Memorial Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra and Memorial Negarawan

Free Malaysia Today

Preserved by the National Archives of Malaysia are original artefacts from Tunku Abdul Rahman and other key leaders of Malaysia’s independence.   Written & presented by: Theevya Ragu  Shot & Edited by: Andrea Edmonds   Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2025/01/09/a-timeless-tribute-to-tunku-abdul-rahman-putra/   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTLifestyle #MemorialTunkuAbdulRahman #MemorialNegarawan #MalaysianHistory

Transcript

00:00Tired of flipping through history books?

00:02Why not walk through history instead?

00:04Begin by getting to know Malaysia's first Prime Minister

00:08at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial in Kuala Lumpur.

00:12The memorial, officially opened in 1994 by Dr Mahathir Mohamad,

00:16is a living tribute to Tunku Abdul Rahman,

00:19fondly known as the Father of Independence.

00:22Start your visit at Tunku's residence

00:24where he lived from 1956 to 1970.

00:29Highlights include the beautifully preserved Cairo Room,

00:32named after the white chairs Tunku purchased in Cairo

00:36following the signing of the Treaty of London in February 1956.

00:41There are also various significant rooms where dignitaries once stayed,

00:46along with artefacts like this gong Tunku used to call his staff to duty.

00:51Outdoor exhibits feature the iconic Merdeka car

00:55and a 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood that Tunku once used.

01:01Next, step into Tunku's old office building,

01:04originally built in 1956 and reconstructed at the memorial.

01:09Made entirely of wood, it has been carefully restored,

01:13complete with Tunku's original desk, chair and various historical treasures.

01:20In the same exhibition hall, you'll find priceless relics

01:23like the original wooden table used by members of Malaysia's first cabinet,

01:29along with personal belongings

01:31and the official files from Tunku's premiership.

01:35Another section of the memorial highlights Malaysia's journey to independence,

01:39featuring the iconic Merdeka table Tunku sat at

01:43to sign the document that marked the birth of the Federation of Malaya

01:47at Dataran Merdeka on August 31, 1957.

01:52Nearby is the Memorial Negarawan,

01:55which honours the seven statesmen from across Malaysia

01:58who made significant yet lesser-known contributions to the nation.

02:02Many of these figures are celebrated as freedom fighters.

02:08From their early lives to political rise, achievements and legacies,

02:12it's a one-stop historical lesson.

02:16One notable figure at the memorial is Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman,

02:20Malaysia's second deputy prime minister.

02:23Fun fact, he played a key role in establishing the Royal Malaysia Police

02:28and was responsible for making May 1st Labor Day and a national public holiday.

02:34Other notable figures at the memorial include Tun Tan Cheng Lok,

02:38Tun Viti Sambandan, Tun Dr Lim Chong Yew and more.

02:44Interestingly, the Memorial Negarawan was once the prime minister's department complex.

02:49The original office and cabinet meeting room remain,

02:53with Mahathir who chaired over a thousand cabinet meetings,

02:56presiding over the final one here on June 16, 1999,

03:01before relocating to Putrajaya.

03:04With admission being free, there's nothing to stop you

03:07from becoming a Malaysian history expert by visiting these two memorials.

03:12For the full story on these memorials and more, visit FMT and follow our socials.

03:19For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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