Uncover Hidden Histories at Stadium Merdeka

S. INDRAMALAR | 28 April 2025

DID you know that women played a vital role in building Stadium Merdeka back in 1956 and 1957? Known as lai sui mui (loosely translated as “mud girls”) or Kongsi women (because they lived in shared quarters on site), these women were responsible for carrying and pouring concrete into the framework of the stadium. Their work was especially crucial in constructing the concrete terraces – the very seats where thousands would gather to witness Malaysia’s historic declaration of independence.

Often overlooked in the country’s grand narrative, these women were the unsung builders of a national icon – laying the foundations, quite literally, for Merdeka.

This was one of the fascinating bits of trivia I learnt during the one-hour Stadium Merdeka Heritage and Culture Walking Tour (a free guided walk organised by Permodalan Nasional Berhad or PNB). Leading the tour was Afzal Azhar, a warm and engaging town planner who also happened to be a licensed tour guide. Afzal weaved together personal stories, forgotten histories, and architectural insights and emphasised the stadium’s role not just in politics and sports, but also in shaping the collective memory of the Malaysian people.

Our tour kicked off at 10am, and luckily for our group of 12 – including two energetic young boys – the skies stayed overcast, sparing us from the full heat of the sun. The tour has 10 checkpoints: outside the main entrance, the upper deck foyer, royal holding area, saluting platform, the field, the south terrace, arena tunnel, VI terrace, north terrace, and finally, the main foyer where archival photos of the stadium are proudly displayed.

Before the start of the tour, participants were given a “Merdeka Quest” scorecard: with 10 questions for participants to answer at the end of the tour, and the promise of a prize for the those who got the answers right.
“The aim is to ensure that you all don’t doze off midway through my tour,” joked Afzal.

He began the tour with a brief explanation about the historic significance of the stadium, as well as the story of how the iconic site was almost torn down – something which he describes as a travesty.

He was referring to plans, in the late 1990s, to demolish the site to make way for a sprawling entertainment and office complex. Fortunately, a wave of public protest changed that course, and the government eventually stepped in, designating it a national heritage building. A pivotal figure in preserving the stadium, we learnt, was Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, former Chief Secretary to the Government and then-President of Badan Warisan. It was also under his leadership that PNB acquired the site in 2000. The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism designated it as a National Monument in 2005.

The original construction of Stadium Merdeka, explained Afzal, took only a year.

“With no cranes or machinery. Imagine that!” he exclaimed. “The design was led by Stanley Edward Jewkes (the then Director of the Public Works Department), but he was led by Tunku (Abdul Rahman) the whole way through. And the team that built this were all locals.

“This is a little-known fact, but women played a huge role in the construction of the stadium. We mistakenly assume that only men were involved, but there was real girl power even back then,” he said.

Stadium Merdeka isn’t just a symbol of independence – it was a marvel of engineering too, Afzal went on.
“It held not one, but two world records: The tallest prestressed floodlight towers (120 feet/36.5m), and the largest cantilever shell roofs at the time.

“The (four) floodlight towers were erected without the help of a crane, a remarkable achievement back in the 1950s,” he said.

In 2007, as part of Malaysia’s 50th anniversary celebrations, Stadium Merdeka was given a nostalgic makeover. The goal? To restore it to its original 1957 glory … right down to the details like the mosaic tiling and the scoreboard so that future generations could relive the historic moment independence was declared.

The restoration works were completed last year, and the stadium reopened to the public in August 2024.

“We may not have been there, but we should be able to feel the significance of this place in the history of our country and the future too,” said Afzal, whose obvious passion for history was infectious.

Among our group was a lady whose grandfather was part of the construction effort of the stadium.
“We have had several tour participants who were involved in one way or other in the stadium, and it is truly an honour for us to have met these people, and a thrill to see the expressions of sheer pride when they walk through the stadium years later.

“There was one gentleman who, at 82, attended the tour. He was with a walking stick, but when he entered the grounds, he was the first one up the stairs (to get to the upper decks). It was remarkable,” shared Afzal.

Explore the Stadium Merdeka Heritage Tour and discover how a single space can hold decades of meaning. Whether you're into history, architecture, or just curious about the city’s roots, this tour offers more than a walk through the past – it’s a chance to see how shared memories can be preserved through public care and awareness. Come see why this place matters – and why keeping it alive matters even more.

How to get there

This area is served by five main rail stations: Merdeka MRT, Maharajalela Monorail, and the Hang Tuah, Pasar Seni, and Plaza Rakyat LRT stations. The easiest way to get here is by taking the monorail to Maharajalela station, which connects directly to Stadium Merdeka.

Check out Stadium Merdeka’s social media platform @stadiummerdeka for tour announcements and other information. The running track is also open to the public; do check instagram for its operating hours.

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