Seniors reflect on the 'good old days', what Merdeka means

Louis recounts how Tunku’s car, a Nash Rambler, drove up to the field, and his speech which brought everyone to tears. Photo: Filepic

Anthony Louis, 87, from Taman Sinn, Melaka, remembers that after Tunku Abdul Rahman signed the Federation of Malaya Agreement on Feb 8, 1956, at the Lancaster House in London, he flew back into the country via Singapore and then on to Melaka.

The “Rombongan Merdeka” returning party landed at the Batu Berendam airport to a joyous reception and, from there, they drove in a convoy to the Padang Merdeka (now Padang Pahlawan) in Banda Hilir, where Tunku announced that Independence Day would be officially declared on Aug 31 the following year.