Merdeka Stadium

Merdeka Stadium

Also known as Independence Stadium, Merdeka Stadium is located about 800 meters east of Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. It was built to commemorate the declaration of independence of the Federation of Malaya on August 31, 1957. The Malay word “Merdeka” means independence and freedom. It was here that the representative of the British Queen handed over power to Malaysia’s first Prime Minister in the presence of the Sultans of the nine states.

Managed by the Malaysian Stadiums Corporation, Merdeka Stadium is the largest outdoor stadium in Malaysia, fully equipped and hosting major national celebrations and international competitions, such as the 1977 Southeast Asian Games and the Merdeka Cup football tournament. On July 1, 1975, the boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner also took place here. The stadium is also used for concerts, and National Stadium and Chin Woo Stadium are nearby. In February 2003, Merdeka Stadium was listed as a national heritage building.

In 2007, Merdeka Stadium underwent renovation to restore its appearance from 1957 in celebration of Malaysia’s 50th anniversary and to commemorate the historic moment when Tunku Abdul Rahman declared the independence of the Federation of Malaya. The top few tiers of seats were removed, reducing the capacity from the original 45,000 to just 20,000.

Stadium Merdeka

Must-visit reason: The largest outdoor stadium in Malaysia

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia【Asia】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Malaysia[Malaysia]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory [Kuala Lumpur]

City where the attraction is located: Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory [Kuala Lumpur]