Merdeka Stadium survives test of time and development

By Tony Mariadass

HAPPY 63TH MERDEKA DAY

Grand Old Lady serves as a reminder to the younger generation of the nation's history

 Merdeka Stadium overall view when its capacity was 40,000 pix from visitKL portal

As Malaysia celebrates its 63^rd Independence Day today, Malaysians indeed must feel blessed and be grateful that the historic Merdeka Stadium, which is still standing, bears testimony to Malaya's (as we were then known) 'fight' for freedom from British rule.

Many make the mistake of thinking that Malaya obtained independence at this iconic stadium when in actual fact the Nation was born on the grounds of the Selangor Padang (now known as Dataran Merdeka) at the stroke of midnight on Aug 31,1957, witnessed by thousands of proud Malayans, when the Union Jack was lowered for the last time (signifying an end to British rule and 446 years of colonisation) and the flag of the Federation of Malaya was raised for the first time.

At the Merdeka Stadium the ensuing morning was where the proclamation of independence was held as more than 20,000 witnessed the ceremony which began at 9.30am that Saturday morning.

Today, on land which once stood majestically and known as Coronation Park with its own 9-hole golf course, the Merdeka Stadium took shape, but it is now dwarfed by surrounding sky-scrappers which includes the nearly-completed 118-storey Menara Warisan Merdeka, which when it opens its doors, will be the tallest building in Kuala Lumpur.

Pix by S. Morgan

Currently, the road leading up to this grand stadium is a make-shift, beaten-up cement path running through the construction site – an eye sore not befitting the surroundings of the Grand Old Lady.

But it is hoped that when construction is finally completed next year, the Independence Stadium, will be accorded the respect it deserves and will become an iconic landmark, just like Menara Warisan.

Currently, the stadium is still used occasionally for friendly football matches.

To recap on the history of the Stadium Merdeka – it was constructed in record time with the first piece of earthworks starting on 25 September 1956 and the last stone laid on 21 August 1957. The stadium was designed by architect Stanley Edward Jewkes.

It was on Sept 18,1955 when Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, then Chief Minister of Malaya, announced that arrangements were being made for the construction of a million-dollar sports stadium.

That this historic and sacred landmark could have been reduced to ashes in the name of development in 2001, is beyond imagination. But thanks to Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and their then chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid’s concerted effort made to conserve and preserve the stadium, that it is still standing today.

The stadium and its land were given to a private company - United Engineers Malaysia Berhad (UEM) - which had intended to redevelop the land into a RM 1 billion entertainment and office complex. In exchange, the company was required to build seven other stadiums in other locations. However, the company did not proceed with the redevelopment due to public outcry and the company's financial difficulties due to the 1990s Asian economic crisis.

It was then that PNB took over from UEM.

Ahmad Sarji, widely known for his dedication to preserve history, saw in February 2003 the Merdeka Stadium together with the indoor Stadium Negara (a stone’s throw away) named national heritage buildings by the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry.

 In 2007, Merdeka Stadium underwent restoration to its original 1957 condition as part of Malaysia’s 50th anniversary plans to relive the moment when Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed independence there. The restoration was completed by December 2009, and not surprisingly received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific 2008 Award of Excellence for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

With restoration completed, the 45,000-capacity stadium was reduced to 20,000, which meant that several of the upper terrace blocks built over the years were demolished.

The Merdeka Stadium, besides serving as a reminder of our independence, also has a long history of playing host to popular sporting and entertainment events till the mid-90s when the Bukit Jalil National Stadium was built.

It was Tunku's vision which saw the birth of the Merdeka football tournament that soon became a prestigious annual event in Asia. The Asian Youth tournament which followed two years later was also Tunku's brainchild.

Football was the draw-card held at the Merdeka Stadium where Hong Kong were the inaugural winners before Malaya won the next year in 1958.

The Merdeka Stadium also proudly hosted two SEAP (South East Asia Peninsula) Games and two Sea Games (1965, 1971, 1977 and 1989), Merdeka tournaments (from 1957 to 1995), 1975 World Cup hockey semifinals and final and numerous international track and field championships.

It was also the venue for international concerts including the Michael Jackson concert in October 1996, which not surprisingly, filled the 55,000 capacity stadium for two nights. Other international artistes and bands who performed at the Stadium included Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Justine Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Avril Lavigne, A.R. Rahman, BackStreet Boys, Linkin Park, Kool and the Gang, just to name a few.How can anyone forget Muhammad 'The Greatest' Ali mixing it up with Britain's Joe Bugner over 15 rounds in the ring on July 1,1975?

It was also the FA of Selangor’s home ground for their League and Malaysia Cup campaign from 1957 to 1994.

For me personally, the Merdeka Stadium is part and parcel of my being as I have been associated with it since my 1^st birthday.

My association with the stadium dates back to 1959 when I had my first birthday party thrown by my late parents, at the canteen.

During my school days with St John Institution, I used to run on the bitumen track during our school’s sports day and also played in the 1975 Selangor Schools football final against La Salle Petaling Jaya and won the title.

I watched the 1975 hockey World Cup semifinals and final, from the terraces as a schoolboy.

And from the early 80s when I became a sports journalist, the Merdeka Stadium was my second home as I covered numerous football, track and field events, including the 1989 Sea Games football final which Malaysia won after 12 years of trying beating Singapore 3-1.

I still remember the ‘Fish Head Restaurant’ at the Merdeka Stadium which was a must stop before covering any football match.

Also, I watched numerous concerts at the stadium.

The Merdeka Stadium, with its unblemished character, is without doubt the heart and soul of Malaysian sports, and all national stadiums, are objects of pride with history, which must stand tall always.

The Malaysian flag being hoisted at the Merdeka Stadium