan Mosque.

The centre is housed in Istana Kampong Glam, built between 1840 and 1843 for Sultan Hussein Shah and his successor Sultan Ali Iskandar Shah on land granted by the British. It served as the royal residence of the Johor Sultanate in Singapore. The building was gazetted as a National Monument and later restored to house the Malay Heritage Centre, which officially opened in 2005 and is managed by the National Heritage Board to preserve Malay history in Singapore.

The centre preserves and presents the heritage and contributions of the Malay community in Singapore, with a focus on Kampong Glam as the historic seat of Malay royalty and culture. It serves as a cultural institution for exhibitions, education and community programmes related to Malay language, traditions, arts and customs.