KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — The government is considering moving the Parliament to the Putrajaya administrative capital, a move which could cost up to RM800 million.

However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told reporters that the Cabinet had yet to discuss the relocation.

“It’s not decided yet. We will bring it to the Cabinet to be discussed,” he said.

He  added that the Cabinet would also look into possibly demolishing the current Parliament building.

“We will look into every aspect. The Parliament is actually a heritage building so we would have to see if we could demolish it.

The minister said another option would be to refurbish the existing building, which would cost substantially less than a new construction.

“We would need the RM150 million for upgrading [works], like fixing the roof and the electricity supply.

“While for the construction of a new Parliament [building], we might need RM800 million. So we will consider on the best proposal,” Nazri said.

The current Parliament House comprises two parts, a three-storey main building and a 17-storey tower. The main building hosts the Dewan
Rakyat and the Dewan Negara while ministers; offices are located in the tower.

The country's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman suggested the construction of Parliament House in December 1959.

The construction began in September 1962, and the opening of the RM18 million Parliament building was officiated by Tuanku Syed Putra ibni
Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail, the third Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on November 21, 1963.

A statue of Tunku Abdul Rahman was erected near the parliament square. No other Malaysian prime minister has had a statue made after that due to rising Islamic consciousness.