National Museum

Who are the original inhabitants of Malaysia? What makes it an ethnically diverse country? How does it view its Hindu and Buddhist past? How did it become an Islamic country? What was Malaysia’s role in global trade? How and when did it become independent? If you want answers to questions like these, you must visit National Museum (Museum Negara in Bahasa Malay), the first museum built in independent Malaysia. It stands at a site once occupied by a British-era museum that was destroyed during World War II.
Take a tour to learn about everything from pre-historic times in Southeast Asia to the country’s milestones during colonial times. Find out what lends Malaysia its national identity by picking up stories about the early kingdoms, golden era of Malay-Islamic civilization, followed by times of colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch, British and the WWII occupation by the Japanese. Learn about Confrontation, an undeclared war with Indonesia when this neighbor opposed the integration of British Borneo and peninsular Malaysia, an event that led to the creation of present-day Malaysia. Follow the glorious nation’s journey into the present era.

Tips: This place of interest lies on the tour map of the popular Hop-on-Hop-off buses operated in Kuala Lumpur. The museum charges RM 5 as admissions fee and is open between 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM daily, except on the first days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. At 10:00 AM everyday (except Sundays & Public Holidays), museum’s volunteers offer an hour’s free guided tour.