National Monument (4♣)

The National Monument is a sculpture that commemorates those who died in Malaysia's struggle for freedom, principally against the Japanese occupation during World War II and the Malayan Emergency, which lasted from 1948 until 1960. It is located in the Federal capital, Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian Houses of Parliament are situated near the monument.

It is the world's tallest bronze freestanding sculpture grouping. Every year on 31 July on Warriors' Day, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Prime Minister, heads of military, and the police pay their respects to the fallen heroes by laying garlands at the monument.

The concept of a national monument was mooted by Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, who was inspired by the Marine Corps War Memorial during his visit to the United States in October 1960, before personally meeting Felix de Weldon for a favour to design the monument.

The National Monument was completed and officially opened on 8 February 1966, by Ismail Nasiruddin of Terengganu, then Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It was proclaimed a memorial park dedicated to the 11,000 people who died during the 12-year Malayan Emergency (1948–1960). Thereafter, a wreath-laying ceremony takes place at the monument every 31 July on Warriors Day. De Weldon was later conferred with the title Tan Sri, the Malaysian equivalent of a high-ranking knighthood.

On 27 August 1975, the monument suffered extensive damage due to an explosion set off by a communist terrorist. It has since been restored to its original state with the renovated statues unveiled on 11 May 1977. A fence was then erected and the complex was declared a protected area between sunset and dawn. Every day at dawn, a soldier raises the national flag and lowers it at dusk.

Although Warriors' Day commemoration services are no longer officially held at the National Monument, Remembrance Day ceremonies continue to take place there. Pictured is Remembrance Sunday at the National Monument's cenotaph on 13 November 2011.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom has stated that from 2010, the Warriors' Day commemoration service would be held elsewhere after Malaysia's National Fatwa Council guidelines declared the statues "un-Islamic" and potentially idolatrous. Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi added that a new "Warrior's Square" would be built in the country's administrative capital Putrajaya. When asked why the decision was made only after almost four decades of celebrating Warriors' Day at the present site, Jamil evaded comment, saying "Alhamdulillah, we are serious in solving this issue".

Commissioned in 1963 and constructed in 1966, the sculpture that stands as a centrepiece of the monument is 15 meters (49.21 feet) tall, made of bronze and was designed by Austrian sculptor Felix de Weldon, who was also responsible for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Virginia, United States.

The sculpture depicts a group of soldiers, with two slumped at the base and one holding the Malaysian national flag aloft. Each of the bronze figures symbolises leadership, suffering, unity, vigilance, strength, courage and sacrifice. The stones that the soldiers are standing on were imported from the small coastal city of Karlshamn in South Eastern Sweden.

The granite base of the sculpture bears the Malayan Coat of Arms, flanked on either side by inscriptions in English, Latin script, and also in Malay in Jawi script:

Dedicated to the heroic fighters in the cause of peace and freedom.

May the blessing of Allah be upon them

国家纪念碑

这座由著名雕刻大师Felix de Weldon设计的黄铜纪念碑，高达15.54公尺，乃建于1966年，以纪念在混乱时期为国牺牲的英雄；也是全世界最庞大的独立雕刻品之一。国家英雄纪念碑位于湖滨公园对面，建造于1966年，是为纪念为国牺牲的烈士而建的。这座七勇士青铜塑像高15.54米，是世界上最大的单体雕塑作品之一，由美国著名雕塑家威尔顿设计，在意大利铸造。

马来西亚的历史洒满了被侵略的屈辱泪。16世纪起先后遭到葡萄牙、荷兰和英国侵略。1911年沦为英国殖民地。第二次世界大战期间，马来亚、沙捞越、沙巴被日本占领。1957年8月31日，这是马来西亚举国同庆的日子，这一天巫统国阵主席东姑阿都拉曼庄严宣布马来亚独立。

1960年，首任巫统国阵主席东姑阿都拉曼出访美国时，受到Marine Corps War Memorial的启发，聘请Felix de Weldon设计了这座纪念碑，1966年完成。 Felix de WeldonIt 亦是美国华盛顿硫磺岛 (Iwo Jima) 纪念碑的设计师。因此，首任巫统国阵主席东姑阿都拉曼才找他纪念那些为在独立前後国捐躯的英雄。

1966年，马来西亚于吉隆坡湖滨公园建造了国家英雄纪念碑。碑身上刻着“1914-1918、1939-1945、1948-1960”的字样以及阵亡者的名单。1914-1918、1939-1945这两个时期分别是第一、二次世界大战，1948-1960则是马来西亚的内战，在马来西亚历史上称之为“非常时期”。在矩形底座上有七座铜制人像，每尊人像各代表一种领导特质的一项： 勇气、领导、牺牲、力量、坚苦、团结及警觉。中央最上方的人像，手中挥舞著马来西亚国旗。 他的左右各有一名武装士兵，左侧士兵手持机枪，右侧士兵手持莱福枪和刺刀。

在国家纪念碑旁即为东合雕塑公园 (ASEAN Gardens) 和敦阿都拉萨纪念馆 (Tun Razak Memorial)，展出已故的马来西亚第二任首相 Tun Abdul Razak Hussein 相关文物。