The nostalgia that is Stadium Merdeka

On to some activities did recently in Kuala Lumpur...

Last Sunday I brought the wife and baby for a drive around KL. Suddenly I felt like having a look at the Merdeka Stadium... let's use the Malay pronounciation Stadium Merdeka (not much difference except order of the words).

For information Merdeka is the Malay word for independence. This stadium was built and then official opened on 31st August 1957 in time for the announcement of the independence of Malaysia (then known as Federation of Malay states) from the colonial rule of the British (or rather English as Great Britain is actually ruled by Englishmen).

Thus Stadium Merdeka became the nation's main venue for top flight events especially inter-nation sports and soccer matches. That is until the 1990s when bigger stadiums like the one in Bukit Jalil began to be built leaving this aging stadium almost obsolute... so obsolute that it was almost demolished to make way for high-rise buildings if not for its inherent historical value which some believe must be preserved.

I understand now it has been declared as a natural heritage. Efforts are underway to preserve it to its former glory reminiscent of its original and debutal role... that is the public place where the independence was openly declared with those magical words... "Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!"

Let's go inside.

There are montages of pictures regarding the independence on display.

The montages are displayed at the hallway. That's baby Al-Rasyid a year and a half old walking around...

Now let's have a look at the field and arena.

A look to the left.

A look ahead.

A look to the right.

The last three pictures where taken from the grandstand.

Al-Rasyid posing as a spectator... or sorts... :]

Then I saw this platform. I thought hey... is this the place where the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman shouted "Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!"?

Then as I made my way to the men's room I saw this picture taken on 31st August 1957.

It seems the declaration of independence was made on a make-shift platform down the grandstand.

It should be positioned at this part of the field.

Al-Rasyid pondering things to come? For its hard to picture him getting nostalgic as in 1957 he should be -55 years old or so, if there is such a term and way to describe things at all. Hmm. For the record this is the 767th article in this blogspot :]