KUALA LUMPUR:

Kuala Lumpur is a bustling metropolis. With an awe-inspiring skyline, dotted by the Petronas Twin Towers and the KL Tower, the city is a fascinating mix of sophisticated infrastructure and lush greenery at almost every turn.

But how did the city come to be? Who were the historical figures who helped shape KL during the 19th century?

If you’d like a refresher course in how KL transformed from being literally a mudbank, as its name suggests, to the grand metropolis that it is now, a visit to Sin Sze Si Ya Temple Pioneers of KL Museum is a must.

On display here are posters, paintings and literature detailing the roles these pioneers played in the development of KL.

Tiny replicas of Kuala Lumpur before it became a metropolis. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

You can also learn how the Selangor Civil War of 1866-1873, was a turning point in KL’s history. And how Yap Ah Loy was appointed Kapitan during this crucial time.

In fact, it was because of Yap’s vision and leadership that the city, ravaged by civil war, an economic recession, floods and fires, was rebuilt from the ground up a total of three times.

The museum also showcases Yap’s many other contributions to KL’s economy and urban development, as well as his social welfare work.

In fact, it was Yap who ordered the building of the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple, KL’s oldest Taoist temple, which now manages the museum, said Ken Lim, the museum’s curator.

This section of the museum is dedicated to one of Kuala Lumpur’s most significant historical figures, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

Lim explained that Yap built the temple so he could worship Seng Meng Lee, the Kapitan of Sungai Ujong then, as well as Yap Sze, who helped him win the civil war.

The two men were later deified as Sin Si Ya and Sze Si Ya respectively.

Also on display at the museum are multiple temple artefacts. These include the sacred sedan chairs used by Sin Sze Si Ya during the temple’s many processions, the temple’s divination slip, and wooden printing blocks.

Lim said the idea of the museum was first proposed in 1989 by Hew Wee Ting, president of the temple’s board of trustees. The intention was to display the temple’s artefacts and create greater awareness of the role that KL’s pioneers played in its development.

Museum curator Ken Lim explains the history of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

However, it was only three years ago that the construction of the museum kicked-off. And in March last year, the museum was ready to open its doors to the public.

Besides the wealth of historical information regarding the beginnings of KL, the museum is also home to multiple temple artefacts.

These include the sacred sedan chairs used by Sin Sze Si Ya during the temple’s processions in the early days, five sacrificial vessels used to hold offerings during Chinese folk rituals, the temple’s divination slip, and wooden printing blocks among others.

Multiple artefacts from the Sin Sze Si Ya temple are on display at the museum. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

“What makes the temple interesting is that there’s no ancestral temple from China for this. The temple is unique to Peninsular Malaysia and a fully Malaysian thing,” Lim said.

So, if you’re interested to learn more about the capital city’s history or its oldest Taoist temple, head to the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple Pioneers of KL Museum today.

Sin Sze Si Ya Temple Pioneers of KL Museum
113A, Jalan Tun HS Lee
50000 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours:
10am-12pm; 1pm-5pm (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)

Entrance fees:

RM10 (adults)
RM5 (over 60 years old, disabled individuals)
RM2 (students)
Free (school trips, tour guides and those below six years old)

Contact: 012-3582113

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A tribute to the pioneers who helped build Kuala Lumpur

Sin Sze Si Ya Temple Pioneers of KL Museum showcases how Kuala Lumpur grew in stature to become Malaysia’s capital city.