Merdeka Square Commentary Conducted by Licensed Tourist Guide

Summary

Joying Han warmly welcomes viewers to a virtual tour of Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, highlighting its historical significance and architectural marvels. Located in the heart of the city, Merdeka Square is surrounded by iconic landmarks such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, St. Mary's Church, and the Royal Selangor Club. The tour also explores the River of Life, the Victoria Fountain, and the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery. Han provides interesting historical facts and architectural details, making this a highly recommended spot for visitors, especially in the evening for beautiful lighting and photography.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur is a famous tourist spot, symbolizing the country's independence.
• 📍 The square is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, surrounded by significant buildings and landmarks.
• 🏙️ Kuala Lumpur is known as the 'City in the Clang Valley', and Merdeka Square is the lowest point in the valley.
• 🏛️ Notable buildings around the square include the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Saint Mary's Church, and the Royal Selangor Club.
• 🌊 The 'River of Life' nearby is the origin of Kuala Lumpur's name, marking the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers.
• 📸 The area in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is a popular spot for photography, offering a spectacular view of Kuala Lumpur.
• 🚩 The Malaysian flag, known as the Jalur Gemilang, is flown on a 100-meter tall flagpole, a symbol of national pride.
• 🏰 The Sultan Abdul Samad Building is a unique architectural marvel, combining Indo-Saracenic, Moorish Islamic, and Northern Indian designs.
• ⏳ Clock towers in Malaysian cities, including Kuala Lumpur, serve as landmarks indicating the city center.
• 🌇 The best time to visit Merdeka Square is around 5 PM, as the lighting and sunset views create a beautiful atmosphere for photography.

Q & A

What is the meaning of 'Merdeka' in Malay language?

Merdeka in Malay means 'independence', reflecting the historical significance of Merdeka Square as a symbol of Malaysia's independence.

Why is Merdeka Square considered the heart of Kuala Lumpur?

Merdeka Square is located right in the city center of Kuala Lumpur, surrounded by significant buildings and landmarks, making it a central point of interest and activity.

What is the historical significance of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building?

The Sultan Abdul Samad Building was designed by A.C. Norman and completed in 1897. It was used as the British government office during colonial times and is an architectural blend of Indo-Saracenic, Moorish, Islamic, and Mughal designs.

What is the origin of the name 'Kuala Lumpur'?

The name Kuala Lumpur derives from the meeting point of two rivers, the Klang and Gombak rivers, and the muddy confluence known as Lumpur, hence meaning 'muddy river mouth'.

What is the significance of the flagpole at Merdeka Square?

The flagpole at Merdeka Square is one of the tallest, symbolizing the confidence and aspirations of Malaysia during its independence era, as initiated by Tun Dr. Sri Mahathir.

What is the River of Life project and its connection to Kuala Lumpur's name?

The River of Life project is a rejuvenation initiative for the historic convergence of the Klang and Gombak rivers, which is the origin of Kuala Lumpur's name.

What is the historical importance of the Victoria Fountain?

The Victoria Fountain was initially planned for the Central Market but was relocated to Merdeka Square due to traffic concerns. It served as a resting place for horses and a remembrance of Queen Victoria.

What is the architectural style of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building?

The architectural style of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building combines Indo-Saracenic, Moorish, Islamic, and Mughal elements, reflecting a fusion of Eastern and Western influences.

What is the significance of the clock tower in Kuala Lumpur?

The clock tower in Kuala Lumpur is a prominent landmark that signifies the city center. It also served as a public timepiece during an era when personal watches were a luxury.

What are some of the buildings and landmarks surrounding Merdeka Square?

Surrounding Merdeka Square are notable buildings such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Saint Mary's Church, the Royal Selangor Club, the Textile Museum, and the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery.

What is the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery and what does it offer to visitors?

The Kuala Lumpur City Gallery is a place that showcases miniature models of Kuala Lumpur's iconic buildings and offers insights into the city's history and architecture. It also features an 'I Love KL' sculpture for photography.

What is the best time to visit Merdeka Square according to the script?

The best time to visit Merdeka Square is around 5 PM, as it is not too hot, and visitors can enjoy the sunset and the lit-up cityscape by 7:30 PM.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Introduction to Merdeka Square

Joying Han introduces Merdeka Square, a famous tourist spot in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The square symbolizes independence ('Merdeka' means 'independence' in Malay) and is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur at Jalan Raja. The area is surrounded by numerous beautiful buildings due to its central location, making it a prominent spot in the Klang Valley, which occasionally experiences flooding. Joying highlights key structures around the square, including the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, St. Mary's Church, the Royal Selangor Club, and the Textile Museum. He also mentions the River of Life, a significant site where Kuala Lumpur gets its name from the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers.

