Stories of the Dataran Merdeka Area

Construction of the Royal Selangor Club was completed in January 1910, and it quickly earned the affectionate nickname "The Spotted Dog" after its former president, Harry Syers, who often had his pair of dalmatians tethered near the entrance while enjoying a drink. In 1984, the club was granted a royal charter by the Sultan of Selangor and became known as the Royal Selangor Club. Despite Kuala Lumpur becoming a city in 1972 and splitting from Selangor in 1974 to become a Federal Territory, the club retained its royal name.

It’s been almost 70 years since the Union Jack was lowered at midnight on the Padang, a favorite cricket ground of British officers. Today, Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) is dominated by the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysia's national flag), which flies from the former tallest free-standing flagpole in the world.

Cricket is no longer played on the Padang, as Malaysian Tigers now play football in striped jerseys, marking a transformation in the city’s evolution. The area that once saw officers walking to lunch at the club now hosts celebrations, especially on Malaysia's National Day on August 31, against the backdrop of the Sultan Abdul Samad building.

The Sultan Abdul Samad building, opened in 1897, is a fine example of Moorish design. Although architect A.C. Norman is credited with the building’s foundation, much of its design was contributed by R.A.J. Bidwell and A.B. Hubback. The building, part of the colonial cluster surrounding Dataran Merdeka, was once a state-of-the-art symbol, made from local materials like bricks, timber, and tin. The clock tower, a smaller version of London’s Big Ben, still stands today, with the building now housing the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture. It remains one of Malaysia's most photographed landmarks.

Nearby, the former Federated Malay States Railway Central Office now hosts the National Textile Museum, showcasing Malaysian textiles in its dimly lit halls. Just past it, the Merdeka 118 tower rises impressively to 679 meters, making it the second tallest building in the world. The design of this towering structure reflects Tunku Abdul Rahman’s famous “Merdeka” salute.

The Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China was once located in a charming building south of the Dataran, chosen for its proximity to the police headquarters. Completed in 1909, it was praised as a significant ornament to the town. Today, however, the building stands vacant, with the nearby British press office now transformed into the KL City Gallery, complete with a popular “I Heart KL” installation for Instagram.

Across the road from the Royal Selangor Club is Rumah Tangsi, a mansion once owned by tin magnate and KL councilor Loke Chow Kit. After serving as the Empire and Peninsula hotels, the mansion is now an event venue, offering a peaceful escape from the city's bustle. Nearby, St. Mary's Church, originally consecrated in 1887 and later relocated to its current site in 1893, adds a nostalgic layer to the city’s soundscape with its chimes, designed in early English Gothic style by A.C. Norman.