Royal Selangor Club
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The Royal Selangor Club was founded in 1884 by the British who ruled Malaysia.
The Club, which is situated next to the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, holds a special place whenever Malaysians recall the time when the country gained its independence from the British.
It was in front of this clubhouse, on the night of Aug 30, 1957, that the Malayan flag was hoisted for the first time in the country’s history.
When the nation’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman repeatedly shouted Merdeka at the padang, club members also broke into cheers of happiness.
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[edit] History
The club started out as a tiny wooden building with an attap roof. Later, it was redesigned in Tudor style. It is located across the Padang where cricket matches and other sports were held, now known as Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square).
The club, which is affectionately known as The Dog, was founded in 1884 as a meeting point for educated and high-ranking members of the British colonial society.
It was awarded royal status in 1984 under the patronage of the Sultan of Selangor.
“Membership was not confined to race nor nationality but we were focused on high educational and social standards,” said 80-year-old Barry Morgan, who is currently chairman of the club’s food and beverage committee. Morgan, who has lived in this country since 1948, is one of the oldest members of the club.
According to Morgan, the club came to be known as The Dog because there used to be two Dalmatians guarding the entrance of the club. “The dogs belonged to the wife of one of the club founders and every time they visited the club, the dogs would be left at the entrance,” he explained.
Over the years, the club’s membership not only increased but also began to include high-ranking Malaysian civil servants. They include judges and lawyers and important people in society. The fact that the club is located so near the High Court also made the club a meeting place for the legal fraternity.
[edit] Sports and Recreation
Among the record feats held by The Dog was as the first club to introduce hash running to the country. Members now claim that hash running is an essential part of the club’s identity.
Not only that, the club also pioneered the 10-a-side rugby game, which has grown into the strong Combined Old Boys Rugby Association (COBRA) that is now based in Bukit Kiara.
[edit] Dataran Merdeka
Up till 1987, the Dataran Merdeka field belonged to the club before it was taken back by City Hall. Throughout the time when the field was owned by the club, many activities like cricket and rugby matches were held there.
People used to watch the games from the Long Bar, a portion of the club which used to be off limits to women.
“Men would drink and get very excited when they watch the games and they didn’t want the ladies to see their exuberant behaviour, hence they decided to bar women visitors from the Long Bar,” said a member.
The club lost some its old vigour and glamour with the loss of its playing field. It was compensated with a piece of land in Bukit Kiara, which is currently the Royal Selangor Club Bukit Kiara Annexe.
[edit] Recognition
Efforts are being made to get the support of various bodies to get the club recognised as a national heritage building and institution.
It is one of the oldest clubs in Malaysia and it derives its grandeur from history. Many people claims that the Club and the history of Malaysia are intertwined. It is so closely linked to the nation’s independence and to preserve the club is to preserve history.
In the words of the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah at the club’s 100th anniversary celebration, “This institution should remain forever.”
