The independence bridge

Eventful past: Merdeka Bridge at Jalan Butterworth-Sungai Petani across Sungai Muda at the Penang-Kedah border. Salleh said the bridge, was initially built around 1938 by the British, who then blew it up in 1941 to prevent the Japanese from advancing to Seberang Perai. — Bernama

KEPALA BATAS: For 90-year-old Salleh Din, the words of Malaysia’s first prime minister are still ringing in his ears.

“I can still recall the time when Tunku Abdul Rahman told residents of Kampung Guar Kepah and nearby villages to not worry anymore about the colonialist as the country has achieved its independence,” he said, recounting Tunku Abdul Rahman’s speech when opening the Merdeka Bridge in 1957.