AN opposition lawmaker has suggested that Putrajaya renovate the iconic Tugu Negara to better reflect local soldiers who fought for the country's independence, claiming that the statues resembled the features of Europeans.
Kalam Salan (PN-Sabak Bernam) said the statues at the national monument had pointed noses, which were like the features of Europeans.
The Perikatan Nasional MP questioned whether the monument inadvertently idolised colonial figures rather than those who resisted them.
He said the monument, built in 1966, should better represent the country’s own heroes to inspire a stronger sense of patriotism.
"It is a symbol of our country’s independence. If we look there, the statue holding the flag represents our national heroes - a symbol.
"But if you look at their faces, their sharp noses look more like Europeans. Why not change them to have shorter noses, like Asians, like Malaysians?
"Our faces... our noses aren’t that sharp, like mine, right? ," Kalam said when debating the 2026 Supply Bill at the committee stage yesterday. - November 7, 2025
