National Day is not only a time of celebration, but also a time of reflection. We rejoice in our present privileges by honouring the sacrifices of the past. The wars fought and won, the lives lost, the glorious triumphs and devastating defeats. All so that we can enjoy the abundant prosperity and freedom that we have today. One of the ways you can remember the fallen heroes and timeless legends that made Malaysia what it is today, is by visiting historical places in Malaysia. Monuments and museums, forts and castles. Places where contracts were signed and alliances were forged. The epicentres of change and revolution. In honour of Malaysia’s 64th National Day this 31st August 2022, here are some historical places to take your kids.
Merdeka Square
The de facto site of past and future Independence Day Parades, Merdeka Square is where it all began. A historical landmark that is still in use today for various events, Merdeka Square or Dataran Merdeka was where Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first prime minister of Malaysia, lowered the Union Jack and replaced it with Malaysia’s Jalur Gemilang—marking the end of the British colonial rule and the start of Malaysia’s independence. While its more exciting during August 31, you can still visit it for picnics and other small gatherings throughout the year.
- Location – Jalan Raja, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
- Entry – Free
- Open – 24 hours
National Monument
Unveiled in the year 1966, The National Monument or Tugu Negara was commissioned to commemorates the fallen soldiers who fought in Malaysia’s struggle for freedom during the Japanese occupation in World War II and the Malayan Emergency. A dark, tumultuous time that spanned between the years 1948 to 1960. The monument depicts 7 figures, 5 of which represent the victorious allied forces standing over the remains of 2 men representing the defeat of communist forces. It was damaged in 1975 from a guerrilla attack but restored soon after. It now stands on the grounds of the Malaysian Botanical Garden, still intact even after 56 years.
- Location: Perdana Botanical Garden, Jln Parlimen, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
- Entry: Free
- Open: Closes by 6PM
The A’Famosa Fortress
A famous historical landmark located in Malacca, A Famosa, was a former fortress built in 1511 by Portuguese colonisers. It’s one of the oldest European architectures in Southeast Asia, having survived for hundreds of years. The only surviving structure of this once majestic building is ‘the Porta de Santiago’ gate. After the Portuguese departed from Malacca, the fort passed to the Dutch before being taken over by the British, who decided to demolish it. But a few parts of the fort are still intact and have gone through reconstruction over the years.
- Location: Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka
- Entry: Free
- Open: 24 hours
Sultan Abdul Samad Building
Completed in 1897, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is a great historical landmark that witnessed Malaysia’s first National Day. Originally used as Government Offices, the building once housed the first British administration and became their headquarters during the British rule of Malaya. Now it’s used as offices of the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Malaysia. It is currently not open to the public, but it’s still a popular site for photographs.
- Location: Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
- Entry: N/A
- Open: Not open to the public
Museums in Malacca
There are many museums in and around Malacca and they all hold much of the history of Malaysia. Some may have even been instrumental in the fight for independence. There’s the Submarine Museum, the Maritime Museum, the People’s Museum and the Malaysian Architecture Museum. But if there’s one you should definitely visit, it’s the Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum. Built in 1984 and constructed entirely from wood without the use of any nails, the palace still remains the pinnacle of 19th century Malay architecture. Fun fact, it was struck by lightning and destroyed the year after the sultan ascended the throne. The Malacca Cultural Museum located in the palace is home to many artifacts from that period.
- Location: Bandar Hilir, 75000, Malacca.
- Open: Tuesday-Sunday (Closed on Mondays), 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Entry: RM5 or RM10 (Malaysian Adult), RM3 or RM5 (Malaysian Children); RM20 (Non-Malaysian Adult), RM10 (Non-Malaysian Children)
Muzium Negara
If you don’t feel like taking a 3-hour road trip to Malacca, you can always drop by Muzium Negara. If you live in Selangor, you can give your family a history lesson by taking a tour inside this historical haven. Home to hundreds of artefacts, relics and historical items, Muzium Negara holds much of Malaysia’s collective history, including how we achieved independence as a country.
- Location: Jalan Damansara, 50566 Kuala Lumpur
- Open: Mondays-Fridays, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Guided tours)
- Entry: RM2 (Malaysian – teens and adults), RM5 (Non-Malaysian), Elderly and Disabled (OKU): RM 1, Free for children aged 12 and below.
Time for a Family Field Trip
So now that you have this list of historical sites, you can start planning your family trip! It’s a great educational field trip that your kids are sure to enjoy. Even if they may not truly understand the significance of the location. But even just being there, absorbing the ambience and atmosphere of the place, where so many important events transpired, is important in keeping the memory alive. Going on a full blow tour will also give you a chance to learn the past services that has played such an important role in shaping the future. That said, we here from Motherhood would like to wish each and every one of our readers a Happy National Day!
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