Merdeka Square is the heart of 'old' Kuala Lumpur, the seat of colonial power, and where the flag was first raised for the new Malaysian nation. The 'square' itself is a large grassy field, still used for cricket, and bordered by the incongruously Tudor styled Royal Selangor Club. At one end of the fields is one of the world's largest flagpoles, from which the Malaysian flag oversees independence celebrations every year.
The 1897 "Sanitary Board" fountain.
Near the flagpole is a large fountain ordered from England and erected by the city's Sanitary Board around 1897 to provide fresh drinking water (drinking from it today is not recommended). Beyond the other end of the field is St Mary's Church, built in 1894.
Facing the square across the wide street is a long line of Moorish-inspired public buildings from the colonial era, dominated by the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Not far from all these 'antique' buildings is one of Kuala Lumpur's most elegant modern buildings, the Dayabumi Complex.
The easiest way to get to the square is to take any one of the three train lines that run through the Masjid Jamek station. From the station, you can see the Jamek Mosque, then proceed around the corner to the square. If you walk the length of the square to Dayabumi Complex, you can find yourself in the Chinatown area.
Dayabumi Tower in Kuala Lumpur The Dayabumi Complex was one of the first modern high rise buildings in Kuala Lumpur. It's very striking, with it's seemingly intricate design inspired by traditional Islamic forms. In addition to the tower, the complex includes a shopping mall and the headquarters of the Malaysian Post Office.
You can easily reach the complex on foot from Merdeka Square or the Central Market.
The Jamek Mosque at night. The Jamek Mosque (Masjid Jamek) is one of Kuala Lumpur's oldest mosques. It was officially opened in 1905, and served as the new country's main mosque until the Masjid Negara was opened in 1965. The mosque sits at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers, and was designed in the same style as the other buildings around Merdeka Square, such as the Sultan Abdul Samad building.
The large grassy field of Merdeka Square was originally the cricket field of the Selangor Club, the very out of place Tudor building facing the field (see below). It was here on 31 August in 1957 that the British Union Jack was lowered for the last time and the new Malaysian national flag was raised for the first time. The official Malaysian name for the field, Dataram Merdeka, literally translates to "Independence Square" and it's hear each year that Malaysia's independence is celebrated each year.
The old city hall building in Kuala Lumpur The old City Hall of Kuala Lumpur was built between 1896 and 1904. The design is much more Moorish than the nearby Sultan Abdul Samad building. The building now houses a municipal theater, called Panggung Bandaraya in Malay. You can try checking the official web site of the city for more information and a schedule of events.
The Sultan Abdul Samad building is one of the most striking remnants of Malaysia's colonial past. The structure was built between 1894 and 1897 by the British colonial powers to house several administrative functions. "Abdul Samad" was the Sultan of Selangor at the time of the building's construction.
Sultan Abdul Samad Building After independence, the building housed the nation's supreme court, but that has now been moved to the new national administrative center of Putrajaya.
The Malaysian National Textile Museum The National Textile Museum is housed in a beautiful old building that was originally used by the state railway. It was completed in 1896 (or 1905) and was only recently converted to use by the museum. The museum displays the history of Malaysian fabrics, especially Ikat. There are four galleries of permanent exhibits along with some rotating displays.
The museum is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
