No_2_August_1964 — Page 87

works each 115 ft. by 20 ft. dominate the front.

The murals were designed by the Malayan artist, Cheong Lai Tong, his designs being selected by a panel of judges in competition with those of four other local artists. The theme of the murals was suggested by the Tunku himself one being historical and the other depicting Malayan handicrafts Mr. Cheong's historical mural begins with the twelfth cen- tury Hindu-Buddhist period in North Malaya, then shows the visit of Admiral Cheng Ho to Malacca in 1409 and the duel of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat in about 1475, as well as the Portugese attack on Malacca in 1511. Next in progression comes the famous Bugis warrior princes at Johore in 1720, the link between North Malaya and Thailand in the early nineteenth century, the signing of the Pangkor Treaty in 1874, the arrival of the first railway train at Kuala Lumpur in 1886 and the early planting of rubber in 1900. Finally comes the Japanese occupation and Merdeka.

In the second mural is shown handloom weaving, basket making. brass and silver working, boatbuild- ing. carpentry pottery, leatherwork, batik making and the making of decorative kites.

The architect's design specified that the murals should be executed in Italian 'smalti' glass mosaic. The cost of this was not, however, included in the Government allocation of $14 million for the building and at one stage it looked doubtful whether the extra money could be found. A generous gift by Dato Lee Kong Chian of Singapore, however, enabled the murals to be undertaken after all and they were, in fact, executed by the best Venetian manufacturers.

Carvings and decorations

A notable feature of the National Museum is the magnificent wood- carvings which have been incorporat- ed into the building. These, like all the other decorative features inside and outside the building the metal finials on the roof, the fishing boat figureheads (Bengali) on the western end and several others

are the work

,

Details of the door carving de-

signed by Nik Zainal on an hibiscus

theme. One of the precast con-

crete screens can also be seen.

of a brilliant young Malay artist and designer, Nik Zainal Abidin bin Nik Salleh.

Nik Zainal of Kelantan was invited by the architect and Haji Mubin Sheppard (first director of the museum) to come to Kuala Lumpur and work on the project. adapting traditional Malay design motifs taken from objects as diverse as gold and silver ware, personal ornaments,

THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER-VOLUME 19. NUMBER 2

the hilts and scabbards of weapons, handwoven fabrics, carved woodwork. fishing boat figureheads and shadow- play puppets for use in decorating the museum building.

The plans for the building envisag- ed three double doors at the main entrance. Each door had to have three carved wooden panels featuring the Malayan national flower, the Bunga Raya, or hibiscus. These de-

81