05:01

🏛️ Historical Significance and Victoria Fountain

This paragraph focuses on the historical elements around Merdeka Square, specifically the Victoria Fountain, erected in remembrance of Queen Victoria. Initially intended for the central market, it was relocated to Merdeka Square to avoid traffic congestion. The fountain also served as a watering spot for horses in the past. Joying mentions the display of photographs of Malaysia's former prime ministers at the square and provides historical details about the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. The building, designed by A.C. Norman and completed in 1897, was constructed by Chinese contractors using four million bricks, leading to the creation of Brickfields, an area in Kuala Lumpur dedicated to brick production.

10:02

🕌 Architectural Marvels and Design Influences

Joying describes the architectural styles of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, which blends Indo-Saracenic, Moorish, Islamic, and Mughal influences. He explains how the building's design facilitates ventilation and lighting, featuring numerous arches such as horseshoe and ogee arches. The structure signifies unity, repetition, and rhythm through its symmetrical design. The clock tower is highlighted as a prominent landmark in Kuala Lumpur, used historically to help people keep track of time when personal timepieces were rare.

15:05

⛪ St. Mary's Church and the Royal Selangor Club

Opposite the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is St. Mary's Church, built by the British as a religious center. Joying compares it to the Pink Mosque in Putrajaya, indicating the British influence on religious structures in Malaysia. The Royal Selangor Club, also known as the Spotted Dog, is described with its history tied to British social activities and its unique long bar. The club's name is linked to either the ladies waiting outside with their spotted dogs or the club's leopard logo. The Kuala Lumpur Hash House Harriers club, founded here, is noted for its role in social networking.

20:06

🏛️ Kuala Lumpur City Gallery and Textile Museum

Joying recommends visiting the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery, which features the 'I Love KL' sign and exhibits miniatures of iconic Kuala Lumpur buildings. The old Chartered Bank building, once a museum and restaurant, is noted for its history of being flooded and drying money on the Merdeka Square field, nicknamed the 'Million Field.' The Textile Museum is another highlight, showcasing famous Malaysian textiles like batik, songket, and pua kumbu. Joying explains that Merdeka Square is also a key location for national celebrations, such as the National Day Parade and the Colors of Malaysia Parade, which showcase Malaysia's diverse cultures.

🎉 Best Time to Visit Merdeka Square

Joying advises that the best time to visit Merdeka Square is around 5 PM when the weather is cooler. Visitors can enjoy photography, visit the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery and Textile Museum, and then proceed to the River of Life for a beautiful evening view. The area lights up, including the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, creating a superb photography opportunity. Joying concludes by inviting viewers to reach out for inquiries and to like, subscribe, and share his channel.

Keywords

💡Merdeka Square

Merdeka Square, which translates to 'Independence Square' in Malay, represents the historical and cultural significance of Kuala Lumpur. It is the central location of the video's narrative, showcasing its importance as a tourist spot and its role in Malaysia's independence. The script mentions the square's location in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding attractions.

💡Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and serves as the primary setting for the video. It is highlighted for its rich history, architecture, and cultural landmarks. The script discusses various points of interest within the city, emphasizing its significance in the country's heritage.

💡Sultan Abdul Samad Building

The Sultan Abdul Samad Building is a prominent architectural landmark in Kuala Lumpur, featured in the video for its historical and aesthetic value. The script describes its Indo-Saracenic, Moorish, Islamic, and Mughal design influences, indicating its fusion of Eastern and Western architectural styles.

💡River of Life

The 'River of Life' is a rejuvenation project in Kuala Lumpur that has transformed the city's riverfront. It is mentioned in the script as the origin of Kuala Lumpur's name, derived from the confluence of two rivers, and as a scenic area that comes alive with lighting and fountains in the evening.

💡Victoria Fountain

The Victoria Fountain is a historical monument in the script, dedicated to Queen Victoria. It is situated near Merdeka Square and serves as a remembrance of British colonial history. The script also mentions its practical use in the past for resting horses.

💡Clock Tower

The Clock Tower in the video is an iconic symbol of Kuala Lumpur's city center. It is highlighted for its prominence and its role as a timekeeper in the pre-watch era. The script explains its significance in helping people tell time and its presence in other Malaysian cities.

💡Indo-Saracenic

Indo-Saracenic is an architectural style that combines Indian and Islamic elements, as mentioned in the script in relation to the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. It is characterized by arches and domes, designed for ventilation and lighting, reflecting the fusion of cultural influences in Malaysian architecture.

