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Attraction · Kuala Lumpur

Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building

The square where the Malayan flag was first raised in 1957, faced by the restored Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

WhereOld city centre, Kuala Lumpur
Known forFirst raising of the Malayan flag, 1957
Restored blockBlock 1, reopened 2 February 2026
The squareOpen public space
About

Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Merdeka Square (Dataran Merdeka) is the field in Kuala Lumpur's old city centre where the Union Jack was lowered and the flag of the Federation of Malaya raised for the first time in 1957. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building faces it. Block 1 of the building complex reopened to the public on 2 February 2026 after 11 months of restoration led by Khazanah Nasional, and now holds galleries, a visitor centre, craft and retail spaces and cafes. Other buildings in the complex are being restored in phases.

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What to See

The square and the restored block

The visit is part open-air square, part restored interior.

Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Block 1

  • Exhibition spaces and galleries, including the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery.
  • A one-stop visitor centre.
  • Retail and craft-making spaces.
  • Cafes and food outlets inside the restored block.

The square

  • The open field of Dataran Merdeka, where the 1957 flag-raising took place.
  • The long facade of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building along one side of the square.
Before You Go

Practical points

The square is an open public space; the restored block keeps its own hours.

Stated by Khazanah Nasional

  • Block 1 is listed as open 9am to 6pm every day. Re-check before travel.
  • The other historic buildings in the complex are being restored in phases, so not everything around the square is open.

Live Traveller's advice

  • Suits travellers interested in history and architecture; the galleries give an indoor break from the heat.
  • Works as a stop on a Kuala Lumpur city day alongside the KLCC attractions.
Nearby

Other Kuala Lumpur pages

These are elsewhere in Kuala Lumpur and combine with the square on a city day.

Petronas Twin Towers
Kuala Lumpur
KL Bird Park
Kuala Lumpur
Aquaria KLCC
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
City guide
Good to Know

Frequently asked

Yes. Block 1 reopened to the public on 2 February 2026 with galleries, a visitor centre, craft and retail spaces and cafes.
It is the field where the Union Jack was lowered and the flag of the Federation of Malaya was raised for the first time in 1957.
Not yet. Khazanah Nasional says the remaining historic buildings are being restored in phases over the coming years.
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