National Monument (Malaysia)

The National Monument (Tugu Negara) in Kuala Lumpur is a national war memorial commemorating those who died defending Malaysia in the mid 20th century. It stands within a landscaped park near the Perdana Botanical Gardens and is one of the city’s principal civic memorials.

The memorial is anchored by a bronze sculptural group of seven soldiers and a tall obelisk; the figures and plinth form the central commemorative element. The site is used for official wreath-laying ceremonies and public remembrance events.

The monument was created by sculptor Felix de Weldon and was unveiled in the 1960s as a national memorial to those who died in World War II and the Malayan Emergency.

It is located on a raised site close to the Perdana Botanical Gardens in central Kuala Lumpur, within walking distance of other government and cultural institutions.

• Sculptor and date: Sculpted by Felix de Weldon, who is also known for the Iwo Jima Memorial; the monument was unveiled in the 1960s.
• Ceremonies and setting: The site is used for formal wreath-laying ceremonies on national remembrance days and is managed as a public park adjacent to the Perdana Botanical Gardens.

What to See #

• Bronze sculpture group: A bronze sculptural group of seven soldiers in dynamic poses forms the focal element of the memorial and sits at the base of the obelisk.
• Obelisk and memorial park: A tall stone obelisk rises behind the statue group and is set within a landscaped park with pathways and commemorative plaques.