Royal Selangor Club

File:Royal Selangor Club, Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur (February 2007).jpg

The older portion of the Royal Selangor Club building (center), as well as its more modern north wing (right) added after the club's 1970 fire, are primarily built in Mock Tudor stylings.

The Royal Selangor Club (Malay: Kelab Di-Raja Selangor) is a social club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, founded in 1884 by the British who ruled Malaya. The club is situated next to the Dataran Merdeka, or Independence Square, padang (field), and is accessible from Jalan Raja (Raja Road).

History and overview

While the club is more than 100 years old, much of its early records were lost during the three-years Japanese occupation of Malaya from 1942 to 1945, and the 1970 fire that damaged the club (see #Flooding and fire).

The club was founded as the Selangor Club in 1884 as a meeting point for educated and high-ranking members of British colonial society. Nevertheless, membership to the club is primarily determined by high educational and social standards, rather than race or citizenship. The organisation was initially based in a small wooden building with an attap roof at near the north eastern corner of the padang, which was replaced by a two-storey structure in 1890 on the west side of the padang, the present site of the club, and designed by AC Norman, a Government Architect. The building was later redesigned by architect Authur Benison Hubback (who was notably credited for the design of the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station) and rebuilt in 1910, with two additional wings on either side of the main building and a Mock Tudor styling.

The club was nicknamed "The Spotted Dog" as two Dalmatians belonging to the wife of one of the club founders were left to guard the entrance of the club whenever they visited the club. The club is also simply referred to as "The Dog".

Over the years, the club's membership increased and has also began to include high-ranking Malaysian civil servants: judges, lawyers and important people in society. The club's proximity to the High Courts at the other side of Dataran Merdeka has also made the club a suitable meeting place for the legal fraternity.

Flooding and fire

The Royal Selangor Club was not spared from frequent flooding in Kuala Lumpur. Between the start of the 1910s and 1930s, the club was recorded to be hit by floods in 1911, 1917, December 1925 and December 1926.

On 20 December, 1970, the main section of the club was razed in a fire which was believe to have started from its kitchen at around 10.30 p.m. and was contained within an hour by 50 fire fighters (including 20 who are off-duty). Property damage from the fire was estimated to cost more than M$1.5 million, but there were no casualties. During the fire, guests of a children's Christmas party in the club were safely evacuated with "no panic". The then president of the club, Khir Johari, stated that the club was assured for M$1 million. Shortly after, another flood struck Kuala Lumpur and the club three days after the start of 1971.

Rebuilding after the fire

After the fire, plans were made by the club to rebuild what was damaged. Proposals were made on a new wing and submitted to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall in 1972. However, City Hall was suggesting the construction of a civic center over the site of the club's field and club. The initial response by the club was to search for a new site in the surrounding area (including Jalan Duta, an area near the Houses of Parliament, an area near a polo club in Ampang, and Damansara) with little success. Discussions were eventually made with City Hall to agree on the club's rebuilding. As a result, plans for a civic center in the area was abandoned, and City Hall grants reconstruction of the club's new building in July 1978. The new wing, which was built in a similar Mock Tudor style as the rest of the club building, was constructed between 5 November, 1978 to December 1980 at a cost of M$6 million.

Sports and recreation

The club has organised various sporting activities since its early years, including cricket and rugby.

Rugby in particular has been played at the club since 1892. The change in composition of the rugby team is a reflection of the times, from the colonial era to the current mixture comprising of Malaysians and expatriates. The Royal Selangor Club Rugby Section also host the annual Jonah Jones 7-a-side tournament, with its first tournament held in 1962. The tournament is Asia's oldest continuing 7-a-side rugby tournament.

Sporting events at the club could be watched from the Long Bar, a portion of the club which used to be off limits to women, as 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". The 1970 fire that destroyed four of the club's other bars resulted in the Long Bar's easing of restrictions to women.

The club is also notable for introducing hash running.

Dataran Merdeka

The Dataran Merdeka field had belonged to the club before the was taken back by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall in 1987. Throughout the time when the field was owned by the club, sporting activities such as cricket and rugby matches were held there. The club's lost of the field was compensated with a piece of land in Bukit Kiara, which is currently the Royal Selangor Club Bukit Kiara Annexe.

Recognition

Effort has been made to accumulate support from various bodies to recognise the club as a national heritage building and institution, due to its intertwined link with the country's history.

The club is one of the oldest in the country, serving as a British institution, and is witness to the first hoisting of the Malayan flag in place of the Union Jack on the night of 30 August, 1957 and declaration of independence by Tunku Abdul Rahman (to which club members broke into cheers of happiness), signifying the country's independence from the British. In 1984, the club was awarded royal status under the patronage of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, who has voiced his support for the club's preservation during its 100th anniversary celebration, stating that "This institution should remain forever."