Merdeka Square
Dataran Merdeka
The Malayan flag was first raised here in 1957. The Moorish-style Sultan Abdul Samad Building, a 95-meter flagpole, and a colonial-era lawn make up the core of Kuala Lumpur’s old town.
Merdeka Square was originally the cricket ground of the Royal Selangor Club during British colonial rule. At midnight on 31 August 1957, the British flag was lowered here and the flag of the Federation of Malaya was raised for the first time, marking national independence. That is why it is named “Merdeka” (Independence). Each year on National Day, parades and celebrations are held here. On the east side of the square stands the Sultan Abdul Samad Building (1897), a Moorish–Mughal-style building with a copper dome and a 40-meter clock tower. It was once a colonial government office and now houses cultural departments. It is Kuala Lumpur’s most photogenic historic building. At the southern end, a 95-meter flagpole once ranked among the tallest in the world. To the west stands the black-and-white timber-framed Royal Selangor Club in the Tudor style, and to the north is the St. Mary’s Anglican Cathedral (1894).
On the south side of the square, the KL City Gallery (RM10, redeemable against purchases) has a large city model and an “I ❤ KL” sign. A five-minute walk away is the Masjid Jamek (1909), the oldest mosque in Kuala Lumpur, at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers. Visitors can enter for free outside prayer times. Along the riverbank, the “River of Life” features blue night lighting and mist sprays, and it has become a popular photo spot in recent years.
Tips: Arrive after 17:00 to see the buildings lit up and the riverbank lights, then walk 10 minutes to Petaling Street for dinner. Street performers appear near the square on weekend nights. Getting there: a five-minute walk from Masjid Jamek LRT Station. Caution: the square has no shade and is extremely hot at midday. The interior of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is not open to the public, so you can only view its exterior.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Masjid Jamek & River of Life
- Central Market (Pasar Seni)
- Petaling Street (Chinatown)
- Sri Mahamariamman Temple
- National Mosque of Malaysia
- Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
- Kwai Chai Hong
- Kuala Lumpur Bird Park