​Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) via its foundation, Yayasan Telekom Malaysia (YTM), continues its role to preserve arts, culture and national heritage when the Company today officially launched its second museum - Telegraph Museum - the first of its kind in the country, in Taiping, Perak.

The launch of the Telegraph Museum was graced by HRH the Sultan Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah. Also present at the launch were HRH Sultanah of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, Raja Muda Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa and Raja Di Hilir Perak Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnain together with Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Sulaiman Mahbob, Chairman, TM who also the Chairman of YTM, Datuk Bazlan Osman, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, TM and Abd Hamid Hashim, Director of YTM.

The launch of Telegraph Museum is a historical event for YTM after the opening of the Telekom Museum or also known as Muzium Telekomunikasi Negara in Kuala Lumpur in 1994.

Tan Sri Sulaiman in his speech said, “The role of the museum has changed over the years, expanding its focus beyond presenting things of the past to include creating a connection with the present and a glimpse into the future. Telegraph Museum is a space that provides us with the knowledge on telegraph’s history since 18th century. The Post & Telegraph Department (P&T) has played an important role towards the development of National’s telecommunication system and TM through YTM has the responsibility to maintain and preserve our nation’s heritage for future generation.” 

“The establishment of the Telegraph Museum is set to be the latest tourist attraction in Perak specifically and Malaysia, generally. The museum features the history of telegraph communications system including its maiden breakthrough here and how the technology has contributed to the development of the nation.

We hope that the both museums; Telekom Museum and Telegraph Museum will be the places for students, researchers and the communities within and outside the country to deepen their understanding on the country’s telecommunication heritage and telegraph communications system,” he added.

YTM’s efforts in establishing this Telegraph Museum is intended to restore and conserve the historic building, built in 1883 that housed the first Post Office & Telegraph (P&T) Office in Malaya, which then also became the first office of Telekom Malaysia. This 135 years old Telegraph office represents national identity and the highest historical moment in the earliest telecommunications history in the country. The two storey building has also been used as Jabatan Telekom Club Office and Telekom Malaysia Technical Operations Office before conservation works of the heritage building by maintaining its original shape during the 18th century.

Among the interesting artifacts being showcased at the Telegraph Museum is the 1870s submarine cable which was the earliest cable in the world that uses insulation materials from the Gutta Percha tree extract. Visitors can also take a tour around the museum to see the telegraph transmitor and reception tools as well as other peripherals related to telegraph communications system back then while appreciating the history of telegraph and the benefits it brought to the nation until the telegram service was terminated in 2012.

Malaysian citizens can purchase the entrance tickets at RM8 for adults and RM5 for children while for non-Malaysians, the ticket price is RM15 per person.

In conjunction with the launch of the Telegraph Museum, TM  also collaborated with Pos Malaysia in issuing a limited edition stamp collection kit that features the Telegraph Museum which can be purchased at RM50.80 per set from 98 Pos Malaysia Offices nationwide.

With the launch of this second TM museum, TM has proven their commitment in conserving this historic heritage. The Company believes that these initiatives by YTM such as the establishment of the Telekom Museum and the Telegraph Museum will greatly benefit in national development, in line with our unique role as a partner in nation building.