What makes Taman Tugu even more special is the story behind it. Once an overgrown, neglected stretch of land, it has been revived and restored into the thriving forest park it is today – thanks to a non-profit CSR initiative led by Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, with the support of various government agencies and civil society groups. It’s not just about recreation here – it’s about conservation too.

In collaboration with the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), around 1,000 trees on the site have been identified and tagged for conservation. According to the official website tamantugu.my, over 5,000 trees – including more than 230 native Malaysian rainforest species – have since been planted throughout the park.

It might seem unusual to spot palm oil trees along the trails, but these are believed to have been introduced by the British before 1957, as the area once housed British residences. Following independence, the site became home to prominent Malaysian government officials, including former Finance Minister Tun Tan Siew Sin.

The Taman Tugu site also houses Madrasah Bustanul Ulum (which won a commendation at the Persatuan Arkitek Malaysia Awards in 2023) and four Hindu shrines, serving the spiritual needs of those who once lived in the area.

Down the road from the park is the Tugu Kebangsaan, a war memorial that is a solemn tribute to those who died in combat for Malaysia’s independence from its colonisers. If Taman Tugu stirs a sense of peace, the monument evokes something deeper – reflection, reverence and remembrance. The bronze sculpture of seven soldiers, poised mid-battle, is striking. Each figure embodies a core value – leadership, sacrifice, unity, vigilance, strength, courage and suffering. Designed by Austrian sculptor Felix de Weldon, the same artist behind the Iwo Jima Memorial in the United States, the monument stands as a powerful tribute to those who fought for Malaysia’s independence.