KaDuSViLLe

Today, the 31st of August 2008 marks the 51st aniversary of Malaysian Independence. 51 years... phew... long journey. I was born after the independence and after the formation of Malaysia. So i know little about the struggle to gain independence from the British Goverment. But nowadays, info are easy to find. Books, internet, newspaper... Everywhere there is information. Even time kita belajar sejarah di sekolah dulu ada juga information tentang kemerdekaan. This is what i've read from the BBC website at the "ON THIS DAY" Section...

1957: Malaya celebrates independence

The Federation of Malaya is now independent. The handover of power from Britain took place at midnight.
Thousands of young members of the Malay, Chinese and Indian parties, which form the government, stood in darkness for two minutes at midnight to mark the official handover.
As the new flag of independence was raised they called "Merdeka" (freedom) seven times.

Tunku Abdul Rahman, the prime minister-elect, who led the negotiations with the British for handover of power, was hailed as the Father of Independence.
Malaya will stay in the Commonwealth - and, as midnight approached, prime ministers of the member countries sent messages recorded in five continents.

The British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan said he hoped 31 August would long be remembered as a great and happy day in the continuing development of Malaya and the Commonwealth of Nations.
In his speech delivered at midnight, Tunku Abdul Rahman said it was the greatest moment in the life of the Malayan people. A new star had risen in the eastern sky - a star of freedom for yet another Asian people.

The new prime minister was educated at two British schools and graduated from Cambridge in 1925. Soon after World War II he went back to Britain to study law.
On his return to Malaya in 1949 he found a country eager for independence but also struggling with communist extremism.
He founded the Alliance Party in 1952 which brought together the ethnic Malay, Chinese and Indians. The party won the 1955 general election with an overwhelming majority.
The Tunku became Chief Minister and ended the state of emergency - introduced after a wave of attacks carried out by mainly Chinese communists on mine-owners and plantations - and granted an amnesty to communist terrorists.
Last year he led the negotiations with the British which paved the way for independence.
The new Malayan head of state, Tuanku Abdul Rahman, will be officially installed on 2 September. He was chosen from among the rulers of Malay's nine hereditary states.
He will hold the post of head of state for five years when his successor will be elected.
The installation ceremony will be witnessed by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester who are flying in to represent the Queen.

Again... it's a long journey....

So, to my fellow Malaysians, Happy Independence Day! May we live in harmony.

Looking foward for the Malaysia day on 16th of September, as it was the day that Malaysia was Born... The day where All the state including Sabah and Sarawak united under the flag of Malaysia...

KaDuS Bilang:
Sabar kamu ah... PS. kalau mo tinguk tu pic, tinguk dulu sana Facebook... wekekekeke... Enjoy!!!