Historical tourism: KAPMAN will become a mandatory tourist destination in the capital
KUALA LUMPUR: Apart from being able to ‘wash’ your eyes with skyscrapers, a vacation to this city is definitely not complete if you don’t know and explore the uniqueness and glory of Malaysia’s historical heritage, including the figures of statesmen.
When it comes to the government, the most suitable places to visit are the Statesman Memorial, Tun Hussein Onn Memorial, Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial and the Residence Building (Official House of the First Prime Minister) which is located in the area of the Prime Minister Archives and State Archives Complex (KAPMAN), respectively free, at Jalan Dato’ Onn here.
Exploring from one room to another in each memorial, visitors can not only feel the leadership aura of the figure in demanding independence and national development but also have the opportunity to see the personal collection of the leader.
In this regard, the Director General of the National Archives (ANM), Jaafar Sidek Abdul Rahman said, his party plans to make the KAPMAN area a mandatory tourist destination in the capital by offering tourism experiences based on history and education.
“In addition to helping to increase knowledge and experience, a visit to this place can also foster the spirit of patriotism in visitors by appreciating the services of leaders who have served the country,” he told Bernama.
Thus, he said, ANM will work with the ‘KL Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour’ bus service to make KAPMAN part of the national tourism package as a must-stop destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
“This collaboration will help increase the number of visitors from within and outside the country due to the availability to reach the location,” he said.
In addition, Jaafar Sidek said ANM also established a collaboration with the Education Resources and Technology Division (BSTP), Ministry of Education Malaysia (KPM) by placing a link to the Virtual Gallery of the Exploration of Statesmen in the KPM’s Learning Platform, namely Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (DELIMa KPM) starting this month .
“This link is an educational tourism product and publicizes the Memorial Archives and the history of statesmen to all teachers and school students under the Ministry of Education, which number 5.3 million people.
“Currently, the number of virtual visitors who visited the Statesman Exploration Virtual Gallery totaled 7,795 since it was launched on 10 Nov 2021 until last July,” he said, who hopes to see all existing memorials flooded with visitors every day in order to gain knowledge and understanding of the history of statesmen and country.
Talking more about the Nationalist Memorial, Jaafar Sidek said that the three-story building is devoted to seven figures who have tried to demand the independence of the homeland, helped the formation of Malaysia in 1963 and spurred the development of the country.
The figures are Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Tun VT Sambanthan, Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun, Tun Mohd Fuad Stephens, Tun Temenggung Jugah anak Barieng and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu.
Jaafar Sidek said, the Negarawan Memorial which was opened in September 2017 is the original building of the Prime Minister’s Department Complex and the exhibition of the memorabilia collection of seven figures from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak was received among others from family members, close friends and related foundations.
“The prime minister’s office, the deputy prime minister’s office and the Cabinet meeting room are kept as the main exhibition at the Statesman’s Memorial for visitors and researchers to make references,” he said.
Jaafar Sidek said that the memorial was created to commemorate the services and contributions of these seven figures in fighting for the country’s independence and the establishment of Malaysia in addition to being involved in policy formulation and national development.
“This is in line with Section 40 of the National Archives Act 2003 relating to the establishment of Ministerial Archives and Memorial Archives. ANM is responsible for storing, preserving and conserving the heritage of national treasures in addition to providing research facilities related to statesmen,” he said.
source – BERNAMA
