FMT recently visited the P Ramlee Memorial Gallery, which in essence is the last house he lived in with his wife Saloma before his untimely death.

Filled with music and film memorabilia, the quaint gallery in Setapak that is under the National Archives of Malaysia, is open to members of the public for free.

Speaking to FMT, Daslila Mohd Dahlan, 42, the gallery’s manager, explained that after the government purchased the house, the property was renovated three times from 1985 to 2020. An original plan of the property is held by the National Archives of Malaysia.

“P Ramlee actually collapsed in this house due to a heart attack and subsequently passed away in the ambulance on his way to the hospital,” added Daslila who has been with the gallery since 2016.

So, what are among the highlights at the gallery?

One of them would definitely be the beautiful brown piano that P Ramlee is believed to have bought from Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. It is more than 50 years old.

According to Daslila, the piano is still standing in the study – the very room where P Ramlee used to play it when he was alive.

She also revealed that the technician who tuned the piano in 2018, said he believed the piano was frequently played judging from the condition it was in – a touching reminder of the maestro who was faithful to his craft, even in his last days.

The piano was not the only instrument that P Ramlee played. He was also a talented guitarist, accordion player, and violinist. Music lovers would be delighted to find his violin on display at the gallery, together with some of his music manuscripts.

Also on the display is the trophy the artist received in 1963, when he was named “The Most Versatile Talent” at the 10th Asian Film Festival in Tokyo.

“It’s interesting because he was the first and last person to win that award as the following year, the award was no longer given,” Daslila explained, adding that she hopes to find out why this was so.

“Not many know that P Ramlee also founded two magazines: ‘Gelanggang Filem’ and ‘Majalah Bintang’. A copy of the former, which was originally written in Jawi, is on display here,” she shared.

The ordinary life

Additionally, the gallery also offers glimpses into the legend’s daily life that is far removed from the glamour one would associate with such a larger-than-life talent.

One such example is the cozy dining area where undoubtedly, he enjoyed many a meal with the love of his life, Saloma. The same wooden dining table and chairs sit exactly at the same spot of the house till this day.

Clothes the couple wore are also on display, all of which were contributed by their family. Of notable mention is Saloma’s many glamourous baju kebayas and even an evening dress – it’s no wonder she was heralded as a fashionista back in the day!

Parked outside the gallery, is the very last car P Ramlee owned – a Datsun bearing the plate number BAD 3608, possibly in honour of his bad boy image?

“After his death, the car was actually sold by his son, the late Nasir P Ramlee. However, the National Archives of Malaysia succeeded in tracing the car to a driving school and bought it back. I wonder if the students at the school ever knew that they were actually driving P Ramlee’s car?” Daslila mused.

Preserving his legacy

There is also a cosy movie room at the house-cum-gallery, where P Ramlee classics like “Bujang Lapok”, “Do Re Mi”, “Penarek Becha”, and “Semerah Padi” are played on loop when the gallery is open.

Daslila also shared how she has observed children enjoying themselves watching old P Ramlee movies – something she finds delightful, being a P Ramlee fan herself.

To that end, she also shared a plan to make the gallery more attractive to the younger generation.

“We recently engaged a local artist, Mat Murad Mohd Yusof, or Soya, as he is popularly known, to draw P Ramlee murals outside the gallery to hopefully attract more of the younger crowd,” she explained, adding that the project was completed on May 7.

“I hope that the young people can get to know the great artist better through this gallery,” she said.

P Ramlee Memorial Gallery
22, Jalan Dedap
Taman P Ramlee
53000 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours:
9am–5pm (Tuesday to Sunday; Public holidays; School holidays; closed from 12pm to 3pm on Friday)
Closed on Mondays

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