Historical landmark: The late Tunku Abdul Rahman declared the country’s independence on Aug 31, 1957 at Stadium Merdeka. — KAMARUL ARiFFIN /The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: One of the country’s most historical landmarks – Stadium Merdeka – is expected to reopen its doors to the public by the first quarter of next year after being closed since 2016.
Various activities – from sports and heritage to lifestyle – have been lined up for visitors when the iconic 20,000-seating capacity stadium starts operating again just beside the world’s second tallest tower, the Merdeka 118.
PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd (PMVSB) chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Ab Aziz Tengku Mahmud said the stadium would also be made available for schools and sports clubs to carry out their sporting activities.
“A stadium with a unifying and inclusive theme was what the first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, had intended Stadium Merdeka to be. It is a location for runners and school kids in search of a proper running track within the city not far from where they work or live.
“Once it reopens, it will also act as a venue for sports days and training camps for schools while football clubs can resume training and friendly matches once again,” he told Bernama after a recent tour of the stadium.
Tengku Ab Aziz said PMVSB also intended to organise heritage walks and guided tours for daily visitors to promote the history of the site of Malaysia’s independence declaration in 1957.
He believes that collaborations with lifestyle and fitness brands for monthly runs, yoga, taichi or outdoor spin will also bring untapped potential to the stadium.
“There will also be annual Merdeka-themed celebrations via joint activities with existing neighbourhoods. We are also looking into the possibility of affordable food and beverage pop-ups or cafes,” he said.
Upon the completion of the Merdeka 118 Tower, visitors can easily have access to Stadium Merdeka, as well as the newly built Masjid Merdeka, Merdeka Boulevard and Merdeka Textile Museum nearby.
Stadium Merdeka was considered then Malaya’s engineering marvel when it started construction in 1956 and was completed within a year to host the historical moment when Tunku Abdul Rahman declared the country’s independence on Aug 31, 1957.
PMVSB set up the Merdeka Heritage Trust (MHT) in 2006 to restore, preserve and manage Stadium Merdeka, which includes the removal of seating terraces for a larger seating capacity of 45,000 for the 1989 SEA Games.
The stadium has also hosted multiple Pestabola Merdeka and football matches, seeing the big boys like Japan and South Korea, as well as the historic boxing bout between “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali and Joe Bugner in 1975.
It witnessed a number of concerts by some of the world’s most famous artistes including Michael Jackson in 1996, Linkin Park, Mariah Carey, Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez.
