What building is on the back of Malaysia $1 1971 coin? Its a Malaysia Parliament building complex where the Malaysian Parliament assembles. The building has been on the reverse of Malaysia coins from 1967 until 1988 and design by Geoffrey Colley. The building located at a hill near Jalan Duta, right next to the Malaysian National Monument. It is a 3 stories main building where both Malaysia Houses of Parliament sit and a 17 stories offices. Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Malayan Prime Minister, suggested the construction of the Houses of Parliament in December 1959. The foundation stone for the building was laid by the third Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Syed Putra Al-Haj Ibni Al-Marhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail, on 31 August 1962. The building cost us RM18 million officially opened on 2 November 1963.
Here are some interesting fact and information about the building:
- Parliament House is built on a hill 61m above sea level, and has grounds totalling 16.2 hectares.
- The main block, where both Houses of Parliament (Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara) sit, is three stories high, whereas the tower block is 17 stories high.
- Over one million bricks, 2,000 tons of steel, 54,000 tons of concrete, 200,000 bags of cement and 300 tons of glass were used to construct Parliament House.
- The triangular structure that is the roof structure of the Dewan Rakyat hall has 11 sections, representing the number of states in the then Federation of Malaya.
- Malaysia, including Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore, was only formed on Sept 16, 1963, less than two months before Parliament House was opened.
- The Parliament ground has a Deer Park – there are currently about 30 deer still being housed there.
- The total value of the paintings – of past and present Kings, Prime Ministers and Speakers of both Houses – is approximately RM4mil.
- Parliament has a yearly allocation of RM60mil, but this includes allowances to Members of Parliament, which takes up about 70% of its budget.
- The Royal Steps – only used once a year by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong when officiating the first sitting of Parliament – is covered up with plastic sheets the rest of the time. Apparently there have been cases of cats getting into the building and soiling the carpet.
- The design of the tower block resembles that of a pineapple with beehive-like 'kerawang' or ornamental patterns. This provides a controlled environment for light and heat within.
- There is supposedly a tunnel leading from Parliament House to the Lake Gardens to be used for emergency evacuation. However, its exact location is not disclosed, either on grounds of secrecy or due to disuse.
- The Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara are associated with the colours blue and red respectively, and the carpeting in both houses are so coloured.
- If you want to visit this place, you need to write a letter of application before your visit. You must follow a dress code when you visit this place.
