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Masjid Negara: A national legacy

Tomorrow marks the 54th anniversary of the ceremonial laying of Masjid Negara’s foundation stone, writes Alan Teh Leam Seng

The idea to build Masjid Negara was first mooted by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj during a Federal Executive Council meeting on July 30, 1957. Merdeka was just a month away and the premier thought that a national mosque would be a great way to symbolise the nation’s success in achieving independence without bloodshed.

In the midst of planning, a year later, an idea was put forward to name the new mosque after Tunku Abdul Rahman in

recognition of his efforts in steering the country towards nationhood. However, Tunku in all his humbleness, declined the honour and instead named the new mosque, Masjid Negara, as a tribute to the new nation itself.

The foundation stone-laying ceremony of the national mosque took place 54 years ago, a momentous occasion officiated by the-then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Putra Ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail.

The construction budget at that time was capped at RM10 million. Despite being a considerable sum of money, the builders were prudent in their spending and opted for terrazzo flooring instead of the more luxurious marble to keep costs down.

Everyone was aware that from the total sum, about RM3 million was contributed by ordinary Malaysians from all walks of life. Even Malaysian students studying abroad played their part. Donation drives were held nationwide and people came out in droves. The ordinary people gave whatever they could spare during a time when the nation was still in its infancy and income was generally low.

INGENIUS DESIGN

Masjid Negara was officially opened on Aug 27, 1965 and immediately gained fame as the largest mosque in the country offering its worshippers sanctuary within its two-hectare compound. It was reported that the congregation size of the Friday prayer on the opening day numbered nearly 10,000 even though the actual capacity of the mosque then was only for 8,000 people.

Visitors on that memorable day would’ve noticed that the entrance gates were covered in gold-coloured silk curtains and the lights in the Great Hall weren’t switched on until Tuanku Syed Putra switched on the radio-transistor controls. Then, the lights came on and everyone present simply stood in awe of the majestic grandeur of their surroundings.

At first glance, Masjid Negara’s architecture was a breath of fresh air and it stood out from the numerous Western-designed colonial buildings that crowded the capital during the 1960s. Observers at that time were inspired by its modern Islamic design that represented the aspirations of a young and growing nation.

The architects of the mosque, Baharuddin Abu Kassim, Hisham Albakri and Howard Ashley, had initially intended to gild the main dome but due to cost constraints, settled for pink as a substitute. At the same time, a general blue and white colour scheme was used throughout the exterior as well as the interior walls.

The overwhelming number of people at Masjid Negara on opening day had Baharuddin, the principal architect, to thank for their comfort. He and his team ingeniously adopted the use of two key features in Islamic architecture in their design of the mosque.

Firstly, white decorative grilles and tiered roofing were incorporated into the design. The former admits a continuous flow of fresh air into the prayer halls while the latter provides protection from the sweltering tropical sun. Secondly, numerous long reflecting pools and flowing fountains were strategically placed throughout the complex to help cool the air effectively. These series of natural cooling mechanisms were further complemented by the use of white terrazzo tiles to line the Prayer Hall floor. These tiles were constantly cold to the touch and helped to further bring down the temperature.

Unlike most mosques, Masjid Negara’s roof isn’t dome shaped. Instead, its unique design is based on an open umbrella which symbolises the sovereignty of Malaysia under the patronage of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. At the same time, the top of the 75m high minaret was designed to resemble a closed umbrella to signify the strength and unity of the people.

HERITAGE MOSQUES

Masjid Jamek used to be Kuala Lumpur’s main mosque before the existence of Masjid Negara. It’s located at the confluence of the Gombak and Klang Rivers, the same location where our capital is said to have first started. Often referred to as the Friday Mosque by the locals, Masjid Jamek was built at a cost of 32,625 Straits dollars. These funds came from the Malay community living in the city as well as the British colonial government at that time.

The foundation stone of Masjid Jamek was laid by the-then Sultan of Selangor Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah on March 23, 1908. A mere 20 months later, on Dec 23, 1909, the monarch declared the Mughal architectural-styled mosque officially open. Its architect, Arthur Benison Hubback also designed the KL Railway Station and Kuala Kangsar Ubudiah Mosque in this similar style.

However, unlike Masjid Negara, this older mosque was built on the land which used to serve as an ancient Malay burial ground. Before Masjid Jamek was built, the Muslim community used to pray at several small mosques located around the nearby Java Street (now Jalan Tun Perak) and Malay Street area.

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