Independence Square, Square in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Independence Square, formerly the Selangor Club Padang, is a flat lawn of short green grass edged by reddish rectangular tiles, with a wide low flight of grey stone steps leading onto it. At its southern end stands a 95-metre flagpole; near it, a circular stone-rimmed pool holds the tiered Cop's Fountain of 1897. The Sultan Abdul Samad Building, completed in 1897 in Indo-Saracenic style, faces the square.

The square marked Malaysia's independence from British rule when the national flag replaced colonial authority in 1957. This location became a symbol of national liberation and remains a key site connected to the country's path toward self-determination.

The name Dataran Merdeka means "Independence Square" in Malay, replacing the older name Padang, meaning "field". The square hosts the annual Merdeka Day parade each 31 August, as well as events such as Citrawarna and the Merdeka Run. The Royal Selangor Club's half-Tudor wooden clubhouse, built in 1890, was used to watch Sunday-afternoon cricket.

The square is easily reached via Masjid Jamek station, which connects to multiple transit lines for convenient access. Early morning or late afternoon visits are most comfortable due to cooler temperatures and fewer crowds.

The 95-metre flagpole at the southern end marks the spot where the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag raised for the first time at midnight on 30 August 1957. A flat, round black marble plaque set in the ground records the event.