KUALA LUMPUR: An Opposition MP wants the facial features of the statues of the Tugu Negara soldiers to be altered to look more Malaysian, as he claimed 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 similar to the features of Europeans.
“Tugu Negara is the symbol of our independence because the statue there that can be seen holding the flag is a national hero,” he said during his debate at the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Nov 6).
“But when we look at his nose, it is pointed like an European.
"Why can’t the size of the features be made less pointed like that of Malaysians and Asians, whose noses are not that pointed, like mine,” he added.
He said it appears as if colonisers were being glorified with the statues having such features.
“I propose that we alter the Tugu Negara statue to make it look more Asian so that it evokes the spirit of patriotism,” he added.
