Hazia’s Reflections

As the nation geared up in full spirits to celebrate its 49th year of independence, 31 August 1986 suddenly sprang to mind. I was 14 then. Our teachers made us re-lived the historical moments on 31 August 1957 when our heroes fought hard to secure what we now enjoy.

So, when darkness enveloped the sky, we gathered at the school’s open air car park.  Asked to resemble people back then, we were dressed in quickly-put-together attires, the most boring and old-fashioned clothes we owned. As with the boarding school‘s practice, the students were separated into 2 large groups, the boys were dressed in their baju Melayu, kain pelikat and songkok, and the girls in our baju kurung and selendang. The mission commenced with a short preaching or something I think.

When the clock striked midnight, we all put our right hands in the air and shouted Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! After that, we started marching down the hill and then up again. I didn’t think we were inspired at that time. Hell, we were laughing our heads off after completing the whole affair. The main reason was that when the leader shouted Merdeka!, we only heard Deka! From our silly perspective, it was damn hillarious:)

Nevertheless, the experience was still vivid in memory, not something that you’d forget easily:)