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The National Museum () is a public museum in
Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...
,
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
dedicated to Malaysian art,
culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...
, and
history History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the Human history, human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some t ...
. Located on
Jalan Damansara Jalan Damansara is a major road in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. One of the oldest roads in the city, it currently serves as a link between the Damansara sections of Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur (from Bandar Sri Damansara through to the Petaling Jay ...
close to Perdana Lake Gardens across KL Sentral station. Its façade comprises elements from both traditional Malay and modern features. It was inaugurated on 31 August 1963, and it serves as a repository of Malaysia's cultural and historical heritage. The National Museum is a three-story structure, long and wide, which is high at the central point. The museum houses four main galleries allotted to ethnology and natural history (geology). The displays range from free-standing tableaux showing cultural events like weddings, festivals and costumes; to traditional weapons, musical instruments, arts and crafts, ceramics, and flora and fauna.


History


The Old Selangor Museum

Selangor Museum was the de facto national museum pre-independence. Selangor Museum was established in 1887 as an amateur affair by colonial civil servants. It was taken over by the colonial government, and following the formation of the
Federated Malay States The Federated Malay States (FMS, , Jawi script, Jawi: ) was a federation of four protectorate, protected states in the Malay Peninsula — Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang — established in 1895 by the British government, and whi ...
in 1896, in 1904 it was administratively merged with the Perak Museum in Taiping as the Federated Malay States Museums under director Leonard Wray Jr. A purpose-built museum building designed by prominent architect Arthur Benison Hubback opened in 1907.The Selangor Museum collection grew rapidly under curator, then director, Herbert Christopher Robinson. Other notable staff at Selangor Museum included Cecil Boden Kloss and Eibert Carl Henry Seimund. The museum also hired hunters and collectors from Sarawak, including Charles Ulok. Much of the museum collectors’ zoological field work focussed on the hills and mountains of the peninsula's central states, Fraser's Hill,
Genting Highlands Genting Highlands is a hill station located on the peak of Mount Ulu Kali in the Titiwangsa Mountains, central Peninsular Malaysia, at 1800 metres elevation. Located in the state of Pahang, it was established in 1965 by the late Malaysian busi ...
, Cameron Highlands, laying a foundation for the prominence of these hill resorts in Malaysia today. The museum had a major expedition to Gunung Tahan in 1905. They also collected in Southern Thailand and Indonesia. The expeditions and collections were written about in the Journal of the Federated Malay States Museums. Collected specimens were routinely transferred to the
British Museum (Natural History) The Natural History Museum in London is a museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. It is one of three major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the others being the Science Museum and ...
, some were sent to Liverpool Museums in 1914, and the vertebrate collections were fully transferred from Selangor Museum to the Raffles Museum of Singapore in 1926. File:Maroon-breasted Philentoma, Philentoma velata, (NML-VZ 31.12.14.77b) collected from Gunung Angsi, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia in November 1904, with a Selangor Museum label.jpg, Maroon-breasted Philentoma with old Selangor Museum label. File:Malayan Whistling-thrush, Myophonus robinsoni, (NML-VZ 31.12.14.143) collected from Bukit Fraser, Pahang, Malaysia on 22 October 1909, with a Selangor Museum label.jpg, Malayan Whistling-thrush with old Selangor Museum label. File:Grey Nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka, (NML-VZ 31.12.14.25) collected from Semangko Pass, Pahang, Malaysia in February1908, with a Selangor Museum label.jpg, Grey Nightjar with old Selangor Museum label. On 10 March 1945, during the end of
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the right wing of the museum was bombed and destroyed by the US B-29 bombers, from the Allied Forces. The remaining museum collection was then moved to the Perak Museum in Taiping. After World War II, the left wing of Selangor Museum was still in use as a historical site. On the brink of independence of the
Federation of Malaya Malaya, officially the Federation of Malaya, was a country in Southeast Asia from 1948 to 1963. It succeeded the Malayan Union and, before that, British Malaya. It comprised eleven states – nine Malay states and two of the Straits Settleme ...
, Prime Minister
Tunku Abdul Rahman Tunku Abdul Rahman (8 February 19036 December 1990), commonly referred to as Tunku, was a Malaysian statesman who served as prime minister of Malaysia from 1957 to 1970. He previously served as the only chief minister of Federation of Malaya ...
conceived the idea to build a museum to house national historical and cultural treasures as well as specimens of flora and fauna. The old museum structure was completely demolished to make way for the new museum. The new National Museum, Muzium Negara, was established on the site of the former Selangor Museum.


