Topic summary
Dataran Merdeka
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Independence Square (Kuala Lumpur).
History
As the Padang is located in front of the government offices, it is used for many national and civic events. The Padang was once leased to the Selangor Club which used it for various sports such as cricket and rugby. The turf in the Padang is often damaged due to such sporting events held here, causing the public to refrain from visiting the site. In 1987, the Padang was taken back by City Hall and in return, the Selangor Club was given a piece of land in Bukit Kiara. Conversely, the government turned the Padang into a historical park and tourist attraction, naming the site Dataran Merdeka, with elements inspired from Trafalgar Square in London. The focal point of the site was the flag pole where the British flag was lowered marking the end of the colonial era in Malaysia. A separate underground car park was also planned, but not part of the Dataran Merdeka proposal.