I just want to wish happy 53 years Merdeka Malaysia to all my reader. This year celebration held in a closed place at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil with a motto "1Malaysia generating transformation" (1Malaysia menjana tranformasi). Many of us must remember how normally government will celebrate Merdeka (Independence) at the Dataran Merdeka in front of Sultan Abdul Samad Building. Even if no celebration will be held at that place, some of us still keep coming to that place for Merdeka countdown. Its been a long time since any Merdeka Celebration has been Celebrated at this place. Most probably because any celebration in Kuala Lumpur means traffic jam for the whole day.
Photos: The building in 1960.To all Malaysia Banknotes collector, you maybe has seen the Sultan Abdul Samad building picture on Malaysia 500 ringgit banknote. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building is located at Jalan Raja in front of the Dataran Merdeka (the Independence Square) by Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The structure takes its name from Sultan Abdul Samad, the reigning Sultan of Selangor at the time when construction began.
Photo: The building at the reverse of Malaysia 500 ringgit noteIt was designed by A.C. Norman and the construction started in 1893 and finish in 1897. At first, its house several important government departments during the British administration. A.C. Norman spent time in Africa and saw Muslim mosques in India which led him to use Moorish architecture in the building's design. In 1945, when World War II ended, Britain resumed control again, but Malaya's independence movement had matured and organized itself in an alliance under Tunku Abdul Rahman. When the British flag (union jack) was finally lowered in Kuala Lumpur's Merdeka Square in 31 August 1957, Tunku became the first prime minister of Malaya.
Photos: The building in its early days.In front of the building is the Dataran Merdeka (or Merdeka Square). It was here, the Union Jack flag was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time at midnight on August 31, 1957. The Dataran Merdeka was officially opened on January 1, 1990, in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 1990. The Merdeka Square symbolized British sovereignty as it was a cricket ground for the colonial administrators and fronted the Royal Selangor Club, Malaya's most exclusive whites-only club.
The building has seen many history in its days. Its even older then most of us in Malaysia. Wish Merdeka Celebration will be held again at this place in the future. "Happy Merdeka day to all Malaysian".
Source: Wikipedia.
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