Crowds throng Banda Hilir to celebrate Malaysia Day

Crowds during the Malaysia Day celebration at the Proclamation of Independence Memorial Square in Banda Hilir, Melaka. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

MELAKA: Walking along Banda Hilir, especially at the Dataran Pahlawan grounds here, is like going back in time to the historic day of the declaration of the country’s independence by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, on Feb 20, 1956.

Sixty-six years ago, people of different races, backgrounds and religions gathered here to celebrate the Bapa Kemerdekaan (Father of Independence) Tunku Abdul Rahman, with his entourage, returning from London and announcing the date of the country’s independence.