KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia celebrated its independence from the British 63 years ago in 1957 to become a sovereign nation, and most Malaysians born after that year remember and associate independence with the country's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, raising his right hand in the air while shouting, "Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka" at the Declaration of Independence at Stadium Merdeka.
For retired schoolteacher David Fernandez, 76, Merdeka takes him down memory lane each year come Aug 31 because he was right there when it happened and witnessed it all as a young boy.
Recently, the New Straits Times, with the cooperation of PNB Merdeka Ventures (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd), the project owner and developer of the Warisan Merdeka project, surprised Fernandez by arranging for him to return to the stadium for the first time in decades. He was ecstatic as the visit brought back many good memories that he had and enjoyed at one of the country's most iconic and historic landmarks.
"I was in Standard Six then and I was studying at St John's Institution. As I recall, students from Standard Five and Standard Six classes from three schools — MBS (Methodist Boys School), VI (Victoria Institution) and St John's — were called up to take part in what was called a mass drill, and we had no idea at the time that it would be for the very first Merdeka Day celebration.
"We were quite happy to take part in the mass drill as it was a means for us to be away from classes. We had to practise for the whole month of August from 7.30am to 10.30am from Monday to Friday. We did most of the practice sessions for the mass drill at our school fields and only practised at Stadium Merdeka twice or thrice before Aug 31," said Fernandez, who ended up teaching at his alma mater for more than 40 years.
He added that for the mass drill, there were hundreds of them on the field and they were led by six trainers comprising teachers, who were on elevated platforms.
Although most of them were nervous, they were also excited once they realised what their mass drill was for and how they would play a part in the country's first-ever Merdeka Day celebrations.
"We were not told anything or what the mass drill was for. There was no explanation whatsoever. We only realised that we would be part of the Merdeka Day celebration once we had our final practice at the stadium just before Aug 31.
"And mind you, we did not have colourful or extravagant outfits on that special day. We were decked in white from top to bottom as we wore white singlets, shorts, socks and shoes, and it was all our own and not given to us.
"We were in awe and, at the same time, felt important because we knew everyone would be looking at us, and this is when we got a little bit nervous, but in the end, all of us pulled off a splendid show," said a proud Fernandez, who was born here and grew up in Peel Road at the time.
As he walked on the field of the stadium for the first time in years, he recalled how fellow Malaysians from all walks of life had thronged and packed the stadium on the morning of Aug 31, 1957.
"The stadium was packed to the brim with more than 20,000 people and, at the time, the significance of such an event did not really sink in with us till much later. Apart from the speeches, the police tattoo show and our mass drill, there was not really anything else like the Merdeka Day parades that we have seen over the last few decades or so.
"At the time, while we were happy to be part of history being made as the country achieved independence, many were preoccupied with bread-and-butter issues, as in how their livelihood would be affected and how they would put food on the table for their families. The country was in uncharted territory and had to fend for itself and be on its own just more than a decade after the end of World War 2. But fast forward to the present day, the country has progressed and achieved so much since then."
He also shared that at the time, there was no television or other news and media outlets for the masses to obtain the latest news and information of what was going on around them. Back in the day, their only source of news and information were a handful of newspapers and the radio.
"We were not able to truly appreciate and understand what was going on because there was no television, no Internet, no handphones whatsoever for us to get the big picture. All we had was the radio and a few newspapers to know what was happening around us.
"We did not get to see the lowering of the Union Jack (British flag) and the raising of the Malaysian flag (Jalur Gemilang) at the Dataran, though the night before our ears were glued to the radio as we heard Tunku shouting 'Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka!'"
Incidentally, Fernandez's wife, Valerie Lung, 72, also a retired teacher from Melaka, had taken part in the Merdeka Day parade and celebrations that were held in the state known as "the Venice of the east".
"I was a primary school student at Infant Jesus Convent. If I remember correctly, we were told to line up at night, where we were joined by other students from other schools and Melaka folk who came from near and far as we marched from Bandar Hilir to Coronation Park, which is now the Esplanade.
"I can't remember much as it was 63 years ago and I was a young child back then, but I remember listening to speeches from our leaders at the time and singing patriotic songs, which was the dawn of a new era for us and the country," she said.
Now in their 70s and grandparents to more than half a dozen children, Lung and Fernandez hope that the country will continue to enjoy peace, harmony and prosperity in the years to come.
"We've come a long way over the past 63 years. Yes, we've had lots of ups and downs, good and bad along the way, and all that we've been through, despite the hiccups and shortcomings, we've managed to persevere and done quite well as a nation.
"So let's continue to work together to do the best we can to ensure that our beloved country continues to prosper and succeed for the future," he said with a smile.