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Wonderful Malaysia

Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Just like London’s four-faced clock tower, Malaysia has its own clock tower to boast of but with a clock on only one side, of course. Nevertheless, that doesn’t make the clock tower any inadequate but instead, the clock tower probably has more significance to shout about as it is situated beside the beautiful and historical Sultan Abdul Samad Building. The building is named after the then Sultan of Selangor when the building was constructed.

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The building is one of Kuala Lumpur’s famous landmarks found. Situated at the center of Jalan Raja, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building holds a unique design mooted by A.C. Norman. The building bears Moorish influences with a blend of local culture and British styles. To represent the identity of the Malaysian people, the architect added an Islamic touch before finally completing the building in 1897.

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Back then, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building served as an important structure for the English. It was, and still is, beautiful, iconic and was probably the most photographed building at the time. The English once used the buildings as the administration office for the government. Now, the building houses the supreme and high courts.

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The building isn’t the only attraction for just close by stands a 40m clock tower dubbed the ‘Big Ben’ of Malaysia, topped with a golden dome and flanked on both sides by two domed towers. In the eye of visitors, the chimes of the clock indicate.. well, the time. But to the locals who have stood by the country throughout its year battling foreign inhabitation, the clock’s chime is enough to bring back memories and send a tingly feeling down your body. For this very clock has marked independence at the struck of midnight on 31st August 1957. Since then, every year on the country’s anniversary of independence, the chimes represent the nation’s hope that freedom and peace will continue in the future.

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On the nights of important occasions such as Independence Day, the tower will twinkle its way to your eyes with its beautifully-colored lights. On a building that boasts such amazing architecture and designs, some have attested that the sight looks a lot like the scene of an Arabian night.

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The administrative council knows how beautiful the building is and how much people would love admiring it, so Jalan Raja is closed at nights of special celebrations to allow the public the ease of getting closer to the structure. There aren’t many of such buildings like this in Malaysia, one that shows the rich past that Malaysia and the English once shared. So do drop by the Sultan Abdul Samad Building for a dose of history and a treat for the eyes.

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Nearby attractions

Popular attractions within walking distance of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building are Merdeka Square, Chinatown (with its famous tourist market and numerous temples) and the beautiful Central Market.

Address Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Jalan Raja
Merdeka Square
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

How to get to the Sultan Abdul Samad Building

Getting to Sultan Abdul Samad Building is easy as it is located right in the center of Kuala Lumpur. If you are staying in Chinatown you can just walk to the building. You can also follow signposts pointing to Merdeka Square (Independance Square) which is located directly opposite the building. Every taxi driver knows the way to this iconic place in KL. You can also take the LRT to Pasar Seni station or Masjid Jamek station. In both cases it is a 5/10 minute walk to the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

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Suggestions?

Got any good tips to share with us? Do you know of any great things to do in Kuala Lumpur, or tips on the best places to eat? Let us know by leaving a reply below!

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Tourism Malaysia

10 Day 9 Night Sabah and Kuala Lumpur Golf Package

DAY 1 ARRIVE KOTA KINABALU

Arrive Kota Kinabalu. Meet transfer to Hyatt Regency Kinabalu.

DAY 2 IN KOTA KINABALU

Full Day Kinabalu Park Poring Hotspring

Nominated by UNESCO as a World Heritage, Kinabalu Park is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. Here, Mt. Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Malaysia towers majestically at 4095 m (13431 feet). From the montane oak-chestnut forest proceed to the lowland dipterocarp forest at Poring. Cross a Canopy walkway to view epiphytes growing on the treetops. If time permits, you will be able to take a dip at the Hot Springs where the sulfuric content of the natural springs are said to have therapeutic value.

DAY 3 IN KOTA KINABALU

Tee off at Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club.

Designed by leading golf course designer Graham Marsh, Sutera Harbour Golf Club has garnered various awards of distinction. The course is finished with Bermuda grass and strategically challenging bunkers. Playing any combination of 18 holes, golfers will enjoy a par-72 six thousand metre course. The 27-hole championship golf course is beautifully landscaped with undulating terrain and numerous waterways, providing a challenge for both amateurs and top professionals alike. You can enjoy up to 17 hours of golf per day and one of the largest facilities in Malaysia.

