SULTAN ABDUL SAMAD BUILDING

 The Sultan Abdul Samad Building built opposite to Merdeka Square linked by Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The structure takes its name from Sultan Abdul Samad, the reigning sultan of Selangor at the time when construction began 1894-1897.

Designed by A. C. Norman who was inspired by islamic Indian Moghul architecture. A.C. Norman spent time in Africa and saw Muslim mosques in India which led him to use Moorish architecture in the building’s design. this building was completed in 1897 and housed the Selangor State Secretariat and later the Supreme Court before being abandoned for a number of years.

It now houses the Ministry of Heritage, Culture and Arts. This heritage building used to be occupied by the then Apex Court of Malaysia, the Supreme Court which was subsequently renamed the Federal Court. The Court of Appeal was also housed in this historic building. The Federal Court and the Court of Appeals have since moved to the Palace of Justice located in Putrajaya, the new Federal administrative capital. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building also houses the Commercial Division of the High Court of Malaya.

The Sultan Abdul Samad Building,topped by a shiny copper dome and a 40m high clock tower, which grandly overlooks the Dataran Merdeka, is one of the most significant landmarks built by the British. It serves as the backdrop for important events such as the National Day Parade on August 31 and the ushering in of the New Year celebration.

Behind the building flows the Klang River and Gombak River’s confluence and in the middle of where the 2 rivers meet stands The Masjid Jamek (or Jamek Mosque), a mosque got similar design touch by the very same architect.

Many historical events had been held in front of this building. Among them was the declaration of independence of Malaysia (Malaya then) on 31 August, 1957 and the lowering of the Union Jack. On 1 January 1982, the clock tower became the venue for another historic event when the time between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore were standardized.

In 1971, Kuala Lumpur suffered a huge flood after a heavy rainfall. Part of the building was not spared. In 1978, a massive renovation was undertaken. The renovation took six years to complete with a total cost of RM 17.2 million. There was also a fire which damaged part of the building. A large bronze memorial plaque commemorating fallen judicial officers and lawyers who served as volunteer soldiers in WW2 disappeared about this time. The plaque was either looted or else was damaged in the fire but was never repaired or replaced, much to the anguish of the family members of the deceased. There is now a move supported by the Malayan Volunteers Group to try to get the bronze memorial plaque restored.

But still this building was and will always be a picture of merdeka .

the busiest day front of Sultan Abd Samad building

when dark surround Kuala Lumpur

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