The Living History Project

The Living History Project Preserving The Memories of Malaysia's History One Story At A Time

Wa Draman raised her son with a quiet kind of courage that most people don’t see. She was widowed in 1953 when her son w...
10/05/2026

Wa Draman raised her son with a quiet kind of courage that most people don’t see. She was widowed in 1953 when her son was an infant, but she kept their home in Changkat Limau, Perak, held together by tradition and a lot of hope.

She carried her motherly duties with love; working on the land and making sure her son was provided for. That foundation gave her son, Anthony Williams-Hunt (Bah Tony), the strength to become a tireless activist and lawyer for Orang Asli land rights.

Her life shows how a mother’s private sacrifices is a lifetime of service for her child. Today, we’re honoring Wa Draman’s strength and her legacy.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Watch the full interview coming to YouTube next month.

We grew up hearing that steady hollow thump from the kitchen.You just knew the sambal was going to be good and that the ...
08/05/2026

We grew up hearing that steady hollow thump from the kitchen.

You just knew the sambal was going to be good and that the meal was worth the wait. It wasn’t just about the food. It was about the time and the actual physical strength our mothers and grandmothers poured into every paste.

In a world where everything is instant, the batu lesung is a reminder that some things just can’t be rushed.

Looking back, do you remember the work that went into those meals, or did they make it look too easy?

Tell us in the poll below.

Your IC is likely the only object that has traveled with you to every single corner of your life.We’ve moved from handwr...
06/05/2026

Your IC is likely the only object that has traveled with you to every single corner of your life.

We’ve moved from handwritten paper to the high-tech MyKads we carry today, but have you ever looked closely at the old ones? They were fragile, stained with ink, and kept in plastic sleeves that turned yellow with time.

For our elders, receiving that first blue card wasn’t just an administrative task. In fact, it was an emotional homecoming. It was the final proof that they weren’t just residents, they were citizens. It was a piece of paper that gave them a voice, a vote, and a place to call home.

Whether it was a paper slip from 1957 or the plastic one you got at twelve, that card is a quiet witness to your history.

Have you ever seen or held the previous versions of the Malaysian ICs? Answer below 👇🏻

01/05/2026

Malaysia’s foundations were laid by the hard work of estate labourers, tin miners, and farmers who turned up every day under colonial rule.

Their sweat and perseverance sustained livelihoods and created the backbone of a modern economy, even when conditions were harsh and recognition was scarce.

The labour movement in Malaysia grew from these struggles. Trade unions emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, advocating for fair wages, safer conditions, and dignity at work. Globally, Labour Day traces back to the Haymarket protests in Chicago in 1886, but Malaysia officially recognized May 1 as a public holiday in 1972, reflecting both international solidarity and local progress.

On this day, we honour the grit of our forefathers who built Malaysia and just as they did; we make history by turning up every day, and we celebrate that grit as the true spirit of Malaysia’s progress.

Happy Labour Day from the TLHP team!

Yusuf Hashim chose to take the “right fork” on the road, trading corporate stability for a life of uninhibited explorati...
26/04/2026

Yusuf Hashim chose to take the “right fork” on the road, trading corporate stability for a life of uninhibited exploration. Since then, he has travelled to over 120 countries, sailed to the poles, and even qualified to fly paramotors at the age of 70. Now 80, he is a living reminder that curiosity should never die, and that life is meant to be relished, not just “lived” until you die.

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

Watch Yusuf Hashim’s full interview on life, legacy, and adventure on The Living History Project’s YouTube channel. Link in bio.

These five women have each shaped Malaysia in their own way, often without recognition, but never without impact.You mig...
24/04/2026

These five women have each shaped Malaysia in their own way, often without recognition, but never without impact.

You might not always see their names in the headlines but you can feel their work in the lives they have changed.

Watch their full interviews on our YouTube channel. Link in bio.

Life moves fast, and we don’t always stop to think about where we come from. But a lot of who we are comes from the peop...
19/04/2026

Life moves fast, and we don’t always stop to think about where we come from. But a lot of who we are comes from the people and stories before us.

To preserve a story is to refuse to let a piece of our identity disappear. It doesn’t have to be something big. It could just be a place, a habit, or a memory you can’t quite explain. Those are the things that stay with us.

At The Living History Project we don’t think any voice is too small or any memory is too boring. Real heritage isn’t just about old buildings. It lives in the quiet conversations people have every day. By saving these stories we aren’t just stuck in the past. We are building something for the people after us so they can find their way back to who they are.

We want to hear from you. What’s one piece of your family history that makes you who you are today?
Share it with us.

16/04/2026

We spent the afternoon celebrating TLHP’s Inaugral Milestone Lunch with the people who make The Living History Project possible. It was an afternoon filled with gratitude, heritage-inspired flavours, and the kind of conversations that remind us why we do what we do.

Thank you to everyone who has trusted us with their stories so far. More to come!

In the 70s, Datuk Marina Chin was the fastest woman in the country. She was awarded with National Sportswoman of the yea...
12/04/2026

In the 70s, Datuk Marina Chin was the fastest woman in the country. She was awarded with National Sportswoman of the year twice in a row for her dedication to track.

Marina eventually became the principal of Bukit Jalil Sports School. During her tenure she didn’t just teach her students how to win gold, she taught them how to run their own race.

It’s a powerful reminder for us today that in a world where we are constantly bombarded by everyone else’s “gold medals” on social media, the only person you should truly be competing with is the person you were yesterday.

Watch Datuk Marina Chin’s full, inspiring interview on The Living History Project’s YouTube channel. Link in bio.

Walking into the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion on Leith Street feels less like a hotel check-in and more like stepping into a ...
10/04/2026

Walking into the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion on Leith Street feels less like a hotel check-in and more like stepping into a Gothic novel. Known as the “Blue Mansion,” this landmark is the legacy of a man who started with nothing and ended up being dubbed the Rockefeller of the East.

What we love most about this place at TLHP is the story of its survival. In the late 80s, it was almost lost to time, but a dedicated conservation effort brought it back to life. It’s a reminder that history isn’t just what we leave behind but what we choose to save.

Whether you’re there for the fine dining, a dip in the pool, or just to admire the intricate “Chien Nyee” porcelain carvings, you’re standing in a piece of living Malaysian history.

Watch Laurence Loh’s full interview on our YouTube channel. Link in bio.

Some people spend a lifetime building security. Others choose to spend it finding meaning. Yusuf Hashim chose the latter...
04/04/2026

Some people spend a lifetime building security. Others choose to spend it finding meaning.

Yusuf Hashim chose the latter. Through his journeys, he shows us that the world is vast but also deeply connected and that to truly see it requires time, intention, and courage.

Watch his full story on our YouTube Channel. Link in bio.

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K Residence, 156 Jalan Ampang
Kuala Lumpur
50450

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Tuesday 10:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 16:00
Thursday 10:00 - 16:00
Friday 10:00 - 16:00

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