About this Place Of Interest

The National Textile Museum, which showcases fine and rare textile collections of various ethnic communities of Malaysia, is located along Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin and opposite Dataran Merdeka (Lit. Independence Square), where the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj declared Malaya’s independence at the stroke of midnight on 31st August 1957. The late 19th century Mughal-Islamic styled architecture building, alongside with the nearby Sultan Abdul Samad Building was designed by British architect A. C. Norman. The construction of both the buildings were completed in 1896 while Malaya was still a British colony. The two-and-a-half storey building that now houses the National Textile Museum was initially constructed to house the headquarters of the Federated Malay States Railway but in 1917, it was handed over the the Selangor State Government and became the Selangor Public Works Department. In October 1982, the building was gazetted as a heritage building. In January 2010, the building was turned into a textile museum with four galleries: Pohon Budi Gallery, Pelangi Gallery, Teluk Berantai Gallery and Ratna Sari Gallery. A trip to the National Textile Museum should ideally start with a visit to the Pohon Budi Gallery, where many textile making tools and materials are on display. The gallery also provides descriptions of various textile making techniques including weaving, embroidery, batik making, knitting and beading-work. Next, the Pelangi Gallery showcases various types of batiks and an interesting collection of costumes traditionally worn by ethnic groups including the Chinese, Baba and Nyonya, Sarawakian and Sabahan. Visitors will also be impressed with the exquisite and rare textile collections of Malay heritage located at the Teluk Berantai Gallery. Although this museum is a textile museum, visitors are able to closely examine traditional jewelry and adornments made of gold, silver, copper and beads. These items, together with traditional weapons including keris (dagger) are displayed at the Ratna Sari Gallery on the first floor of the museum. The description of all exhibits are in English and Malay and the rich journey into the world of Malaysian traditional textile and jewellery at the National Textile Museum takes approximately one hour.

About this Learning Experience

In this Learning Experience, you will learn how natural resources can be used to make Malaysia's traditional textile, weapons and jewellery. This Learning Experience is suitable for learners Year 3 and above. Note: The reflection phase will take place under Point B.

Syllabus Content

• Understand how human and physical process interact to influence, change landscapes, environments; and how human activity relies on the effective functioning of natural systems.

Resources Needed

Earphones