MELAKA- Dataran Pahlawan in Bandar Hilir here was once again chosen as the site for launching the Merdeka celebrations and the campaign to fly the Jalur Gemilang in conjunction with the country‘s 50th independence anniversary.
The launching will be by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Friday.
Several interesting events have been lined up to recall the historical event on Feb 20, 1956, when Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj declared the independence of Malaya at the Bandar Hilir field, now known as Dataran Pahlawan.
Tunku Abdul Rahman had announced the country‘s independence on Aug 31, 1957, at a gathering of about 100,000 people.
Melaka was chosen for the announcement because it was there that foreign powers established themselves before spreading their influence throughout the country.
Melaka, an important port lying at a strategic point along the East-West trade route, was captured by the Portuguese in 1511 before it fell to the Dutch in 1641.
Britain gained control of the state through an agreement with Holland in 1824 and this paved the way for the British to spread its influence over the peninsula.
Umno held an extraordinary general meeting in Kuala Kangsar on Jan 13, 1956 and decided that the independence date should be announced in Melaka.
On Jan 1, 1956, an Alliance delegation comprising Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, Tun H.S. Lee, T.H. Tan and Abdul Kadir Shamsudin boarded the MV Asia ship at Tanjung Pagar Port, Singapore, for London.
The meeting with the British lasted three weeks, from Jan 18 to Feb 8, and finally, on Feb 11 the independence agreement was signed.
The delegation reached Singapore from London on Feb 19 and proceeded to Melaka the next day in a motorcade to announce the independence date.
Preparations to relive this historical event, beginning at 8pm this Friday, is progressing smoothly.
It will begin with the arrival of the 50th Merdeka celebration delegation led by the Prime Minister in a Nash Rambler Custom Convertible 1951, from the Renaissance Hotel here through Jalan Bendahara, Jalan Laksamana and Jalan Kota to Dataran Pahlawan.
The car, bought from Ohio, USA was the model Tunku rode in together with former MCA leader Tun Tan Siew Sin and Datuk Panglima Bukit Gantang Toh Muda Abdul Wahab Abdul Aziz. It bears the same registration number, M4442.
This time, Abdullah will ride the car with Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.
After the Negaraku, Abdullah will sign the 50th Declaration of Independence document and receive the keris (Malay dagger) from independence veteran, Datuk Fatimah Ahmad.
The Prime Minister will then present awards to 50 Merdeka veterans.
He will raise the Jalur Gemilang with other leaders, followed by the singing of patriotic songs and cultural performances by 1,000 students.
The public can visit a gallery where pictures of historical Melaka are exhibited at Kompleks Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Mega Mall from Aug 16 to 29.
Source: www.bernama.com (16 Agustus 2007)
