At this point, it is perhaps appropriate to reflect, yet again every time August is here, the moment when almarhum Tunku, after coming back from the London agreement in February 1956, decided not to use the formal words “if possible” when he proclaimed independence in Melaka. Instead he opted to say “If God permits”. The following day (February 21, 1956), The Straits Times newspaper frontpaged this: “M-Day 1957 August 31 ‘If God pemits” and “’If possible’ clause not mentioned’.
MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!
