KUALA LUMPUR: Negri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir launched “Jalan Merdeka”, a special exhibition with never-before-seen artefacts telling the untold history of Malaya’s road to Merdeka at Carcosa Seri Negara today.
To launch the exhibition, Tuanku Muhriz signed a document with the iconic pen used by the Malay rulers who signed the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957 in the very same room at Carcosa Seri Negara where the agreement was signed.
The exhibition, the full title of which is “Jalan Merdeka: Traversing the Routes towards Independence”, is organised by Asian Heritage Museum (AHM) in partnership with the New Straits Times.
The exhibition, led by AHM Council chairman Tunku Zain Al’-Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, is about the struggle by all races for independence, led by the first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
It features many unseen archives and artefacts as well as the original Merdeka Book published in 1957. Many other books related to Merdeka will be on sale throughout the exhibition.
The principal partner of the exhibition, CIMB Foundation chief executive officer Datuk Hamidah Naziadin, said the exhibition could raise awareness on how history played a powerful role in uniting Malaysians.
“It is also a great opportunity to instil national pride among Malaysians, particularly our youth, on how precious our independence is, and how we should value our forefathers’ struggle to achieve independence from the British in 1957,” she said.
A fireworks show, sponsored by the Japanese embassy which also sponsored fireworks in 1957, was held at Carcosa Seri Negara.
The Jalan Merdeka exhibition will run throughout the month of September from 8am to 5pm. Entrance is free for Malaysians.