DAY 4 KOTA KINABALU – SANDAKAN – KOTA KINABALU

Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan Australian War Memorial Park

Depart by flight to Sandakan.

On arrival, meet transfer to the world’s largest – Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. The orphaned orang utans from logging sites, plantations and illegal hunting are rehabilitated before being released into the wild. See the primates being fed by the park wardens plus a video show. After lunch, proceed to visit the Australian War Memorial Park before leaving Sandakan for Kota Kinabalu by flight.

DAY 5 IN KOTA KINABALU

Tee off at Dalit Bay Golf and Country Club.

Dalit Bay Golf Club Spa provides the most complete golfing and relaxation experience in Sabah.

Designed by Ted Parslow, this superbly sculptured 18-hole championship course provides the challenger with a stimulating playing experience whilst enhancing the natural beauty and the character of Sabah. Bordered by the Tambalang and Mengkabong rivers with a stunning vista of Mt Kinabalu in the distance, Dalit Bay is a prime wetland course where water comes into play at every hole.

DAY 6 IN KOTA KINABALU

Morning, tee off at Borneo Golf and Country Club.

Class – this is what sets Borneo Golf Country Club apart from the rest of the new generation golf courses in Sabah.

Designed by the “Greatest Golfer of the Century,” this Jack Nicklaus 18-hole signature course plays along a natural lagoon and the coastline of South China Sea. With the spectacular seaside setting and ever-present breeze, its rolling Bermuda fairways and receptive but treacherously fast greens, the layout measuring 6,546 m has all the requirements of a championship course. Fast gaining a well-deserved reputation as the best new course in the country, Borneo Golf Country Club has set new standards for golfing in Borneo and is certainly growing to become of the best layout in this region. Perhaps no golfing in Sabah is complete without a round or two at this prestigious Nicklaus course which is fast gaining its name as the finest championship layout in this region.

Transfer to airport for afternoon flight to Kuala Lumpur

Arrive Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Meet transfer to Parkroyal Hotel – located in Bukit Bintang shopping entertainment area.

DAY 7 IN KUALA LUMPUR

Half Day City Tour (3 hrs)

An orientation tour of Kuala Lumpur where you will be introduced to the humble beginning of the city to what it is today – a modern cosmopolitan city. Major highlights of the tour: National Monument, Sultan Abdul Samad Building – Independence Square, the Selangor Club drive through the green lungs of the city – The Kuala Lumpur Botanical Gardens. Kuala Lumpur Tower – enjoy a panoramic view of the city including the majestic Petronas Twin Tower. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the city on your own, shopping is great and it is easy to move around with taxis and monorail.

DAY 8 IN KUALA LUMPUR

Tee off at Saujana Golf and Country Club

One of the premier courses in the country.

The Palm Course – Also known as “The Cobra” for its testing and challenging layout. The Cobra is 6565 yards off the blue tees and 6959 yards from the black. One of its holes, the 172 yard (216 yards from the black tees) Par 3, 2nd hole, has been rated as the Most Difficult Hole in Malaysia.

The Bunga Raya Course – Also known as “The Crocodile”. This scenic 18 has a wide expanse of water and undulating greenery that create a sense of freedom and space. At 6400 yards, it looks deceptively easy but many have regretted underestimating it.

DAY 9 IN KUALA LUMPUR

Tee off at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club

Kuala Lumpur Golf Country Club is one of the finest golf clubs in Malaysia.

The course is a parkland style course, with beautiful vibrant coloured landscaping. Designed to reward the intelligent golfer, the length, layout and toughness of this course, offers the potential for major international tournaments. The magnificient golf course features impeccable fairways and greens, challenging elevation changes and an environment that enhances the essence of the local terrain. This 18-hole championship ground was design in full respect of the tranquility and beauty of the experience and to set each player in harmony with nature. If offers a very different character, with natural grasses and wetlands and a sanctuary to provide a habitat to the numerous forms of wildlife and birds in the area.

Golf course designer: Nelson, Wright Haworth

DAY 10 DEPART KUALA LUMPUR

Free till transfer to the airport for departure flight.