KUALA LUMPUR: Every birth is officially recorded with a document – the birth certificate.
It is a vital record that serves as the beginning of an individual’s journey as a citizen and member of society.
Similarly, the birth of Malaysia as a nation is recorded in the Proclamation of Independence on Aug 31, 1957, symbolising the end of British colonial rule and the establishment of a sovereign nation.
National Archives director (Development) Siti Hawiyah Manan said the document is not merely a historical artefact but is also regarded as the country’s official “birth certificate”.
“This proclamation is meticulously handwritten on goatskin using traditional Malay manuscript with intricate filigree carvings.
“It is the work of several individuals, including the nation’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj,” she told Bernama at the National Archives.
Siti Hawiyah explained that the proclamation was produced in two complementary versions – one in Malay, written in Jawi, and another in English.
According to historical records, the original text was drafted by independence fighter Ibrahim Mahmood, with assistance from several Malay nationalist figures including Senu Abdul Rahman, while the handwriting was done by a scribe from Kelantan.
She said the proclamation, measuring 750mm by 500mm, is beautifully decorated in the style of traditional Malay manuscripts, accompanied by intricate filigree carvings.
“It uses polychromatic colour elements, with blue derived from laswardi gem powder, red from natural materials and golden yellow using pure 24-carat gold,” she said, adding that the red writing was also used to highlight important points in the document.
Siti Hawiyah said among the key contents of the proclamation was the affirmation that all Malay states, including Melaka and Penang, would remain sovereign, independent and adhere to the principles of democracy, as well as the appointment of Tunku Abdul Rahman as Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya.
The document was signed in Jawi with the name ‘Abdul Rahman Putra’, without a conventional signature, serving as the legal mark of authentication.
Now more than six decades old, the document has undergone two conservation and encapsulation processes in line with international preservation standards.
To ensure its longevity, she said, the instrument of the proclamation is stored in a secure vault equipped with temperature and humidity controls, including hygrometers and dehumidifiers, which maintain humidity at no more than 55%.
“This room cannot be accessed arbitrarily to safeguard the nation’s archival treasures,” she added.
On its authenticity, she said, all archival materials were from legitimate sources, in line with the provisions under the National Archives Act.
Official copies of the proclamation also exist in Chinese and Tamil, reflecting Malaysia’s diversity since independence.
