"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime..."
Our plan to have ayam kampung lunch at Tugu View Café was cancelled as we were a little too late. But our second choice of ayam kampung lunch at Cheras Velodrome was not that bad too. As the weather was good, we brought Hana to visit the National Monument and allowed her to sweat out a bit after having cooped up and down with fever for almost a week
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| (The first National Monument) |
The Cenotaph is the original national monument standing 15 meters high at the upper entrance of the Tugu Negara, on a 7 stepped rectangular base. This granite structure was first built in 1921 to remember the fallen heroes of the World War I, World War II and the Malayan Emergency.
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| (Ascending slow and steady) |
Tugu Negara, which is also 15 meters tall was constructed in 1966, was designed by an Austrian sculptor, Felix de Weldon, The monument depicts huge tall bronze figures of soldiers standing and supporting their fallen comrades. In 1975, the monument suffered extensive damage due to an explosion and was restored 2 years later to its original state with the new Malaysian looks replacing the Caucasian statues.
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| (Exhausted but happy) |
The National Monument is dedicated to the heroic fighters in the cause of peace and freedom, May the blessing of Allah be upon them...
You seem to know a lot about the history of Tugu Negara. I wonder if yo know where it was sited before where it stands today.
ReplyDeletePakcik,
ReplyDeleteWhen I first came to KL in 1974, both tugus were where they are now. But according to history, the original site of the first tugu Negara (the Cenotaph) was at the intersection of Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin.
It was moved to the present site when a flyover was being built.