National heroes: Tugu Negara was built to commemorate the over 11,000 warriors who died in World War I, World War II and the Malayan Emergency.
PETALING JAYA: Tugu Negara is heading to Parliament.
As part of Parliament Open Day 2023 on May 6, an exhibition showcasing the works of Austrian sculptor Tan Sri Felix de Weldon, who designed Tugu Negara and the statue of Tunku Abdul Rahman, will be held in front of Parliament, said the Austrian Embassy.
Titled “A Monumental Affair – Tunku Abdul Rahman, Felix de Weldon and the story of Malaysia’s most important monuments”, the exhibition is an adapted version of the one held earlier at the Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) Memorial last year.
The Austrian Ambassador to Malaysia, Andreas Launer, who revealed this, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul had offered to host the exhibition in Parliament.
“The latest exhibition will feature a new expanded section on de Weldon’s statue of Tunku Abdul Rahman in front of Parliament, which is the sculptor’s second biggest commission in Malaysia after Tugu Negara,” he said, adding that the event will run for the entire month for the benefit of MPs and visitors.
Launer said the exhibition will be organised with the National Archives, adding that it also has the support of National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
“This is an extraordinary honour for the Austrian Embassy to present the exhibition at Parliament. De Weldon and Tunku represent a unique cultural link between Malaysia and Austria.
“This year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Austrian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and I am pleased that we can present this exhibition in conjunction with the jubilee,” he said.
Tugu Negara is a 15m-tall sculpture showcasing seven soldier figures that was built to commemorate the over 11,000 warriors who died in World War I, World War II and the Malayan Emergency.
It was unveiled to the public on Feb 8, 1966.
