KOTA BARU: Witnessing the National Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur after cycling for 11 days in 1960 was an experience that will be forever etched in the memory of cyclist Wan Hashim Wan Mahmood, or Pak Wan, 74.
Pak Wan, who was 14 then, saw the then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj chanting "Merdeka".
It has since become a source of motivation for him to reenact the experience by cycling to Stadium Merdeka again, though he is doing it alone this time.
"In the past, I used to cycle in a group or convoy from Kota Baru to Kuala Lumpur but today, at 74, I am cycling solo to Kuala Lumpur.
"I want to prove my love for the country and it is enough for me to recall the experience of seeing thousands of people celebrating National Day," he said before embarking on his Merdeka Solo Cycling at his house here on Saturday.
The flag-off ceremony was officiated by Kelantan Red One Network branch sales manager Daniel Leoh, together with Kelantan Darulnaim Media Club deputy president Zabidi Ishar.
During his trip, Pak Wan will convey a message of unity to everyone.
He is expected to return home on Aug 31 and create a new record in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as the Oldest Person to Cycle Around Peninsular Malaysia nine times.
Recalling his 500km trip to Kuala Lumpur in 1960, Pak Wan said he cycled to the city with 14 friends.
They were among tens of thousands of Malaysians who were at Stadium Merdeka to see the National Day parade on that day.
"I cannot describe my feelings when I saw Tunku chanting 'Merdeka'. It was a mixture of happiness and everything else.
"That was when I realised how difficult it was for us to gain independence."
In 2014, Pak Wan set the MBOR record for the first time as the oldest man to cycle solo around the peninsula over 2,200km. --Bernama