Our family recently visited the Royal Malaysian Police Museum in Kuala Lumpur for the first time, and here is our Royal Malaysian Police Museum review.
I’m Sue, and my family resides in Kuala Lumpur. I’m also a first time mommy of a little boy who loves all things police! I chanced upon the Royal Malaysian Police Museum when looking for a place to visit one Saturday.
If you are thinking of bringing your children to visit the Royal Malaysian Police Museum, do read on for more tips and information of our recent visit below.
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The Royal Malaysian Police Museum offers a captivating historical journey into the evolution of the police force in Malaysia. On display are various police uniforms, weapons used in operations, police vehicles and other things related to the Malaysian police operations.
What We Love About Royal Malaysian Police Museum, KL
- Police vehicle on display
This section will appeal to most boys and vehicle lovers, and is a must-see to understand the scale, purpose, and evolution of police transportation. Little E was excited to see the vehicles that included police tankers, police motorcycles, armoured cars, cannons, a marine patrol boat and even a police aircraft. The police vehicles were the highlight of our visit to this museum.
- Learn about Malaysia’s law enforcement journey and history
The exhibits are carefully curated to provide a chronological view of how policing in Malaysia began. We get to see how policing evolved in response to historical events, including the Japanese occupation, the Communist insurgency and the challenges faced in building a safe country.
- Informative
The detailed written explanations in Bahasa Melayu and English ensure both local and international tourists can fully engage with the exhibits. These panels provide the right balance of background, context and detail to help us understand complex topics or police operations.
- Clean museum
The Royal Malaysian Police Museum is clean, tidy and looks preserved. The glass displays are spotless and the pathways are clear of litter.
- Organised layout
With a user-friendly layout, the museum is divided into three main galleries which makes it easy for us to navigate through the exhibits. We started with Gallery A that displays the early policing practices of the Malay Sultanate followed by colonial and regional police operations in Gallery B and culminating in the story of the Special Police Branch in Gallery C.
- Not too crowded
We visited the museum on a Saturday morning and found that it wasn’t too crowded. This allowed us to take our time reading the information boards and enjoying the displays without being rushed. The settings ensure a personal and reflective experience. We could take our time reading the stories being told, the sacrifices being honoured and the attention to detail in every exhibit.
- Friendly staff
We saw some friendly policemen and policewomen on-duty. A few police officers were also the museum guides to visitors.
Main Exhibits At The Royal Malaysian Police Museum
- Gallery A
Gallery A displays the early origins of policing in Malaysia which begins from the era of the Malay Sultanates. History comes to life where visitors can see the gradual transformation of policing methods and structure from the Portuguese and Dutch colonial eras.
- Gallery B
Many police items used including pith helmets, notebooks, fire extinguishers and revolvers are featured in Gallery B. You can see the different police operations across all the states in Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. Also, the exhibit presents weapons seized from past adversaries used by Communist terrorists, organized criminals and triads. In short, it conveys how the Royal Malaysian Police adapted operationally and technologically to a changing criminal landscape across diverse regions.
- Gallery C
Visitors who enter Gallery C can learn about roles and sacrifices by the Special Branch police. It highlights how this Special Branch was the country’s premier intelligence service after its formation in 1948. Through archival photographs, documents, and artifacts, you can see that this gallery honors the intelligence victories of the Special Branch.
- Outdoor Exhibits
The outdoor exhibits showcase historic police vehicles and equipment including Armoured Wickham Trolley, a Sankey AT‑105 armoured car, a Marine Boat, a flying Cessna, a Japanese WWII cannon, British cannon and more. There were even old cars in which police officers were assassinated.
- Dataran Pewira
Dataran Perwira is a solemn memorial to fallen officers of the Royal Malaysian Police. The names of all police personnel who have died in the line of duty since the 1940s are mounted on a wall spanning ambushes, accidents, weapon mishandling and other line-of-duty circumstances. For the public, especially younger generations, this space cultivates respect and appreciation for the sacrifices made by the law enforcement officers.
Royal Malaysian Police Museum Opening Hours
Monday : Closed
Tuesday to Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday : 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM , 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Royal Malaysian Police Museum Address
5, Jalan Perdana, Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
How To Get To The Royal Malaysian Police Museum, KL
- Car
If you are driving to the Royal Malaysian Police Museum, there is free parking that is located just 150 meters before the museum’s entrance. The open carpark is clearly marked on the right-hand side of the road making it easy to spot.
- Grab / Taxi
If you are staying in town or prefer not to drive, you can take a Grab or a taxi to the museum. Just set your destination to “Royal Malaysian Police Museum” in the app or inform your taxi driver.
- KL Hop on and off bus
For tourists using the KL Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, alight at Stop 23 which is the National Mosque (Masjid Negara). From there, the museum is an easy 7-minute walk, approximately 450 meters away.
Rating: 4.3 Stars out of 5, Over 100K+ booked, 2K+ reviews!
How much does it cost to enter the Royal Malaysian Police Museum?
Entry to the Royal Malaysian Police Museum is completely free of charge.
How long did you spend at the Royal Malaysian Police Museum?
Our family spent about 45 minutes at the museum at a leisurely pace. The amount of time you will spend at the Royal Malaysian Police Museum depends on your interest in history, law enforcement, and detailed exhibits. Most people spend between 40 minutes to 2 hours exploring the museum.
What We Didn’t Like About The Royal Malaysian Police Museum, KL
- Poorly lit indoor galleries
Some of the gallery rooms were dimly lit, which may spook out small kids who are afraid of the dark. When we were in one of the galleries, Little E said that “It’s so dark in here,” he was a bit uncomfortable with the gloomy atmosphere. Hence, we didn’t spend too much time in the indoor galleries.
- Lack of air-conditioning in the indoor galleries
During our visit, a few air-conditioning units and lights were not working making the museum slightly warm. Tip: Bring along a handheld fan for relief and avoiding visits during the midday heat.
- Some displays were a bit dated
A number of exhibits look quite dated where the presentation formats looked old. There weren’t many interactive exhibits in the museum that are designed for younger children.
Other Attractions Nearby The Royal Malaysian Police Museum
- Islamic Arts Museum
Next to the Royal Malaysian Police Museum, 150m away, you will find the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, the largest museum of Islamic art in Southeast Asia. It is a must visit for art lovers because it houses 7,000 artefacts across 12 galleries including a complete early‑19th-century Ottoman room.
Rating: 4.9 Stars out of 5, Over 2M+ booked, 109K+ reviews!
- National Mosque
The National Mosque is only about 0.36 km or a 5‑minute walk from the Police Museum. It has an iconic 73-metre minaret and umbrella‑style roof reflecting Malaysian identity.
- KL Bird Park
Roughly 0.3 km away, the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park would appeal to children and bird lovers alike. It spans over 20.9 acres and houses more than 3,000 birds of over 200 species.
Rating: 4.6 Stars out of 5, Over 10K+ booked, 594 reviews!
- Perdana Botanical Gardens
Just 0.41 km from the museum, Perdana Botanical Gardens spans 91.6 hectares. The beautifully outdoor gardens include manicured gardens, walking trails, a deer park and gardens and is a wonderful escape into nature in KL.
Is It Worth Going To The Royal Malaysian Police Museum, KL?
Yes, the Royal Malaysian Police Museum is worth a visit as it is free to enter (why not?) and offers a fascinating look into Malaysia’s policing evolution, complete with real weapons, uniforms, and crime scene exhibits.