INDONESIA MALANG -TUGU MONUMENT

TUGU MONUMENT

Tugu Monument is the second town square in Malang located in the middle of administration town in front of Malang city hall. This town square has a very high historical value as a heritage building of the Dutch colonial government when they colonized Indonesia. Before the monument was built, it was Dutch government’s park “J.P.Zoen Coen”.Now, it is surrounded by beautiful garden which planned lovely lotus . Next to the garden, there is old Trembersi tree.

On the Independence struggle, Indonesian people tried to achieve independence and get rid of colonialist. They wanted to rule the government from their own society and wrote text proclamation on the road building and entire city. As same as in Surabaya, they established KNID and KBR. 

The transition was different happened in Surabaya and Malang. Although there were much bloodshed happened, it did not affect the Indonesian government. In Malang, it has formed the leadership of regionalcouncil headed by Mr Sam. Since that day, the administration went well.Started from here, the government developed Malang city by building an independence monument.

On 17 August 1945, the first stone was laying down and the monument was signed by Mr Soekarno on behalf of Indonesian society and Mr A.GSuroto as the head ofTugu independence committee. There was occurred first military aggression when the monument was almost done. The colonialist noticedit as the spirit of independent.

On 23 December 1948, the monument was broken down by colonialist into pieces. Because of the insistence Malang Society, on 9 June 1950 they formed a new committee to rebuild the monument. It was done on 20 May 1953. It was officially approved by first president, It Soekarno.

Every sides of Tugu Monument have meanings, such as :

1.       The sharp bamboo on the monument has meaning that it was the first weapon of Indonesian people to be up against colonialist and tried to achieve independence.

2.       The chain describes of Indoneisa unity which not able to be separated.

3.       There are 4 stairs and  5 corners meant of proclamation year. It was 45.

4.       There 8 stars and 17 foundations have a meaning of the month and the day or “17 August “ as Independence day.

5.       This monument is located in the middle of the red and white lotus pond.The red and white lotuses symbolize bravery and sancitity of Indonesian society to take over independence from colonialism.

Nowadays, the function of this monument is for recreation place and enjoying the day under the big tree by seeing the lotus in pond.