August 31 1957... was the day Malaysia gained her independence from the British colonial masters. I wasn't even born yet... but I realised this independence means a lot to us, the younger generation of Malaysians. From the stories Mom used to tell me when she was growing up during the Malayan Emergency (1948 - 1960), I came to understand that the struggles of our country's leaders and forefathers were purely for the strong desire to see Malaysia would be free from colonial rule, and also for the love of this country.
Our forefathers from many different races, from every corner of the country came in full force rallying for the late Tunku Abdul Rahman and his entourage who went to London in 1956 to negotiate for Malaysia's independence. When the negotiation proved to be a success, the nation celebrated as one, as preparations to form a new federal governement was undertaken.
A grand celebration was to be taken place at Merdeka Stadium, marked by the ceremony of lowering of the Union Jack and hoisting of the new Malayan flag at the stroke of midnight on August 31 1957; this ceremony took place on a field in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad building, which is known today as Merdeka Square. The proclamation of independence by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman could be heard seven times during the height of the celebrations at Merdeka Stadium the following morning. This historic moment became the iconic symbol of hope for peace and unity for many ordinary Malaysians who were present to witness it.
All the struggles for a free Malaysia were not in vain, and today Malaysia is one of the fastest growing economy of a developing nation in the world. It was because of the struggles leaders like Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tun V.T. Sambanthan that Malaysia became the country she is today. I salute these independence leaders and our forefathers from different races for never giving up hope for a free Malaysia.
The following two Merdeka advertisements created by the late Yasmin Ahmad for Petronas serves as a profound reminder to all of us that the 1Malaysia concept has already existed in Malaysia.... even during the days of pre-independence, and the country's colourful history is the proof of how it all began.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=610420485431901065#
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=33165742
I thought this was the day Malaya got its independence and that Malaysia was formed a few years later when Sarawak and Sabah joined in - on September 16?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, happy merdeka day!
Yup, you are right. In fact, they hoped that the formation of Malaysia with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (left in 1965) was to be August 31 in 1963 as well; but it was not meant to be.
ReplyDelete