Dataran Merdeka or also commonly known as Merdeka Square, is a green right in the middle of the city
of Kuala Lumpur. It was also formerly known as the Selangor Club Padang or the Padang, and was originally the cricket green of the Selangor Club (now Royal Selangor Club). It was here, in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building that the Union Jack was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time at midnight on August 31, 1957.
As a rememberance to this event, a 100 metre high flagpole - the world tallest - was erected at
the very place where the Malayan flag was hoisted on the independance day. On August 31 every year
the Merdeka Day Parade will normally be held here.
Besides the parade, Merdeka Square is also the
popular venue for various other events - open air concerts, carnivals, starting/finishing point for
marathons. Occasionally it will be turned into batle ground for cricket match, just like it used to
be during the colonial days.
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Dataran = Square
Merdeka = Independence
Padang = Field
Bendera = Flag
Bersejarah = Historical
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Surrounding the Dataran Merdeka area are many buildings of historical interest which are within walking distance including:
- Sultan Abdul Samad Building (formerly Government Offices)
- Court of Appeal (formerly Old Post Office)
- Textile Museum (formerly Office of the Federated Malay States Railway)
- National History Museum (formerly Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China)
- Children Library
- Merdeka Square Fountain
- Royal Selangor Club Complex
- Cathedral of St Mary the Virgin (a Gothic style building which is more than a hundred years old)
- Old High Court
- Old City Hall
- Masjid Jamek
- Masjid India
- Dayabumi Complex
Dataran Merdeka's Turf
The Royal Selangor Club's Tudor-style building, built in 1890 is in stark contrast to the Sultan Abdul Samad government building across the square. The quasi-Tudor style timber structure was built in 1890 and remains a place to watch a round of cricket on a Sunday afternoon.
The World's Tallest Flag Pole
Today, Dataran Merdeka Kuala Lumpur is a verdant patch of manicured turf right in the middle of Kuala Lumpur.
Beneath Merdeka Square, you can find a food, leisure and entertainment complex called Plaza Putra, as well as
a carpark. You can also see the 100m tall flagpole - the tallest in the world - soars above the field,
as well as some
old and new fountains gracing Merdeka Square at different corners.
Dataran Merdeka's Old Fountain
You may also see a large video screen displaying religious messages and advertisements here.
If you're lucky, you may also see the Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysian Police bands take
turns to perform at the field every third Saturday of the month from 5pm to 6pm.
Dataran Merdeka's New Fountain
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