💡National Day Parade

The National Day Parade is a significant event in Malaysia, celebrated to commemorate the country's independence. The script mentions that it is traditionally held at Merdeka Square, showcasing the square's importance in national celebrations.

💡Kuala Lumpur City Gallery

The Kuala Lumpur City Gallery is a place that exhibits miniature models of the city's landmarks. It is featured in the script as a recommended tourist spot where visitors can learn about and appreciate the city's architectural heritage.

💡Textile Museum

The Textile Museum is a cultural institution in Kuala Lumpur that showcases Malaysian textiles, such as batik, songkate, and puan. The script mentions it as a place to visit for those interested in the traditional crafts and textiles of Malaysia.

💡Brickfields

Brickfields, also known as Little India, is an area in Kuala Lumpur that got its name from the production of bricks for the construction of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. The script explains its historical significance and its connection to the city's architectural development.

Highlights

Introduction to Merdeka Square, the heart of Kuala Lumpur, and its significance as a symbol of Independence.

Merdeka Square's geographical location in the city center and its relation to the Klang Valley.

The historical importance of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and its architectural features.

The origin of the name 'Kuala Lumpur' and the significance of the 'River of Life'.

The renovated 'River of Life' and its evening beauty with fountains and lighting.

The tallest flagpole in Malaysia and its historical significance during the era of Tun Dr. Sri Mahathir.

The unique design elements of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, blending Indo-Saracenic, Moorish Islamic, and Northern Indian designs.

The clock tower's prominence as a city center landmark in Malaysia.

The story behind the Victoria Fountain and its original intended location.

The historical significance of the Royal Selangor Club and its 'Spotted Dog' bar.

The Kuala Lumpur City Gallery showcasing miniature parts of the city and its iconic 'I Love KL' photo spot.

The history of the Old Chartered Bank building and its role in a flood incident.

The Textile Museum and the significance of Malaysian textiles like Batik, Songkate, and Pokok Malaysia.

Merdeka Square as a venue for the National Day Parade and the Colors of Malaysia Parade.

Recommendation for the best time to visit Merdeka Square for photography and experiencing the sunset.

Contact information provided for those interested in visiting Malaysia or seeking more information.

Transcripts

hi

salam's chatra

my name is joying han

welcome ladies and gentlemen to virtual

venture vocation today i'm going to

share with you one of the very very

famous tourist sport in malaysia or

kuala lumpur known as the badeika square

merdeka

that is actually

in malay which means

independence so basically

we say that the merdeka or it is

independent square so ladies and

gentlemen

this merdeka square is actually located

right in the heart of kuala lumpur which

is located at jalan

raja

surrounding the vicinity of this

uh madhyaka square actually there are so

many beautiful

yeah

so many

because it is right in the city center

and you can say that this place because

of it is located right in the city

center so that's the reason why

it is also known as the lowest

spot in the clan valley because kuala

lumpur is also known as a clang valley

but due to its lowest

spot that's the reason why it has

happened a few times flat around this

area

so ladies and gentlemen as mentioned

yeah around this area there are so many

spectacular

buildings so i'm going to share with you

all these buildings around this area

so you can see that the

ground area or the field is basically

known as the independence square and

then we have this sultan abdul sama

building we have this saint mary's

church

we have a royals lego club cal gallery

and the textile museum not only this

within a walking distance

from the

field you can see that behind the

sultan abdul summer building actually

there is this spot known as the river of

life

river of life is actually where kuala

lumpur's names derive from

basically that is where from the meeting

point of two rivers known as the clang

valle clang river and also the gomba

river the meeting point and then the

river mouth itself is known as koala and

due to

a lot of

muddy area that's true line so that is

known as lumpur so kuala lumpur

basically it means the river mouth which

has

marked and

in front here you can see that the river

of life

where it has been renovated and in the

evening it is tremendously beautiful

with the fountains

and the lighting around this area is

really really superb

right

so you can see that in the evening

the sultan of the summer building is

also lit up so it is very very beautiful

right so ladies and gentlemen right in

front of this sultan abdul salman that

is the america square where you can see

the flag pole

at this platform that is the best

place for you to have a photography all

right highly recommended area for you to

have the photography area so from there

itself you can see that it is a

spectacular view of the whole

kuala lumpur with the tall buildings

around

and ladies and gentlemen you can see

that uh our malaysian flag known as the

jallo gamilan yeah is flying very

properly on a 100 meter tall flag pole

now

why that this

flagpole is one of the tallest it is

because during the era of tone doctor

sri mahadev he has introduced malaysia

bole so he wanted to give confidence to

malaysia that's the reason why

whatever that he built he wanted it to

be one of the biggest one of the tallest

in the world

now ladies and gentlemen right in front

of the clock tower at the uh

field or the padang over there you can

see there are actually three flag poles

even though there are one whole row of

flagpoles or malaysian flags or

basically flying some other

local flags but these three flag poles

which is slightly further in

and one of it is stated there

that is malaysian flag was first raised

for the very first time that was during

our independence day that is 31st august

1957.

