A 95-metre flagpole pierces the sky. This is Dataran Merdeka Independence Square in Kuala Lumpur. It’s more than just a square. It’s a living testament to Malaysian independence.
Before it was Dataran Merdeka this field was known as the Selangor Club Padang. It served as a cricket green. British colonial society members played cricket here. The Selangor Club the Royal Selangor Club now stands opposite.
In 1880 the capital of Selangor moved from Klang to Kuala Lumpur. The British decided to build government buildings west of the Klang River. They wanted to avoid the unsanitary conditions of the town. They also wanted to minimize the risk of uprisings. The government offices and a new police headquarters were constructed on Bukit Aman. Police accommodation was built on Barrack Road now Jalan Tangsi and part of Jalan Raja. A swampy area was levelled and drained. It became a training ground for the police. This land acquired from Yap Ah Loy for $50 an acre in 1882 would become the Padang.
Ten years later Ernest Birch a keen cricketer smoothed the ground. It became a cricket ground for other sports. The Selangor Club clubhouse was built in 1890. St Mary’s Anglican Cathedral was built in 1895.
In 1897 government offices moved to the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. This magnificent building overlooks the Padang. It’s in Indo-Saracenic or Neo-Mughal style. It housed the Selangor State Secretariat and the Supreme Court. It now houses the Ministry of Heritage Culture and Arts.
Many buildings were built near the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and around the Padang. A printing office was constructed in 1899. The town hall followed in 1904. The FMS Railway offices were built in 1905. The General Post Office was added in 1907. The Survey Department building appeared in 1910. The Supreme Court was completed in 1915.
At midnight on August 30 1957 the Union Jack came down. The Malayan flag went up. A huge crowd witnessed this event. The next morning Malayan independence was celebrated at the Merdeka Stadium.
The Padang was leased to the Selangor Club. The club used it for cricket and rugby. The turf suffered damage. In 1987 City Hall took back the Padang. The Selangor Club received land in Bukit Kiara. The government transformed the Padang. It became a historical park and tourist attraction. It was named Dataran Merdeka. Elements were inspired by Trafalgar Square in London.
A separate underground car park was planned. It wasn’t included in the Dataran Merdeka proposal. Dataran Merdeka was finished in October 1989. It opened on December 31 1989. Then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad opened it. It launched Visit Malaysia Year 1990.
On August 31 2007 Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi shouted Merdeka. Thousands of Malaysians celebrated 50 years of nationhood.
Today Dataran Merdeka remains the heart of Kuala Lumpur. It’s a place where history unfolds before your very eyes. It’s a symbol of a nation’s struggle for freedom. It’s a legacy for generations to come.