The first National Monument was a cenotaph built by the British. But it was later replaced to a statue in the form of human figures by the Malayan government after Malaya gained its independence.
Built in the 1966 by the Austrian sculptor Felix de Weldon (who was also responsible for the famed USMC Iwo Jima War Memorial in Virginia Washington) the sculpture went through an extensive renovation in the 1975 after it was heavily damaged in an explosion set off by suspected communist members.
Note:
1. Members of the Tugu Drum Circle meet here every Sunday from 5:30pm for some drumming activities and lessons.
2. The largely ignored ASEAN sculpture garden located 100 meters from the monument has public artwork displays by award winning ASEAN artists.
