The Living History Project is a free, digital museum that preserves and celebrates the personal stories of those who have shaped Malaysia — told in their own words. As a not-for-profit public resource, it’s accessible anytime, anywhere, making it a powerful tool for education, inspiration, and remembrance. More than just a local archive, this international platform connects Malaysians at home and abroad, building a bridge between past and future. Together, we’re not only preserving history — we’re honouring it, ensuring that future generations understand, appreciate, and carry forward our rich cultural legacy.
DATO’ THIAGARAJAN
K.R. ARUMUGAM
Performing Arts • Musician
Dato’ Thiagarajan is better known as David Arumugam, one of the founding members of legendary Malaysian band, Alleycats. The band rose to prominence in the 70s and grew in reputation with their chart-making hits right up to the 2000s.
Alleycats was unique in that it was a multi-ethnic band singing in Malay, a direction that was envisioned and steadfastly adhered to by David and his younger brother Logan. In their heyday, their broad fan base saw packed-out stadiums made up of every spectrum of Malaysian and Southeast Asian society. Alleycats’ hits have become classics that still play over the airwaves today. David sang and played percussion for the band.
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Penang is a place where time lingers. On its streets, layers of history unfold in the architecture of George Town’s shophouses, the scent of incense flavours of food, century-old clan temples and the inflections of Tamil, Hokkien, Malay, and English spoken in the same breath. Once a vital node in the colonial spice trade and a meeting point of Eastern and Western cultures, Penang today remains a cultural crossroads—where heritage and modernity exist in delicate tension.
As we look ahead to 2026, The Living History Project (TLHP) continues to expand its mission of capturing Malaysia’s living heritage in authentic and inclusive ways. Building on the success of past initiatives, TLHP is shaping a diverse slate of projects that reflect the many layers of our society.
Real Malaysia is more than a digital archive—it is a heartfelt movement to capture the voices, dreams, struggles, and everyday triumphs of Malaysians from every walk of life. Initiated by The Living History Project, this campaign invites citizens across the country to share their real stories—unfiltered, deeply personal, and authentically Malaysian.
Directors Cut is a curated series by The Living History Project that brings Malaysia’s contemporary film directors into the spotlight—offering audiences a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the stories behind their most iconic films.
In intimate conversations, directors share the inspirations that shaped their work.
The Living History Project (TLHP) is proud to collaborate with Actsugi, a leading digital content creation company specializing in immersive 360° storytelling and high-resolution aerial photography. Together, we embark on a mission to capture the essence of Kuala Lumpur’s diverse neighborhoods through a series of stunning drone visuals.
As part of our ongoing mission to preserve and share the many threads that make up Malaysia’s living tapestry, The Living History Project is proud to document untold and alternative histories. This reflects our shared commitment to rethinking historical narratives and embracing a more inclusive approach to memory and identity.
The Living History Project preserves and shares Malaysia’s untold and alternative histories, rethinking narratives for a more inclusive memory and identity.
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