Merdekarya
{{Multiple issues|
{{notability|Corp|date=September 2022}}
{{Orphan|date=September 2022}}
}}
{{Infobox restaurant
| name = Merdekarya
| logo =
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| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = Malaysia Selangor Petaling Jaya
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| established = {{Start date|2013|01|11}}
| closed =
| current-owner = Brian Gomez, Melani Delilkan
| previous-owner =
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| dress-code = Casual
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| street-address = 352, First Floor, Jalan 5/57, Petaling Garden
| city = Petaling Jaya
| county = Petaling
| state = Selangor
| postcode = 46000
| country = Malaysia
| coordinates = {{coord|3.0863788311433495|101.65764426442284|region:MY|display=title, inline}}
| seating-capacity = 80
| other-information =
| website = {{URL|http://www.merdekarya.com}}
}}
Merdekarya is a live music bar in Section 5, Petaling Jaya near the city's old town district that was established in 2013. Located primarily on the first floor of a commercial shoplot in inner suburban Petaling Jaya, it is one of the few venues in Malaysia dedicated to independent music artistes.
Overview
Merdekarya is a combination of two Malay words: Merdeka and karya, which mean freedom and art respectively. Founded by Brian Gomez and Melani Delilkan in 2013, Merdekarya was born out of the lack of available spaces for independent Malaysian music.[https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/brian-gomez-merdekarya-dream-020500853.html Brian Gomez and his Merdekarya dream], Raveena Nagotra, Malaysiakini. Retrieved on 4 September 2022. Pub owners at the time, according to Gomez, preferred visiting musicians to play cover songs and to stay away from politically themed music.[https://www.bfm.my/podcast/enterprise/open-for-business/open-for-business-brian-gomez-merdekarya MERDEKARYA], BFM 89.9. Retrieved on 4 September 2022.
Starting off with hosting open mic sessions for local musicians, the place grew into an independent arts venue which included film screenings, book launches and poetry slams.[https://poskod.my/street-notes/happy-1st-birthday-merdekarya/ Happy 1st birthday, Merdekarya!], Ling Low, Poskod.my. Retrieved on 4 September 2022. With a seating capacity of about 80 people,[https://kakiseni.com/venue/merdekarya/ Merdekarya], Kakiseni. Retrieved on 4 September 2022. the bar today is open from Tuesday to Saturday, featuring bands and acts such as Kirsten Long, Hey Jay!, Azmyl Yunor and Skies Are Red.[https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/malaysian-live-music-venue-merdekarya-shelves-performances-indefinitely-over-licensing-woes-3165755 Malaysian live music venue Merdekarya shelves performances indefinitely over licensing woes], A. Azim Idris, NME. Retrieved on 4 September 2022.
The bar eventually expanded to two floors, with the top floor hosting music performances with a restaurant on the ground floor.[https://www.thesundaily.my/style-life/through-the-fire-HD2621382 Through the fire], Mark Mathen Victor, The Sun Daily. Retrieved on 4 September 2022.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bar—like many similar businesses at the time—had to shut down their operations when the government came up with the Malaysian movement control order in March 2020. With social distancing measures clamping down on live music and large crowds, Merdekarya had to survive by focusing on their menu, coming up with two separate kitchens to pump out food options for their customers.[https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2022/06/10/place-to-discover-grassroots-music Place to discover grassroots music], Marina Suwendy, The Star. Retrieved on 4 September 2022.
As the pandemic wound down, Merdekarya faced further pressure in February 2022 from local authorities to close their live bar and stop their shows, due to a string of contradictory messages and red tape. At the time, they were warned that they would be slapped with a 25,000 ringgit fine from the Petaling Jaya City Council if they went ahead and resumed their gigs. The episode prompted Maria Chin Abdullah, the local Member of Parliament to intervene and reverse the council's move to suspend Merdekarya from running its business,
[https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/malaysian-mp-urges-city-council-to-reverse-indefinite-halt-of-live-shows-at-merdekarya-3170855 Malaysian MP urges city council to reverse indefinite halt of live shows at Merdekarya], A. Azim Idris, NME. Retrieved on 4 September 2022. as the MBPJ said it would review its policy prohibiting live music in the city.[https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/55249/pj-city-council-to-review-live-music-prohibition-following-outcry PJ City Council to review live music prohibition following outcry], Lancelot Theseira, The Vibes. Retrieved on 4 September 2022.
Following claims of harassment by council officers,[https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/57166/mbpj-denies-alleged-harassment-against-merdekarya-owner MBPJ denies alleged harassment against Merdekarya owner], The Vibes. Retrieved on 4 September 2022. shows at Merdekarya eventually resumed as Malaysia's government announced it would be entering an endemic phase of COVID-19 restrictions, as daily infection rates wound down.[https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2022/03/09/khairy-only-nightclubs-on-negative-list-from-april-1/ Khairy: Only Nightclubs On Negative List From April 1], CodeBlue. Retrieved on 4 September 2022.