I Visited The Prime Minister’s Office And Was Shocked!

Putrajaya is Malaysia’s planned government city, a short drive south of Kuala Lumpur, and it’s one of those places I never would have thought to visit on my own. My friend Shum offered to show me around, so I got a local’s tour of the Prime Minister’s Office, the pink Putra Mosque on the lake, the Moroccan Pavilion and the Japan Friendship Garden.

This was my first outing in the KL area with Shum, and he drove. From my hotel it was roughly 30 to 45 minutes, though it’s hard to say exactly since we made a few other stops along the way.

We lucked out with the weather. It had been in the mid-90s all week and I was worried I’d wilt in the sun, but the day was overcast after some morning rain and stayed comfortable the whole time. If you can, pick a cooler or cloudier day; most of Putrajaya is outdoors and there’s a lot of walking.

The Prime Minister’s Office is the first thing you notice. If that’s your office, you’ve made it. What really surprised me, though, was everything around it. The whole area is beautiful and very well laid out.

Across the water sits Putra Mosque, the pink mosque that seems to float on the lake. I didn’t go inside, but I enjoyed the view with the flags waving in the wind. On the other side of the bridge there’s a park with walking trails if you want to explore more.

The Moroccan Pavilion was a highlight for me. The carvings are intricate; that took some time. Shum was telling me about a door there that is never supposed to be closed, and a sign says the same. Shortly after we walked through it, someone closed it. The timing could not have been better.

You’ll need to take your shoes off to go inside, and there’s a no-filming sign, so I put the camera away. I’d much rather be a good guest than chase the shot.

We finished at the Japan Friendship Garden, a peaceful spot and a nice way to slow down after all the walking.

I’m very grateful Shum took the time to show me around. I don’t think I would have found the pink mosque, the pavilion or the garden by myself. If you have half a day free in KL, Putrajaya is worth it, especially with someone who knows the way.