Merdeka – Independence Struggle

1955-1956

An election in 1955 was won hands-down by the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) by running Malay candidates in Malay-dominated areas, Chinese candidates in Chinese areas and Indian candidates in Indian ones. UMNO, the MCA and the British hammered out a constitutional settlement for a principle of equal citizenship for all races. In exchange, the MCA agreed that Malaya's head of state would be drawn from the ranks of the Malay Sultans, that Malay would be the official language, and that Malay education and economic development would be promoted and subsidised. In effect this meant that Malaya would be run by the Malays, particularly since they continued to dominate the civil service, the army and the police, but that the Chinese and Indians would have proportionate representation in the Cabinet and the parliament, would run those states where they were the majority, and would have their economic position protected. The difficult issue of who would control the education system was deferred until after independence.

05-08-1957

On this day in 1957, the Federation of Malaya Independence Agreement was signed between the Malay Rulers and the representative of Her Majesty the Queen, the High Commissioner, Sir Donald MacGillivray at King’s House, Kuala Lumpur in a glorious ceremony.  At about 9.30 a.m., 15 primary signatories, namely the British High Commissioner to the Federation of Malaya, eight Malay Rulers, the Crown Prince of Johore and five appointed Heads from Negeri Sembilan (besides His Royal Highness) as well as witnesses to the signatories, had signed the agreement using a special pen inscribed Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957.  This agreement was signed in 40 copies, 20 in Malay and the remaining 20 in English.  Two copies of the agreement were sent to the British government while two more copies were kept by the Federation of Malaya government.  A copy each was sent to every state including Malacca and Penang, while Negeri Sembilan was handed six copies.  Article 3 of the Agreement stated that “beginning 31 August 1957, the Malay states and the Straits would form as one new Federation named the Federation of Malaya, or in Malay as Persekutuan Tanah Melayu”.  Hence, this agreement itself had abolished the Agreement of Federation of Malaya 1948 and, thus, ended the power and sovereignty of Her Majesty the Queen over Malacca and Penang.  And with that also, all the power and jurisdiction of Her Majesty over the Federation of Malaya ended.

Kebanggaan Kami

Tema

Logo dan tema yang tidak dapat dilupakan yang telah dicipta sempena sambutan Merdeka sejak 1976. Lagi

Acara Hari Merdeka

Don't miss out the Merdeka celebration at your local area, state or the big parade at National Merdeka level. Check the events date and hours! Lagi

Galeri Sambutan

Layari galeri imej berwarna-warni terpilih  bersempena dengan sambutan Merdeka di seluruh negara. Lagi

Pameran Dalam Talian

The Merdeka exhibition was produced by User Experience Service Unit, PSB UUM as part of Online Exhibition series.