Reliving history
Affectionate insights aside, the Tun Abdul Razak Memorial is also worth a visit solely for its aesthetically pleasing architecture. The residence features a retro Californian design, with all four corners of the house opening up to a beautiful Japanese- inspired garden in the middle.
Visitors get a glimpse of the man’s life at home at the double- storey building. There’s the luxurious leather reclining chair by the sliding door that Abdul Razak sat in to relax after a long day at the office. And if you moved to the back of the home, you could almost picture him sharing a light moment with his family members over tea, sitting in the wooden chairs which were a gift from Singapore’s first prime minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew.
Family life is also an underlying theme at the Galeria Sri Perdana, which once served as the official residence of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his family. A video recording of the charismatic man cooking his favourite dishes with his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, coupled with candid portraits of the couple and their grandchildren, are sure to make you go, “Aww...”.
There are more family photos at the Tun Hussein Onn Memorial. Unlike the previous venues, though, the memorial is housed at the Bukit Perdana Complex instead of the former premier’s past residence. The setting feels slightly impersonal, but it works in displaying the achievements of the nation’s third prime minister in a systematic fashion.
A chronologically arranged exhibition, which begins on the third level and descends two floors down, provides visitors with a comprehensive account of Tun Hussein Onn’s life, from the early years through the various stages of his life.
The memorials and other such sites are certainly a great way to learn about the nation’s history. It’s something that Mahani agrees with wholeheartedly.
“We have to start somewhere,” she says, referring to the efforts needed to rekindle young people’s interest. “And a trip to the memorials, organised by schools or perhaps parents themselves, is a good start. We need involvement from everyone.”
If anything, the venues humanise the larger- than- life individuals that they celebrate. That makes it a little easier to relate to the personalities and their achievements. For example, at the P. Ramlee Memorial Library, personal photos give a rare glimpse into one of the nation’s most iconic artists.
Above all, the monuments are a reminder of all that the country has gained, and lost, in the pursuit of wealth and progress. At the Tun Hussein Onn Memorial, walking down memory lane can present a rewarding lesson in morality as well. Etched on the wall of the last hall is one of the favourite quotes of the Father of Unity: “When there is injustice, there will be no peace, no harmony, no goodwill.”