MELAKA: Palaneer Maniam was only 14 when he witnessed Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj made the announcement of the Federation of Malaya’s Independence in 1956 at Padang Bandar Hilir, Melaka.
He said back then the essence of unity had already been planted in the hearts of the community.
The 75-year-old retired technician remembers vividly his experience as a teenager then, watching as Tunku Abdul Rahman, on Feb 20 led to crowd to cheer, “Merdeka”.
“Whenever I think of that significant day, I will relive that moment where we were given a half-school day, to march to the coronation park, where so many people were anxiously waiting for Tunku Abdul Rahman.
“When we arrived at the park, our teachers gave us the national flags to wave during the announcement,” he told New Straits Times.
Palaneer remembered the huge crowd and the cheering.
He said the park was filled with excitement. He even spotted some people in the crowd tearing up.
Recounting his younger days, Palaneer said he had fond memories as a child growing up in Melaka and the good times that he had at Wesley Methodist School Melaka.
“My father was only a hospital attendant but he wanted his children to learn basic ethics and be more spiritual, and that is why I think he sent us all to a Methodist school.
“He was only earning less than RM100 a month in the 1940s but he insisted that we would all get an education for our future,” said Palaneer, who is the second out of nine siblings.
“Everyone in school spoke a common language, which is English, and we used to spend recess together regardless of our race and religion.
“Which is why I say, even back then, we were already united and we have been practicing the essence of 1Malaysia,” he said.
Palaneer also remembered fondly his favourite teacher named Wong Soon Chang, who bought tins of powdered milk with his own money for his students.
“I still can recall the times where Mr Wong would call our cafeteria lady to make milk for us to enjoy during recess.
“It is funny because we never expected him to use his allowance to get us milk,” he said.
According to Palaneer, fights and bullying were rare and he had never seen racism rear its ugly head in school.
When asked about the one thing that he remembered most about Melaka before Independence, the Melaka River was his first answer.
“I remember back then, we had bamboo boats traveling down the river, where all the village children will wait patiently for a chance to get on those boats,” he said.