so not far from there

you can see a fountain actually this

fountain

was known as victoria fountain and this

victoria fountain was supposedly

to

have a remembrance of queen victoria

yeah but

i i researched in the wikipedia

initially that this

this fountain supposedly

they wanted to locate it in the central

market but the police yeah

didn't allow that this

fountain to be located there because of

afraid of this traffic jam so finally

they decided to relocate it at the

taran merdeka

i was told also that actually this

fountain served another purpose that was

very long time ago

when you know there were not so

many vehicles where basically people

still riding on horses this area is

where the horses will rest and also

drink the water from the fountain

and at this pardon madrid car itself you

can see there are actually six photos of

our former prime ministers starting from

the left our very first tunku

abdulrahman and until the previous prime

minister that was the dhatu sri najib

and ladies and gentlemen you can see

that the most spectacular

building

of all actually is the sultan abdul

samad building

yeah and this building itself uh this

area was actually

this land was actually owned by yap

alloy and in fact the whole area was

actually about one acre yeah about one

acre big and uh the british

bought from yuck aloy can you imagine

during the time that was basically

in 1895

[Music]

they bought this land for only 50

streets dollar that was as reported in

wikipedia too

yeah so this building was actually

designed by ac

norman

and it took three years to build and

completed in the year

1897. actually the whole construction

was actually

built by the chinese contractor

and

you can see that

they use about 150 2

000 stress dollars of course during

those days

one stress dollars could be equivalent

to 1 000 ringgit so in order to build

this building right now i believe it

could easily cause maybe

152 million

ringgit yeah and they used up

four million bricks

to build the whole building due to

due to using so many bricks that's

basically that's the reason why there is

one

place in kuala lumpur known as

brickfields

just because of wanted to build this

building they

make a factory to actually produce the

bricks so basically that is the place

known as the brickfields or the little

india of kuala lumpur

so this building was

built for the purpose of federated

malaysia's administration

center or basically the british use it

as a british

government office basically

and you can see that the design actually

uh comprised of the

indo-saracenic

moorish islamic new mughal what are they

actually so if you see at this photo

over here indo sarasota design is

actually meant for ventilation and

lighting purposes and you can see that

there are so many arches around

exactly it is the same

just like the suta abdul samad building

and the taj mahal was actually of the

new mughal design or basically known as

the north india design

so there are there is certain influence

of the northern indian

design

for the

sota of the summer building as well and

lastly of course the

maurice islamic design or also known as

the western islamic architecture so

ladies and gentlemen basically if you

look at this building it's actually

where the east mid west is a very very

unique building and

it has the islamic

islamic elements

so islamic element one of the very very

unique part of it is where it is

symmetry design so can you just imagine

right in front here such a huge building

and it is symmetry in design

and

basically you can see that

as mentioned earlier on there are so

many arches around in the building and

these archers also known as the horse

shoe archers or you can say that it is

also known as the keyhole archers

besides this all right so there are

actually many many types of archers

around one of it is also known as the og

archers

and then we have the four centered

archers

then we among all the uh

the whole building over here you can see

that it's actually

it signifies unity repetition and rhythm

and what are they actually unity is

because basically it stands

all on its own together

and then the

repeating yeah the repeating part of the

design and the flow of the design is

unifying so that's basically where you

can see that the whole concept of unity

repetition and rhythm

is there throughout the

building

and ladies and gentlemen

you can see that the

this one very unique part of this

uh

sultan abdul samad building is actually

the

clock tower

this clock tower is actually

one of a very very prominent one in

kuala lumpur and ladies and gentlemen

for your information basically whenever

you are in malaysia

to know whether you are right in the

city center

the moment you found that there is a

clock tower

that is the spot where

it is

the city center of that particular town

so like for example in malacca in penang

there is actually clock tower as well

right so you might ask why are there

clock towers in

every cities or basically in the towns

of malaysia

it was because during the olden days of

course

clocks or watches then

is very very expensive item not everyone

can afford to have watches so that's the

reason why this clock

is there to let people know the time

basically

so the building was actually designed as

an f-shape to stand which stands for

federation actually right in front of

the building which faced the merdeka

square is actually a symmetry as

mentioned and then on the left hand side

which face at the textile museum so

that's from if you look from the sky

it's actually an f-shaped building

so from here itself this building uh was

built very unique design it and it has a

very very wide veranda the veranda alone

is about two meter wide now ladies and

