5 Historic Places To Visit in conjunction with this Merdeka Day

On 31 August 1957, Malaya declared independence from the British and Kuala Lumpur became the capital of the newly independent federation.

But even before that fateful day, the city witnessed some of the most important events that led to the birth of a nation.

Today, places entwined with history can be found all across Kuala Lumpur, physical reminders of how Malaysia came to be.

Carcosa Seri Negara

Perched on 16 hectares of land overlooking the lush Perdana Botanical Garden, Carcosa Seri Negara was originally built as the official residence of the first British resident-general of the Federated Malay States, Frank Swettenham.

The residence consists of two palatial mansions built in an eclectic mixture of Neo-Gothic and Tudor Revival styles.

The first, Carcosa – derived from the Italian words “cara cosa” (dear place) – was designed by English architect Arthur Benison Hubbeck and constructed in 1896. Malaysia’s first electricity and telephone wire originated from this building.

The second, smaller King’s House (later renamed Seri Negara in 1989), was added in 1913 as the official guest house for visiting high-profile dignitaries.

During World War II, the mansion was used as the headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Army during their invasion of Malaya.

Following Japan’s surrender in August 1945 and the return of British rule, it reverted back to its original purpose and was the residence for four more British high commissioners, including the last, Donald Charles MacGillivray.

Carcosa Seri Negara was also where the Constitution of Malaya was drafted by the Reid Commission between 1955 and 1957.

Most significantly, on 5 August 1957, the nine Malay rulers convened on its grounds to sign the Federation of Malaya Agreement, effectively making Malaya an independent sovereign nation.

Closed until further notice.

Dataran Merdeka

Prior to October 1989, Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) was known as The Padang, one of the first few open spaces in Kuala Lumpur.

The two-hectare plot was purchased by the British in 1882 from Kuala Lumpur’s third Kapitan Cina Yap Ah Loy and was first used as a police training ground, and later, as a recreational field where the elite would play cricket, football and host parades.

Through the years, many iconic colonial structures such as the Royal Selangor Club, St Mary’s Cathedral and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building (originally just called the Government Offices) were built around the field, turning it into a mainstay for events.

The Padang took centre stage once again when Malaya achieved her independence.

On 30 August 1957, throngs of people gathered there to witness the end of British colonisation in Malaya. At the stroke of midnight, the British Union Jack was lowered and the flag of Malaya was hoisted as the Malayan anthem, Negaraku, was played.

Today, these historic grounds are still home to important national events such as the annual

Merdeka Day parade, held every year on 31 August, and the colourful, culture-filled Citrawarna Festival.

Stadium Merdeka

Built specifically to host Malaya’s declaration of independence, work on Stadium Merdeka began in September 1956.

Over the course of 11 months, scores of Malayans, including women, worked around the clock, and by 21 August 1957 – just 10 days before the declaration was due to take place – the stadium was complete.

On the morning of 31 August 1957 not a single seat was left empty. Thousands gathered at the stadium to witness Malaya’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman read out the Declaration of Independence.

For decades after, Stadium Merdeka was the premier venue for sporting events – including the now-defunct Merdeka Tournament, Asia’s oldest football tournament, and a Muhammad Ali title fight – as well as concerts and celebrations.

The stadium was renovated in the 1970s to add seating capacity and an upper tier, but in 2003 it was declared a national heritage building and, in 2007, was restored to its original 1957 glory.

Federal Hotel

Federal Hotel, nestled in the bustling Bukit Bintang shopping district, may be dwarfed by the skyscrapers all around, but this unassuming hotel is rich in history.

The brainchild of Tunku Abdul Rahman, the hotel was built as accommodation for foreign dignitaries and distinguished guests who were in Malaya to witness the Declaration of Independence.

He enlisted the help of renowned Malayan architect Lee Yoon Thim – known for his work on Chin Woo Stadium and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka – to design the hotel.

The nine-storey building with 90 rooms was completed in under a year, and opened its doors on 28 August 1957, just three days before the handover ceremony.

The hotel’s developer, Low Yat, is said to have pulled all the stops to get everything – bedding, chinaware, kitchen utensils and even staff – ready in time for the hotel’s opening.

The first registered guest at Federal Hotel was Nancy Simmons from the British Colonial Office, who had formed a friendship with Tunku after chauffeuring him to conferences and receptions while he was in London in 1956 to negotiate Malaya’s independence.

MaTiC

Long before it was renamed to the Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTiC) in 2001, this colonial era mansion belonged to Eu Tong Sen, one of Kuala Lumpur’s tin and rubber tycoons.

Built in 1935 on a 2.6-hectare rambutan orchard, the house became a military base, first for the British at the onset of World War II, and later the Japanese Imperial Army after the fall of Malaya and Singapore.

In 1956, a year before Malaya’s independence, the building, then a British garrison camp, became a military base for the soon-to-be nation.

By 1957, orders were in place to renovate this historic home, adding space to the mansion to cater for government departments and international meetings for the newly-minted Malaya.

The building continued to be the centre of many ceremonies through the years, including the official launch of Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), the nation’s first broadcaster, to the installations of several Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

MaTiC’s most historically significant event, however, took place on 12 September 1959, when 104 elected members of Parliament convened for Malaya’s very first parliamentary sitting.

Parliamentary debates continued to be held at the building until 1963, when the new Malaysian Houses of Parliament complex was completed.

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