The Malayan Declaration of Independence (Malay: Pemasyhuran Kemerdekaan Tanah Melayu, Jawi: ڤمشهوران کمرديکاءن تانه ملايو), was officially proclaimed on Saturday, 31 August 1957, by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first chief minister of the Federation of Malaya. In a ceremony held at the Merdeka Stadium, the proclamation document was read out at exactly 09:30 a.m. in the presence of thousands of Malayan citizens, Malay Rulers and foreign dignitaries. The proclamation acknowledges the establishment of an independent and democratic Federation of Malaya, which came into effect on the termination of the British protectorate over nine Malay states and the end of British colonial rule in two Straits Settlements, Malacca and Penang.
The document of the declaration was signed by Tunku Abdul Rahman, who was appointed as the nation's first prime minister. The event is celebrated annually in Malaysia with national day Hari Merdeka.
The date for Federation of Malaya's Independence on 31 August 1957 was determined after Tunku Abdul Rahman, Haji Sulaiman Palestine, Haji Ahmad Badawi, and several other UMNO leaders sought the views of Syeikh Abdullah Fahim, a notable Tuan Guru from Kepala Batas, Penang.[1]
According to Syeikh Abdullah Fahim, if the British would not grant independence to Malaya on 31 August 1957, the next fitting date should be 31 August 1962.[1][2] 31 August 1957 was referred by Syeikh Abdullah Fahim as am khair atana (عام خير اتانا) in Arabic which means 'Good Year Has Come to Us'. It was confirmed in a February 1956 Alliance rally in Malacca after the Tunku had just arrived from the United Kingdom.
Declaration ceremony
Tunku Abdul Rahman chanting "freedom!" when signing the Malayan Declaration of Independence in 1957.
On the night of 30 August 1957, crowds gathered at the Royal Selangor ClubPadang in Kuala Lumpur to witness the handover of power from the British. Prime Minister-designate Tunku Abdul Rahman arrived at 11:58 p.m. and joined members of the Alliance Party's youth divisions in observing two minutes of darkness.[3] On the stroke of midnight, the lights were switched back on, and the Union Flag in the square was lowered as the royal anthem God Save The Queen was played.[4] The new Flag of Malaya was raised as the national anthem Negaraku was played. This was followed by seven chants of "Merdeka (freedom)" by the crowd.[3][4] Tunku Abdul Rahman later gave a speech hailing the ceremony as "greatest moment in the life of the Malayan people".[3] Before giving the address to the crowd, he was given a necklace by representatives of the Alliance Party youth in honour of this great occasion in history, with a map of Malaya inscribed on it. The event ended at 1 a.m.
On the morning of 31 August 1957, the festivities moved to the newly completed Merdeka Stadium. More than 20,000 people witnessed the ceremony, which began at 9:30 a.m. Those in attendance included rulers of the Malay states, foreign dignitaries, members of the federal cabinet, and citizens.[5]The Queen's representative, the Duke of Gloucester presented Tunku Abdul Rahman with the instrument of independence.[5] Tunku then proceeded to read the declaration, which culminated in the chanting of "Merdeka!" seven times with the crowd joining in. The ceremony continued with the raising of the National Flag of Malaya accompanied by the national anthem being played by a military band and a 21-gun salute, followed by an azan call and a thanksgiving prayer in honour of this occasion.[5]
The day followed with the solemn installation of the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan, at Jalan Ampang, and the first installation banquet in his honour in the evening followed by a beating retreat performance and a fireworks display. Sports events and other events marked the birth of the new nation.
The document
The original declaration was written on a 750mm by 500mm goatskin (parchment) in traditional Malay manuscript style and decorated by coloured filigree carvings, with its blue colour derived from lapis lazuli gem powder; its red colour sourced from natural materials; and its gold colour acquired from pure 24-carat gold. Important parts of the text were also written in red.[6]
The content of the declaration was drafted by Ibrahim Mahmood with the help of several other Malay nationalist figures, such as Senu Abdul Rahman, while the text was handwritten by a Kelantanese scribe.[6]
The declaration was produced in two versions, one in Malay with Jawi script, while the another in English. Official copies of the declaration was also published in Chinese and Tamil, making the declaration officially available in a total of four languages.[6] Copies of the declaration in four languages were distributed to all village heads and local community leaders throughout the nation during the independence.[7]
Currently, the original documents of the declaration are being stored and preserved by the National Archives of Malaysia since 1958 or 1959, and have since then undergone two conservation and encapsulation process.[6]
Text
The following is the full text of the declaration, in Malay (in Jawi script) and in English.
Malay in Jawi
English
دڠن نام الله يڠمها موره لاݢي مڠسيهاني⹁ سݢالا ڤوجي باݢي الله يڠ مها برکواس دان صلواة دان سلام کاءتس سکالين رسولڽ.
Whereas the time has now arrived when the people of the Federation of Malaya will assume the status of a free independent and sovereign nation among nations of the World.
And whereas it was further agreed between the parties to the said agreement that the Settlements of Malacca and Penang aforesaid should as from the said date cease to form part of Her Majesty’s dominions and that Her Majesty should cease to exercise any sovereignty over them.
And whereas it was further agreed by the parties aforesaid that the Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1948, and all other agreements subsisting between Her Majesty the Queen and Their Highnesses the Rulers or any one of them immediately before the said date should be revoked as from the date and that all powers and jurisdiction of Her Majesty or of the Parliament of the United Kingdom in or in respect of the Settlements aforesaid or the Malay States or the Federation as a whole should come to an end.
And whereas effect has been given to the Federation of Malaya Agreement, 1957, by Her Majesty the Queen, Their Highnesses the Rulers, the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Legislatures of the Federation and of the Malay States,
And whereas by the Federal Constitution, aforesaid provision is made to safeguard the rights and prerogatives of Their Highnesses the Rulers and the fundamental rights and liberties of the people and to provide for the peaceful and orderly advancement of the Federation as a constitutional monarchy based on Parliamentary democracy,
And whereas, the Federal Constitution aforesaid having been approved by an Ordinance of the Federal Legislatures, by the Enactments of the Malay States, and by resolutions of the Legislatures of Malacca and Penang has come into force on the 31st day of August 1957, aforesaid.
Now, In the name of Allah the Compassionate, the Merciful, I Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya, with the concurrence and approval of Their Highnesses, the Rulers of the Malay States, do hereby proclaim and declare on behalf of the people of the Federation of Malaya that as from the thirty first day of August, of the year nineteen hundred and fifty seven, the Federation of Malaya comprising of the States of Johor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Malacca and Penang, is now and with the blessing of Allah the Lord of the Universe, shall be for ever a sovereign democratic and independent State, founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all the nations.
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