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dated September 1, 1957: Malaya becomes free

At the stroke of midnight on August 31, as Malaya became independent of British rule, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister, told his nation, “A new star rises in the eastern sky – a star of freedom for yet another Asian people.” The Tunku (Prince), addressing a mass rally in Kuala Lumpur, said: “This is the greatest moment in the life of the Malayan people, for, a new nation is born – a nation that will stand forthwith free and independent.” In the first few minutes of independent Malaya’s existence, the Prime Minister praised British rule in Malaya and said the legacy of good administration should not be allowed to suffer in efficiency or integrity in the years ahead. Malaya became the 10th member of the British Commonwealth at midnight amid scenes of wild rejoicing and shouts of “Merdeka” (freedom) from a crowd of nearly 50,000 people on Kuala Lumpur’s Town Square. Exactly one minute past midnight the Union Jack was lowered to the music of “God Save the Queen” and the new Crescent and Star flag of independent Malaya was raised in front of the Secretariat building.

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