Berita Harian Aug 31, 1957 Edition: A Priceless Record Of Independence 

By Nur Syuhada Yusof

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- “MERDEKA!” - the bold headline on the front page of Berita Harian dated Aug 31, 1957 - perfectly captured the joy and pride of the people of Malaya when the nation achieved independence.

Underneath, a short line in old Malay spelling read: “Tepat pada tengah malam seluroh raayat bertempek Malaya sudah merdeka!” (Exactly at midnight, the whole nation cheered, Malaya is free!), making the paper a priceless record of that historic moment.

National Archives Development Division director Siti Hawiyah Manan said the original copy, now 68 years old, is still well preserved.

The newspaper, published by The Straits Times Press, was one of the first to report the independence proclamation and carried the iconic moment when the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj shouted “Merdeka!” seven times at Dataran Merdeka.

“This is an important source for researchers. It is more than news, it shows the atmosphere, the mood of the people, even the details of the day, such as the weather and clothing,” she told Bernama when met at Wisma Warisan here recently.

She said there are still debates about details, such as the exact colour of Tunku Abdul Rahman’s outfit in photos and the car he rode in during the parade at Padang Hilir, Melaka.

“Some claimed it was purple, and this shows the value of oral history in complementing the country’s documented narrative,” she said.

The copy, measuring 592mm x 420mm, has been carefully treated and bound using special tissue layers and thin boards to slow down natural deterioration and ensure its long-term preservation.

Siti Hawiyah added that besides the Aug 31 edition, reports of the heavy rain on the morning of Sept 1, 1957, during the Merdeka celebration at Stadium Merdeka provide a vivid picture of the country’s first day as the Federation of Malaya.

“Such details are also considered facts, which are rarely found in official government files but are preserved in newspaper reports and the memories of those present that day,” she said.

She said old newspapers like this, printed using manual presses with large type, reflected not only the technology of the time but also the dedication of journalists who documented events in detail without delay.

“Without modern technology, journalists back then were meticulous. They wrote everything, from programme schedules to how the crowd felt.

“This is a wealth of information often overlooked by modern researchers who tend to focus more on broader topics such as the Emergency or communism,” she said, urging researchers to conduct in-depth studies on the material.

The National Archives now has 33,955 collections of newspapers and magazines from before and after independence, including Berita Harian, Malay Mail and The Straits Times.

The agency is also in the midst of identifying and compiling a list of ‘Anak Merdeka’ -- Malaysians born on Aug 31, 1957.

“Those born on that historic day are now 68 years old and represent living symbols of the nation’s independence. We are gathering their names and locations nationwide to strengthen our social history data,” she said.

This initiative, she added, aims not only to enrich demographic metadata but also to connect past and present generations.

-- BERNAMA