The Merdeka cry
Where the Tunku declared independence.
Fazley01 — CC BY 4.0 · Fazley01 — CC BY 4.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Renek78 — CC0 · Kerajaan Tanah Melayu — Public domain
The stadium where modern Malaysia was born: here, on the morning of 31 August 1957, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first prime minister, raised his hand and cried Merdeka, independence, seven times before the crowds, proclaiming the independence of the Federation of Malaya. Malaysia itself was proclaimed here on 16 September 1963. The stadium was built for that very occasion, designed by the engineer Stanley Jewkes on the Tunku's instructions, and on completion it was the largest stadium in Southeast Asia, holding about twenty-five thousand spectators; it remained the main venue for national celebrations and matches until the late 1990s. A careful restoration finished in 2024 returned it to its original form, with its original terraces, canopies and floor tiles, and it now welcomes visitors as a heritage site, with guided heritage tours telling the story of independence and the track open to the public at set times. It stands beside the Merdeka 118 tower, which shares its name, linked to it by a linear park. Check tour times and events before you go, as the stadium hosts occasions and seasonal markets. The nearest station is Merdeka on the MRT, a few minutes' walk away.
Where the Tunku declared independence.
Original terraces and canopies.
The story of Malaysia's birth.
Jalan Stadium, at the foot of Merdeka 118, south of Chinatown
Merdeka 118The second-tallest building in the world after Dubai's Burj Khalifa, rising abou4 minutes walk
Kwai Chai HongA small back lane behind the shophouses of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown, neglected f5 minutes walk
Petaling Street (Chinatown)A street under a long green canopy, lined with stalls of bags, watches, clothes 8 minutes walk4.0
Guan Di TempleOne of the oldest Chinese temples in Kuala Lumpur, founded by the Cantonese Kwon9 minutes walk
Sri Maha Mariamman TempleA twenty-two-metre gateway tower covered in hundreds of painted carved figures r9 minutes walk4.5Independence was formally proclaimed at Stadium Merdeka on the morning of 31 August 1957, while Merdeka Square is where the British flag was lowered and the Malayan flag raised on the eve of independence.