Tugu Negara (National Monument)

Currently the world’s tallest freestanding bronze sculpture grouping in the world, Tugu Negara or the National Monument is dedicated to soldiers who served during World War I, World War II and Malaysia’s fight for independence.

Tugu Negara (National Monument) is one of Kuala Lumpur’s most visited attractions for tourists. At a height of 15 meters, it is believed to be the world’s tallest bronze sculpture.

The sculpture was erected in 1964 to commemorate fallen warriors who served the country during the fight for independence, especially during the World War II Japanese occupation and the ‘Malayan Emergency’ – a guerilla war that took place from 1948 to 1960 between the Malayan Communist Party and British colonial troops.

Designed by Austrian sculptor Felix de Weldon, the mastermind behind one of the most famous military monuments in America, the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) in Washington D.C., Tugu Negara was unveiled to the public in 1966.

The Tugu Negara monument consists of seven soldiers representing strength, courage, unity, leadership, vigilance, suffering and sacrifice. The monument’s granite base bears Malaysia’s old coat-of-arms with inscriptions in English and Jawi script with the words “Dedicated to the heroic fighters in the cause of peace and freedom, May the blessing of Allah be upon them”.

Also on-site is a cenotaph originally built by the British administration to commemorate World War I.

Nearby

Tugu Negara is situated in the northern part of the Perdana Botanical Garden.

Next door is a magnificent landscape park, which contains an array of fountains and the ASEAN Sculpture Garden, a collection of interesting figures of wood, marble, iron, and bamboo crafted by Asian artists.

Opening hours

Open daily from 7:00am – 6:00pm

Price/Entrance fees

Free-of-charge.

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