Design and construction

Construction of the new National Museum began in 1959 and was completed in 1963. The museum was officially inaugurated on 31 August 1963 by Tuanku Syed Putra Ibni al-Marhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail, the 3rd Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The museum's design was conceived by architect Ho Kok Hoe, drawing inspiration from the architecture of Malay royal palaces and traditional Malay vernacular architecture. The design included provisions for exhibition and activity spaces. The entrance features large mosaic murals depicting the country's history and culture, while the floor of the central section of the main building is adorned with special tiles gifted by the government of Pakistan. UNESCO also facilitated consultancies by museum experts from various international museums. On 4 April 1996, the building was gazetted under the Antiquities Act 169/1976 as an ancient monument and historical site.


Museum Volunteer Malaysia (MVM)

With the support of the Department of National Museums, cultural and history enthusiasts residing in the greater
Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...
area formed a group of volunteer museum tour guides in 2007 to accommodate the growing number of international tourists. At any time, between 20 and 100 volunteers of many nationalities provide tours in English, Korean, Japanese, and French. A related group was established for Malaysian visitors, operating primarily on weekends. MVM also promotes Malaysian cultural and historical heritage in schools and organizing tours for members to places around Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia, such as a visit to
Kuala Kangsar Kuala Kangsar (Perak Malay: ) is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia. It is located at the downstream of Kangsar River where it joins the Perak River, approximately northwest of Ipoh, Perak's capital, and southeast of George Town, Penang, Ge ...
and Georgetown, Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary,Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary
Endemic Guides.
Royal Selangor in Setapak and celebrating the Hari Moyang in the Hma' Meri Orang Asli village in Pulau Carey. The group also organizes talks and classes about the cultural and historical heritage of the country. In 2009, MVM organized the "Jom Main" Exhibition with the collaboration of National Museum, which revisits traditional games that children in Malaysia used to play.


Galleries

Displays and exhibits in the museum focus on local history, culture and traditions, arts and crafts, economic activities, local flora and fauna, weapons and currency. The museum houses various galleries, each with its own theme. The ground floor showcases the geographic and natural history of the Malay peninsula starting with the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the
Iron Age The Iron Age () is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final age of the three-age division starting with prehistory (before recorded history) and progre ...
, Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms to Muslim sultanate of Malacca. The ancient Malay
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
states of Gangga Negara,
Srivijaya Srivijaya (), also spelled Sri Vijaya, was a Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhism, Buddhist thalassocracy, thalassocratic empire based on the island of Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia) that influenced much of Southeast Asia. Srivijaya was an important ...
and
Majapahit Majapahit (; (eastern and central dialect) or (western dialect)), also known as Wilwatikta (; ), was a Javanese people, Javanese Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhism, Buddhist thalassocracy, thalassocratic empire in Southeast Asia based on the island o ...
are referenced. Among the collections are the stone
makara Makara () is a legendary sea-creature in Hindu mythology. In Hindu astrology, Makara is equivalent to the Zodiac sign Capricorn. Makara appears as the vahana (vehicle) of the river goddess Ganga, Narmada, and of the god of the ocean, Varun ...
statue, the bronze Avalokiteshvara of Bidor, the model of Bujang Valley temple in Kedah, and also displaying region's ancient legacy such as Javan
Borobudur Borobudur, also transcribed Barabudur (, ), is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, near the city of Magelang and the town of Muntilan, in Central Java, Indonesia. Constructed of gray andesite-like stone, the temple consi ...
and Majapahit vessel. The exhibit continues to the later Muslim
Sultanate of Malacca The Malacca Sultanate (; Jawi script: ) was a Malays (ethnic group), Malay sultanate based in the modern-day state of Malacca, Malaysia. Conventional historical thesis marks as the founding year of the sultanate by King of Singapura, Parameswa ...
and the various states of Malaysia. The display demonstrates the importance of Malaccan sultanate for Malaysian national identity. The second floor is dedicated to the colonial history leading all the way to
Independence Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...
. There are copies of the royal headgear of Malay rulers. Other galleries include the National Sports Gallery and the Natural History Gallery. In the vicinity of the museum building, there are a number of outdoor displays of transportation in Malaysia, past and present. The Melaka Bullock Cart exhibit closely resembles the early American horse-drawn wagon. Of unparalleled interest are the
Steam Locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, Fuel oil, oil or, rarely, Wood fuel, wood) to heat ...
made by Kitson & Co, England, which was put into service in 1921 until it ceased operation in 1969. It covered 1.5 million rail miles; a Tin Dredge which resembles a floating factory, on a natural or artificial lake. Also on display are motorized vehicles, including antiqued civic vehicles and private vehicles, including an early 1.3 liter Proton Saga, the first national car launched on July 9, 1985. In addition, there are two monuments in the grounds: a bronze bust of King Edward VII, and a
statue A statue is a free-standing sculpture in which the realistic, full-length figures of persons or animals are carved or Casting (metalworking), cast in a durable material such as wood, metal or stone. Typical statues are life-sized or close to ...
of Sir Frank Swettenham. National Museum also holds regular thematic exhibitions featuring specific aspects of life and world culture.


