National Monument - Tugu Negara, Kuala Lumpur

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The National Monument is a sculpture that commemorates those who died in Malaysia's struggle for freedom, principally against the Japanese occupation during World War II and the Malayan Emergency, which lasted from 1948 until 1960. It is located in the Federal capital, Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian Houses of Parliament is situated near the monument.

It is the world's tallest bronze freestanding sculpture grouping. Every year on July 31 on Warriors' Day, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Prime Minister and heads of military and the police pay their respects to the fallen heroes by laying garlands at the monument.

Constructed in 1966, the monument is 15 meters (49.21 feet) tall, made of bronze and was designed by Austrian sculptor Felix de Weldon, who was also responsible for the famed USMC War Memorial in Virginia, United States.

The granite base of the monument bears the old coat of arms of Malaysia, flanked on either side by inscriptions in English in Latin script and Malay in Jawi script.

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more pictures around the national monument area.

It was built to honor the War dead of World War I and II and the Malaysian Emergency of 1948 to 60 (the communist insurgency) and it is also known by it's Bahasa Malaysian Name of Tugu Negara. The National Monument is located in the Lake Gardens area of Kuala Lumpur and nearby areas are the Asean Garden, Parliament Building and the National Mosque and other areas of attractions. At the mass scupture's base there is a listing of the names of the units who fought the insurgency, including British, Australian, Fijian, Maori and Malay troops. The monument is 15.4 meter tall and comprises seven bronze statues plus the seven men from the Malaysian Armed Forces holding the national flag are portrayed, each symbolising one of seven qualities: leadership, unity, strength, vigilance, suffering, courage and sacrifice. Almost all day city tours of the Kuala Lumpur area stop by here and my tour guide told me that the Sculptor of the monument is the same one who sculpted the famous US Marine Memorial of Iwo Jima in Virginia, USA.

the “last post” is sounded every Saturday from 6.00 p.m.to 6.10 p.m. (except on public holidays).

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part two of my National Monument Tips with more pictures.

It was built to honor the War dead of World War I and II and the Malaysian Emergency of 1948 to 60 (the communist insurgency) and it is also known by it's Bahasa Malaysian Name of Tugu Negara. The National Monument is located in the Lake Gardens area of Kuala Lumpur and nearby areas are the Asean Garden, Parliament Building and the National Mosque and other areas of attractions. At the mass scupture's base there is a listing of the names of the units who fought the insurgency, including British, Australian, Fijian, Maori and Malay troops. The monument is 15.4 meter tall and comprises seven bronze statues plus the seven men from the Malaysian Armed Forces holding the national flag are portrayed, each symbolising one of seven qualities: leadership, unity, strength, vigilance, suffering, courage and sacrifice. Almost all day city tours of the Kuala Lumpur area stop by here and my tour guide told me that the Sculptor of the monument is the same one who sculpted the famous US Marine Memorial of Iwo Jima in Virginia, USA.

the “last post” is sounded every Saturday from 6.00 p.m.to 6.10 p.m. (except on public holidays).

4 more images

It was built to honor the War dead of World War I and II and the Malaysian Emergency of 1948 to 60 (the communist insurgency) and it is also known by it's Bahasa Malaysian Name of Tugu Negara. The National Monument is located in the Lake Gardens area of Kuala Lumpur and nearby areas are the Asean Garden, Parliament Building and the National Mosque and other areas of attractions. At the mass scupture's base there is a listing of the names of the units who fought the insurgency, including British, Australian, Fijian, Maori and Malay troops. The monument is 15.4 meter tall and comprises seven bronze statues. And the seven men from the Malaysian Armed Forces holding the national flag are portrayed, each symbolising one of seven qualities: leadership, unity, strength, vigilance, suffering, courage and sacrifice. Almost all day city tours of the Kuala Lumpur area stop by here and my tour guide told me that the Sculptor of the monument is the same one who sculpted the famous US Marine Memorial of Iwo Jima in Virginia, USA.

the “last post” is sounded every Saturday from 6.00 p.m.to 6.10 p.m. (except on public holidays).

Situated overlooking the KL Lake Gardens, the huge bronze monument was built to pay tribute to the valiant soldiers who gave their lives defending the country during the Communist Insurgency in the 1950s.

Used to be a must-see for all local tourists to Kuala Lumpur. The Naitonal Monument is a giant bronze sculpture of several patriotic soldiers holding up the Malaysian flag.

Malaysia obtained indepenced from colonial Britain peacefully. But in the early days, there were communist insurgencies as well as threats from Indonesia and Philippines as both countires have territorial claims over the new Malaysia.

The National Monument is surrounded by pleasant water fountains. It reminds one of the famous sculpture of Iowa Jima of the raising of US flag during WWII.

On the same hill as the National Monument - in Taman Tasik Perdana - sits the Cenotaph, a monument the English erected for the soldiers who died in World Wars I and II and in the Emergency between 1948 and 1960.

It was created after World War I and initially stood near the Railway Station but was relocated to this park in 1966 when the National Monument was completed.

Cenotaphs are memorials for people whose remains lie somewhere else. The word derives from Greek and means: empty tomb.

Although the sky was very milky and not really clear when I visited Kuala Lumpur you could still get interesting views and angles from many spots in the city – and imagine how fantastic it would be on a clear day ;-)

If you have a very close look at this photo you can see the Petronas Twin Towers in a gap of the shrubbery on the right side.

Below the National Monument is the Asean Sculpture Garden which features a lot of water features and … you guess it … sculptures.

The higest figure of the National Monument holds the Malaysian flag and demonstrates unity and strength.

The men to his left and to his right symbolise courage, vigilence and leadership. Another one in the middle who holds a wounded comrade stands for the sacrifices and the suffering of the soldiers. In total, seven soldiers are included in the monument.

The National Monument (Tugu Negara) is located on a little hill not far from Parliament. It is dedicated to the people who died in World War II and in the fight against the Communist rebellion, the so-called Emergency (1948 to 1960).

The massive 15.54 metre high statue is a replica of the famous Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington DC. Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Raman, wanted this replica because the original had impressed him on a visit to the USA.

The statue in Kuala Lumpur is made of bronze and was created by Felix de Weldon in Italy. It sits on a white platform, surrounded by a water filled ditch which features spraying fountains.