The National Monument

The First Monument -  Cenotaph.

Consider to be the 1st Monument to Remember of those fallen heroes in Malaya during the British Occupation .The Cenotaph is a vertical column of 10 meters in height, is the 1st Monument built by the British  administration in 1921 to commemorate the fallen heroes during The Wo rld War  1. Originally located  at Jalan Tugu - or so called Victory Avenue those day but now known as Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin near the old railway station.

The Cenotaph.

In 1961, the Cenotaph was dissemble and reassemble at the present site when the National Warrior Monument was built. However, its 10 sq meters flat base remains there.The Cenotaph, is being centralized  at the Memorial Park, where the dates of the 2nd World War 2 and the Emergency were added. Today the concrete column has the following record the dates of great tragedies of war.

1. First World War  1914 - 1918
2. Second World War  1939- 1943
3. Emergency 1948-1960

 On the monument, it is written “To Our Glorious Dead with dates of the First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945) and the Emergency (1948-1960).

The National Monument - Tugu Negara

How this monument come into existing is much due to our 1st Prime Minister Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman who visited Washington in 1960. He was so captivated by the Iwo Jima Monument  which was  designed by Felix de Weldon as Austrian by origin an American citizen.
So, our National Monument or Tugu Negara is also designed by Felix de Weldon. Than on the 31st July 1961, the National Monument Fund was launched to raise revenue for the construction of this monument. A total of 1.5 million Malayan Dollar was collected.The most foremost contribution is from the Yang Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan - Almarhum Tuanku Munawir ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Our 1st Yang di Pertuan Agong) he donated a piece of prime land where formally the Transit Palace or Istana Hinggap for the Negeri Sembilan Royal family. The Istana Hinggap is demolished to make way for the siting of the National Monument built by the people of Malaya.
It took about 5 years to built and open for visitors on 8th  February 1966. The National Monument is the world's largest, freestanding bronze sculptures. The total area of this Memorial Park is 48,562 sq.meters to commemorate the country's gratitude and respect to the fallen heroes.

Not to forget there are five principal factor take into consideration in building this Memorial Park:

• The Monument itself
• A long reflecting pool with fountain
• A Cresent shape pavillion
• The Cenotaph - War Memorial column
• The Ancillary Garden

1. The National Monument stand at 15.54 meters high and is a feature of diorama of 7 bronze human figures of 6m in height atop an oblong base in the center of the reflecting pool. The figurines denotes the scarifies, courage,strength,Suffering,Unity and Vigilance.
2. The unarmed top figurine in the center holds the Jalur Gemilang which means spiritual and leadership values.
3. The Lower down to the left and right of the central figurine are two soldiers, one holding a rifle and bayonet whilst the other arm with machine gun. These two figurines signify patriotism and victory.
4. And, the center between them are two soldiers , one wounded and the other giviing aid and comfort, thus symbolizing scarifies and brotherly love.
5. Below them are two fallen enemies of the state.

The monument also symbolize the triumph of the forces of freedom-democracy and the forces of evil.

However on 26th August 1975, the monument undergo an extension with further renovation due to an explosion set off by communist terrorists.
Due to that incident, Malaysian  from all walk of life, with their generosity contribute  the fund set up to restore the damages. A total of RM1,325,092 was raised for the restoration. Student from the Faculty of Art & Design from ITM likes Mufti Jantan, Zulkifli Maulana,Hamid Hassan and their  lecturer Christopher Carny with the help of master craftsmen from Trengganu begin to conduct the restoration work. 
The cost to repair and restore the monument is RM200,000 and a security fencing was built around the perimeter of Memorial which cost another RM400,000. The Memorial complex was declared as a protected area between sunset until dawn.The balance of the fund collected  went to the Heroes Welfare Fund or Tabung Kebajikan Pahlawan.
In mid 1977 The National Monument is again open for tourist and local. The most significant affair or ceremony in remembrance of fallen heroes- on the 31st July of the year coinciding with the Warrior Day, The King,Prime Minister,The Military and The Police heads will lay wreaths in remembrance of the fallen heroes.