Central Hall

Adorning the floor of the Central Hall are blue geometric-design mosaic tiles from Pakistan, with intricate carved panels on the ceiling of the hall. The Central Hall houses temporary exhibitions, and thematic and special exhibitions are held at this hall at intervals to promote an awareness of the country's diverse culture and heritage. Foreign exhibitions are held occasionally. Past exhibitions have included 'The Islamic Civilization', 'Our King', 'The World of Flowers', 'Durian King of Fruits', 'Masks from Sarawak', 'World Currency', 'Islamic Frontiers of China', 'American Frontiers', and 'Religious Architecture from the Netherlands'. The museum places strong emphasis on the Malay World, and a considerable section is devoted to the founding of the United Malay National Organization, one of the parties of the National Front (
Barisan Nasional Barisan Nasional (BN; ) is a political coalition of Malaysia that was founded in 1974 as a coalition of centre-right and right-wing political parties to succeed the Alliance Party. It is the third largest political coalition with 30 seats in ...
). There are few if any mentions of the involvement of the Malayan Chinese Association and the Malayan Indian Congress, which three parties worked together to achieve Independence of Malaya on 31 August 1957.


Istana Satu

Another attraction of the museum is an original-size old Terengganu timber palace known as Istana Satu. It was erected by Sultan Zainal Abidin III,
Sultan of Terengganu The Sultan of Terengganu (, Jawi script, Jawi: ) is the title of the constitutional head of Terengganu state in Malaysia. The current sultan, Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, is the 18th sultan and 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia from 2 ...
in 1884 in the compound of Kota Istana Maziah,
Kuala Terengganu Kuala Terengganu (; Terengganu Malay language, Terengganu Malay: ''Kole Tranung''), colloquially referred to as KT, is the administrative, economic and royal List of capitals in Malaysia, city of the state of Terengganu, Malaysia. Kuala Tereng ...
. This building is of Terengganu Malay traditional architecture, in the form called "Rumah Tiang Dua Belas". The wood used is cengal. Istana Satu was erected in the National Museum compound in April 1974. The restored palace is a wooden house designed for the tropics, with stilts that allow air to circulate freely under the building and a steep thatch roof to cool the interior. There are intricate wood carvings on the doors and windows. Next to the Istana Satu are two keliriengs or burial poles. A kelirieng is made of a huge hardwood tree trunk, carved from the top to bottom. Niched up to its sides is a space for the bodies of slaves and followers and hollowed at the top to place the jar containing the chief's bones.


Directors

* 1959–1963: Mubin Sheppard * 1963–1967: J.J. Lowry * 1968–1991: Shahrum bin Yub * 1991–1996: Zulkifli bin Abd. Aziz * 1996–2002: Kamarul Baharin bin Buyong * 2002–2007: Dr. Adi bin Taha * 2007–2008: Paiman bin Keromo * 2008–2015: Ibrahim bin Ismail * April 2015 – September 2015: Wan Jamaluddin bin Wan Yusoff * September 2015 – present: Kamarul Baharin bin A. Kasim


Public transportation

Muzium Negara is situated just behind, and lends its name to, the underground
Muzium Negara MRT station , type = Rapid transit, MRT station , symbol = , symbol_location = , image = File:SBK Line Muzium Negara Entrance A&B 1.jpg , alt = , caption = Station entrance in front of t ...
. The station (not the museum) is connected to KL Sentral via a long walkway. Access from the museum to the walkway to KL Sentral requires passing through the ticketed area of the Muzium Negara MRT station and the purchase of a train ticket.


See also

*
List of museums in Malaysia This is a list of museums in Malaysia. Johor * Bugis Museum * Johor Figure Museum , Temporarily closed * Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum * Kite Museum * Kota Johor Lama Museum * Kota Tinggi Museum * Mersing Museum * Pineapple Muse ...


References


Further reading

* * * * *


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Malaysia, National Museum Museums in Kuala Lumpur Natural history museums National museums 1963 establishments in Malaya