Last Saturday, I paid Tugu Negara a visit; it’s my first visit in more than five years. Tugu Negara is the Malaysian national monument and it’s here in Kuala Lumpur (tag). And of course, I brought along my trusty camera.
I took considerable number of shots and there are two shots that I want to share in this post.
Another shot from the other end, at higher elevation:
I love how the shadow falls on the white marble. However, these pictures don’t turn out as good as I had hoped for. I suppose, this is one of those things that you need to be there to truly appreciate the atmosphere. Or that I suck at photography.
There are plaques at the ceiling. Lots of them but people are oblivious of it; most don’t even know that they are walking under it. Still, that’s comprehensible because a giant bronze sculpture stands about 20 or 30 meters away. But it’s sad to see that people are more attracted to size than details.
I don’t know what the purpose of the plaques but it’s no brainer that those plaques represent the Commonwealth forces. I’ll venture to say that those plaques represent all the Commonwealth forces that had served in this part of the world. A good numbers of them are ANZAC.
According to Wikipedia, today is ANZAC Day. Considering how much ANZAC had contributed to peace in Malaya and Malaysia, I feel it’s only right for me to wish all those that celebrate the day appropriately. So, Happy ANZAC Day, if that is how it’s wished as.
As for Malaysia, Hari Pahlawan falls on July 31. I look forward to visit the monument again on that day.
p/s – this is old but Ajax 4 – 2 Feyenoord; aggregate 7 – 2 in Ajax’s favor. Take that! Next stop, Groningen and then off to the Champions League!
Also, there are six Ajacieden (plural of Ajacied?) in the Dutch national team and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been called up. Watch out Nistelrooy. Give way to the new king Hunter.
4 replies on “[777] Of to our glorious dead”
[…] have ever since I visited the Tugu Negara back in 2006. I have two entries for the visit; they are here and here. On the monument itself is a coat of arms that differs from the current one. I have a […]
[…] the statue, the Pavilion and the Cenotaph, there are a couple of monuments with ASEAN-based theme. This is one of two […]
This is the one section of Tugu Negara that I love the most. The last time I was there, it was literally falling apart with some of the crests on the ceiling unintelligible.
Our nation was built on the blood of those who sacrificed their utmost (and quite a few less than willing national servicemen too) made up from different nationalities and ethnicities. Some did it for an idea, others because they were forced too.
In all fairness, both sides; Malayan & Commonwealth forces and the Communist forces; were willing to pay the ultimate price to create the nation that became independent on August 31, 1957 and later enlarged on September 16, 1963. The ideals of this nation was enshrined in the Declaration of Independence (a document long forgotten) and given its structure through the Federal Constitution.
And it is this latter generation of politikus that have spat on the sacrifices made by these fallen few that really strikes a poignant chord with me every time I visit the monument.
[…] Tugu Negara complex. Other photos shot within the complex posted on this blog are the statues and a structure that acts as an elaborate gate to the […]