gentlemen why

why

this building has such

white veranda basically it it is

for ventilation purposes during the

olden days of course they basically rely

on

air

flowing so that's the reason why without

using air condition or fan

when you are in the building you still

can feel it is really very very cooling

in fact in the building

now

from there uh over opposite right hand

side of this

sultan abdul sama building you can see

this saint mary's church

this church was actually built by the

british

of course basically

during the olden days you can see that

there is this center for religion uh

that is the church now just like in

malaysia putrajaya right so putrajaya

now is the administration center that's

reason why you find the

pink moss or basically the putra moss is

also right look located right at the

side of our prime minister's office

and

on the

opposite side you can find these two

doors tile building or basically very

very british type of building this is

known as the royal slango club

and in the royal slango club there is

this long bar

which where

it is also known as the spotted dog so

the spotted dog why is border dog it was

a long time ago during the british era

this is because ladies are not allowed

to go into the bar basically it's

because you know uh when you know

gentlemen were drinking of course you

know sometimes they joke around so they

didn't want the females to be there

that's the main reason all right now why

this place is known as the spotted dog

so the ladies waiting outside they used

to bring along the

spotted dog or basically the dimensions

so that's how the name derived from

another story states that it's because a

long long time ago this rose lengua club

the logo of this royal slang club

actually consists of a leopard and this

leopard the icon looks like a

spotted dog so that's the reason why

this area is known as the spotted dog

area and

due to uh it is a drinking place of

course the british also found uh founded

the house harris club from this area too

yeah so uh from history of course kuala

lumpur

house harriers is one of the earliest

association of clubs basically

for networking

it was set up so much

earlier

then one of a very iconic and a very

very

highly recommended place for you to

visit is actually the kuala lumpur city

gallery this kuala lumpur city gallery

is actually where

you'll find on the right hand side that

is the i love kl

where you have to queue up in order for

you to have a good photo of of this

iconic uh spot

and then

uh for the ticket

uh for the ticket price is actually

10 ringgit and then this place is

actually open right up to 6 30 in the

evening

all right so basically

this kuala lumpur city gallery

showcases or basically exhibits

miniature parts of the whole

kuala lumpur

city the main iconic buildings and

ladies and gentlemen

this is the old chartered bank building

this old chartered bank building is

was used once as a museum and also a

restaurant before due to it was a old

chartered bank can you imagine that

there was once

flooded happen flood happened in this

area and all the money

it was wet then so in order for them to

dry up the money they were actually yeah

drying the money at the field right in

front of this merdeka square so that's

the reason why this field is also known

as the million

field

and then opposite this

building there is this textile museum if

you have the time of course it is also

recommended for you to visit this

textile basically in malaysia there are

three

there are three very very well-known

textiles one of it is barte so you can

see the dress that i'm wearing is

actually a party all right and then we

have the songkate and also the point

the pokemon is actually

one of the very very famous textile in

sarawak

now this is also one of uh

medical square is also one of the very

very very

sport where we will celebrate our

national deep rate basically every year

but then of course since that the

putrajaya has been

built basically at times our national

day parade was celebrated there as well

and of course the colors of malaysia

parade which was usually

being celebrated in the month of may to

june so this is one of a very

highly recommended

malaysia parade where there are a lot of

various races of

malaysia

having a parade having their traditional

dance having their traditional

costumes where they are having parade

to welcome the tourists to malaysia

now

of course there are a lot of people also

ask me what is the best time to visit

this

i would highly recommend that you visit

this place at five

in the evening

so why five o'clock in the evening

basically of course uh

start from that time it's not that hot

anymore

and then of course after photography and

also after visiting the uh kale gallery

and also the textile museum that is

where you can move forward to the river

of life because in the evening uh

basically where you can see the sunset

uh starts usually at about 6 45 right up

to 7 15

and by 7 30 in the evening you can see

the whole

kuala lumpur is basically dark so that's

where the

the river of life is being lit up and

then you can see this sulta abdul samad

building is also lit up so that is a

very very good

photography place for you again all

right so ladies and gentlemen i hope

that you have enjoyed this virtual tour

of course uh as usual if you have

friends or relatives who will want to

visit malaysia or you have any inquiries

yeah please write to me at my email or

you can always whatsapp to me at this

number zero one two three seven three

three

and then of course i will appreciate

very much if you like click lick and

also subscribe to my channel and share

my this channel to your friends and

relatives thank you very much ladies and

gentlemen good bye