Independence Square
Independence Square or popularly known by the locals as Dataran Merdeka occupies a very significant place in Malaysian history. At the peak of its popularity in colonial times, it was a central gathering point for the British; it was also a cricket green. Previously, it was known as the Selangor Club Padang.
Sultan Abdul Samad Building
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Jalan Raja is one of the most well known landmarks in the city. Before the KLCC was built the Sultan Abdul Samad building with its famed clock tower is the main land mark of Malaysia.
The construction of this building started in 1893 and was completed in 1896. Initially the building was designed to house the colonial State Government of Selangor but when it was completed, it housed the entire Federated Malay States (FMS) administration.
After the independence, the Malaysian government used this building as the Supreme court. However, in 2007, the Supreme Court has shifted to the Court Palace. Now, it houses the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. There is a plan to turn the building into a historical museum.
Many historical events had been held in front of this building. Among them was the declaration of independence of Malaysia (Malaya then) on 31 August, 1957 and the lowering of the Union Jack Flag. On 1st January 1982, the clock tower became the venue for another historic event when the time between West Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore were standardized. Every year, the new year celebration countdown is held here.
During the weekends, that is on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, the whole Sultan Abdul Samad building was lit up. This give a spectacular and awesome night view in the city centre. The Jalan Raja was closed to vehicle on these weekends.
Malaysia Boleh! (Strictly Malaysian)
Sultan Abdul Samad Building
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building in Jalan Raja is one of the most well known landmarks in the city. Before the KLCC was built the Sultan Abdul Samad building with its famed clock tower is the main land mark of Malaysia.
The construction of this building started in 1893 and was completed in 1896. Initially the building was designed to house the colonial State Government of Selangor but when it was completed, it housed the entire Federated Malay States (FMS) administration.
After the independence, the Malaysian government used this building as the Supreme court. However, in 2007, the Supreme Court has shifted to the Court Palace. Now, it houses the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. There is a plan to turn the building into a historical museum.
Many historical events had been held in front of this building. Among them was the declaration of independence of Malaysia (Malaya then) on 31 August, 1957 and the lowering of the Union Jack Flag. On 1st January 1982, the clock tower became the venue for another historic event when the time between West Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore were standardized. Every year, the new year celebration countdown is held here.
During the weekends, that is on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, the whole Sultan Abdul Samad building was lit up. This give a spectacular and awesome night view in the city centre. The Jalan Raja was closed to vehicle on these weekends.
Malaysia Boleh! (Strictly Malaysian)
The phenomenal growth of Malaysia under the leadership of its fourth prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad has brought about a patriotic sense of achievement amongst its people.
The Government has led the way to show that Malaysians can excel in whatever they put their minds to, and this, in no small way, has produced a society that tries to outdo itself (sometimes at ridiculous levels, if truth be told) in the endeavours it pursues.
Embodying this spirit is the slogan "Malaysia Boleh!" which loosely translated means "Malaysia Can Do It!" How this slogan came to be the "battle cry" of a nation is rather sketchy but the general belief is that it was the slogan used by a health beverage in its marketing campaign in the 80s.
It caught on and soon cries of Malaysia Boleh! were heard, first only at sporting events like the Commonwealth Games and Thomas Cup Finals, then later everywhere else as it was embraced wholeheartedly by the people as a means to push themselves to endure and accept challenge, to set targets, to excel.
The "Malaysia Boleh!" spirit has since produced many achievers and achievements, and has been a cornerstone of the success story that is the new Malaysia.
Sources: AllMalaysia.info
Sources: AllMalaysia.info
Jalur Gemilang (Official Symbols)
The Malaysian flag or Jalur Gemilang consists of 14 horizontal red and white stripes of equal width; a dark blue canton occupying the upper left quarter of the flag; and within the canton, a crescent, and a 14-pointed star.
The stripes represent the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states ?namely Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Penang and Terengganu ?and the Federal Government, as represented by the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan.
The colours red and white symbolise courage and purity respectively.
The canton symbolises the unity of the people of Malaysia. The crescent is the symbol of Islam, the official religion of Malaysia; and the 14 points of the star signify the unity of the 13 states of the federation with the Federal Government. The colour yellow signifies the royal colour of the Rulers.
After 40 years without a name, the Malaysian flag was officially named Jalur Gemilang on the 40th anniversary of the country's independence, Aug 31, 1997. Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad made the announcement at midnight in conjunction with the National Day celebrations.
The name Jalur Gemilang is the Bahasa Malaysia term for stripes of glory.
Royal Selangor Club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Royal Selangor Club (Malay: Kelab Di-Raja Selangor) is a social club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, founded in 1884 by the British who ruled Malaya. The club is situated next to the Dataran Merdeka, or Independence Square, padang (field), and is accessible from Jalan Raja (Raja Road). The Club play host to certain matches from the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup.
The club was nicknamed "The Spotted Dog" as two Dalmatians belonging to the wife of one of the club founders were left to guard the entrance of the club whenever they visited the club. The club is also simply referred to as "The Dog".
Over the years, the club's membership increased and has also began to include high-ranking Malaysian civil servants: judges, lawyers and important people in society. The club's proximity to the High Courts at the other side of Dataran Merdeka has also made the club a suitable meeting place for the legal fraternity.
The club has organised various sporting activities since its early years, including cricket.
The club has organised various sporting activities since its early years, including cricket.
Sign prohibiting women from bar
Sporting events at the club could be watched from the Long Bar, a portion of the club which has been off limits to women, purportedly because men "would drink and get very excited when they watch the games and they didn't want the ladies to see their exuberant behaviour, hence they decided to bar women visitors from the Long Bar". Women are still prohibited from the bar area today, contrary to a 2007 report by The Star, a local English daily.
The club is also notable for introducing hash running in 1938. The Hash House Harriers (abbreviated to HHH or H3) is an international group of social, non-competitive running, social, and drinking clubs.
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