The Royal Malaysian Police Museum is on Jalan Perdana, beside the Perdana Botanical Gardens in Kuala Lumpur. Its three galleries trace the development of policing in Malaysia through uniforms, weapons, badges and other objects from different periods. Outside, former police vehicles and cannons give you a first look before you head in. The collection also includes weapons confiscated from secret societies and other groups. Admission is free, and the compact museum can fit into a visit to the nearby Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.
Three galleries, three periods
The museum’s three galleries are arranged around different periods in Malaysian history. Gallery A covers policing under the Malay Sultanates. Other displays follow the force through later eras, including the Straits Settlements and the colonial period, before bringing the story into more recent times.
Uniforms and weapons help show how police work and equipment changed. Drawings, paintings and objects also connect the history of policing with the political periods it passed through. The collection includes badges and awards, as well as everyday objects such as an old typewriter, a pith helmet and a water filter.
Weapons and seized objects
The displays include police firearms and traditional weapons, alongside items taken from secret societies and other groups. One gallery looks at weapons associated with the Malayan Emergency, including handmade weapons linked to the Botak Chin group. The objects give the exhibits a focus on the crimes and enforcement challenges of their time.
The collection also includes confiscated items from different eras. Take time to read the displays as you move between galleries: the objects are presented as part of a chronological account, not simply as a weapons collection.
Start with the courtyard
Before going inside, look around the outdoor exhibits near the entrance. Former police vehicles and cannons are displayed in the courtyard. The wider collection includes armoured vehicles, patrol boats, motorbikes and aircraft, alongside other transport used by the police.
The museum is housed in a former police officers’ mess on Jalan Perdana. Its collections preserve objects associated with the Royal Malaysian Police from its early history through later periods. The museum was founded in 1997, and its displays bring together uniforms, equipment and vehicles in one place.
Häufige Fragen
Is admission to the Royal Malaysian Police Museum free?
Yes, admission is free.
What can you see at the museum?
The collection includes police uniforms, weapons, badges, awards and objects confiscated from different groups. There are also former police vehicles and cannons outdoors.
How many galleries are there?
There are three galleries, arranged around different periods in Malaysian history.
Is the museum air-conditioned?
No. The museum is not air-conditioned, so consider visiting in the morning or late afternoon.
