This road is named after Hang Tuah, known as the legendary warrior of the Nusantara region. He is the laksamana or admiral during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah of Malacca. His life story is documented in a classical Malay literature, Hikayat Hang Tuah and Sejarah Melayu.
The road was originally named as Gaol Road, and subsequently Shaw Road before re-named as Jalan Hang Tuah.
Gaol was a common English spelling for ‘jail’ in the 1700s – 1800s, and with the stretch of the road that leads to the Pudoh Central Gaol or the Pudu Jail, it was known as the Gaol Road. The jail which was built in 1895 was demolished in 2009 to develop the Bukit Bintang City Centre.
Gaol Road was then changed to Shaw Road, in honour of Bennett Eyre Shaw, the first headmaster of Victoria Institution. The school first opened at High Street or now known as Jalan Tun H S Lee, but due to flood issues, it was relocated to Gaol Road in 1929.
Shopping
Bukit Bintang City Centre
Public Transportation
Hang Tuah Monorail Station
Government & Public Services
Kuala Lumpur Royal Malaysia Police Headquarters
Central Fire and Rescue Station
Religious Buildings
Masjid Al-Bukhari
