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Merdeka Square / Independence Square -
Places to Visit in Kuala Lumpur
Destinations and Sights - Within Downtown KL
 Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) was the place
where on midnight of August 31, 1957 where the Union Jack was lowered for the
last time and Malayan flag (Jalur Gemilang) was hoisted for the first time in
the country's history upon gaining independence from the British rule. As a symbol of this historical event, a 100 metre
high flagpole (the world tallest) was erected at the very spot where the Malayan
flag was first hoisted. The square is used to celebrate national events,
carnivals, live performances, cultural events and other social awareness
campaigns.
It was formerly part of the Selangor Club and was
known as the Selangor Club Padang, and was originally the cricket green of the
Selangor Club (now Royal Selangor Club).
The Square was the focal point of colonial Kuala Lumpur. Surrounding the square
are many buildings of historical interest, such as the Royal Selangor Club, the
Sultan Abdul Samad building, St. Marys church and the National History Museum.
At one end of the square is old ornamental fountain and
drinking trough was ordered from England by the Sanitary Board. The fountain was
to be erected in Market Square. However, the police objected on grounds that it
would obstruct the flow of traffic and suggested the site at the corner of the
Parade Ground. The fountain was brought in from England and assembled locally in
1897.
 Sultan
Abdul Samad Building
The most beautiful building at the Merdeka Square is, without any
doubt, the Abdul Samad Building. The predominantly Moorish appearance of the
building suitably reflects the cultural background of Malaysia. The gleaming
copper domes of the Abdul Samad Building are topped by a 43 meter clock tower.
The central tower holds a clock that was first heard during Queen Victoria's
birthday parade in 1897. This is surmounted by a copper dome that is in turn
topped by a copper chatri. Two circular towers, housing stairways leading to the
upper floor, flank the central tower.
It was originally known as "The New Government Offices". It is one of the oldest
buildings in the city. AC Norman (architect) and CE Spooner (state engineer)
have been credited for the creation of this building. However, it is recognised
that although AC Norman drew the ground plan, it was RAJ Bidwell (chief
draughtsman) who did the elevation based on a Mohammedan (sic) style as
instructed by CE Spooner. This 'Mohammedan' architecture, also known as
'Neo-Saracen', came from India where several major buildings had been built in
this style.
It was to be the largest building of its day, constructed entirely of brick and
what appears to be cream stone is actually plaster covered brick. The
construction began in 1894 and was completed in 1897 at a cost of 152,000
Straits Dollars.
The building became the centre of British administration in
Selangor. The Post Office and the Sanitary Board were also located here.
The building was extensively renovated to house the nation's judiciary. It has
been left vacant recently with the judiciary move to Putrajaya, the new
administrative centre of Malaysia.
National History Museum (Muzium Serajah
Nasional).
First erected in 1888 to house the headquarters of the Chartered Bank, which was
the first commercial bank operating in Kuala Lumpur.
 However,
the original old building structure was torn down and it was rebuilt using a
combination of the characteristics typical of the Moorish and Islamic
architecture. The person responsible for designing the new building was A.C
Norman, who was at that time the Public Works Departmentﾒs Acting
Superintendent-cum-State Architect. The architecture of the museum was also
harmonized with the buildings surrounding it. During the Japanese Occupation,
this building was used by the Japanese Telecommunication Department. Once the
war was over, the function of the building as the main commercial bank was
revived and lasted in 1965. The building was later occupied by the Kuala Lumpur
District and Land Office before it was taken over by the Federal Territory
Religious Affairs Office
On the 24th October 1991 this building was officially handed over to the
Department of Museum and Antiquities to be turned into the National History
Museum.
The museum enables visitors to discover the wealth of Malaysia's historical
heritage through its permanent exhibition of artifacts and materials. There is
an impressive collection of artifacts and dioramas depicting various facets of
Malaysian natural history from the ancient past to the present day. Exhibits
relate pre-historic and megalithic ages, the Johor-Riau Empire, Malacca
sultanate and the colonial era. The collection includes also a 520
million-year-old metamorphic sandstone, a 40,000-year-old homo sapiens skulls
and an eight-sided gold coin dating back to the 15th century.
St Mary's Cathedral
This neo-Gothic church more than a hundred years old. St Marys
Church started as an un pretentious wooden building along Bluff road on top hill
now known as Bukit Aman. This wooden church which cost $1,363to build, could
accommodate up to 95 people at full capacity, was the centre of worship and
spiritual life of the small group of Anglicans in and around Kuala Lumpur at
that time. Among these early parishioners were W.M Treacher, the British
resident and other well remembered historical personalities such as F.A
Sattenham, E.W Birch, A.R. Venning, G, Murray Campbell and C.E Spooner.
The congregation grew steadily, and in 1893 it was decided to build a new and
larger church. A church building fund appeal was launched. It raised $5,168 and
the governor of the straits settlement, Sir Cecil C. Smith, agreed that the
government of Selangor would provide the remaining $5000 needed for the
construction of the new church. Interestingly, there were a number of non
Christian who responded to the appeal. Prominent among them were Yap Kwan Seng,
The Captain China, Who donated a significant sum of $1000, and K Thamboosamy
Pillay, who gave $50.
TIP - Best way to visit is to take a City Tour
DESTINATIONS & SIGHTS - WITHIN DOWNTOWN KL
Chinatown /
Central Market / Jamek
Mosque / Sri Mahamariamman Temple /
Thean Hou Temple /
Twin Towers / KL Tower
/ Merdeka Square /
King's Palace /
Rumah Penghulu Abu Seman
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