"Johor’s Crown Prince Tunku Ismail may cash out on Singapore’s land in record RM11.4 bil deal"

Tyersall Park in the news again!

Throughout its long history Tyersall Park has frequently been in the news: as a leftover from an ancient Malay sultanate; a prestigious stop on the colonial social circuit; a glittering royal palace; the scene of a catastrophic and mysterious fire; a hotbed of scandal and family feuds; wartime tragedies; haunted mansions and forbidden secrets.

Find our more about the fascinating story of Tyersall

Today’s news is all about development and land values.

The region's press came alive again this week with the latest development in the saga surrounding the plot of land, (or more accurately plots of land), located in the heart of District 10, and adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage Site The Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Before this week, the most recent news story came out in June this year. At the time my blog post on the story attracted over 7,000 hits, showing the incredible level of interest in the hidden history behind the headlines. 

Learn More About "Singapore's Untold History"

You can read the June 2025 post here: 

Singapore Swaps Prime Land With Malaysia Billionaire's King's Son

Back then the news was that the Crown Prince had struck a deal with the Singapore government to swap around some parcels of land that would, hopefully, enable the him to monetize his Singapore land inheritance which had been left in limbo for decades due to the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority's land zoning demarcations.

Singapore's Straits Times, among other news outlets, carried the story yesterday, September 26.

At some point in the near future it is almost a certain that the Crown Prince will finally realize his life long quest to somehow secure some significant cash value for the land he owns and yet was, for many years, unable to sell on the open market.

Read the news here 

...and here

But this still leaves the remaining parcel of land, the one which after the June land swap deal now includes the ruin of Istana Woodneuk, in the hands of the government. It is therefore in the hands of Singapore if the history and memories of the people and events that took place here will be preserved or lost to history. It is they who will decide whether this unique and untold story should be officially included in Singapore's, and the region's, historical memory and collective identity, or else forgotten.

In the meantime join the thousands of readers who have already delved into the fascinating story of Palace of Ghosts: Singapore's Untold History.

Find out the real story behind the headlines





Location: G4HH+C9 Pelalawan, Pelalawan Regency, Riau, Indonesia

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