The Federation of Malaya is now independent. The handover of
power from Britain took place at midnight.
Thousands of young members of the Malay, Chinese and Indian parties, which form the government, stood in darkness for two minutes at midnight to mark the official handover.
As the new flag of independence was raised they called
"Merdeka" (Freedom) seven times.
Tunku Abdul Rahman, the prime minister-elect, who led the
negotiations with the British for handover of power, was hailed as the Father
of Independence.
Malaya will stay in the Commonwealth - and, as midnight
approached, prime ministers of the member countries sent messages recorded in
five continents.
The British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan said he hoped 31
August would long be remembered as a great and happy day in the continuing
development of Malaya and the Commonwealth of Nations.
In his speech delivered at midnight, Tunku Abdul Rahman said
it was the greatest moment in the life of the Malayan people. A new star had
risen in the eastern sky - a star of freedom for yet another Asian people.
The new prime minister was educated at two British schools
and graduated from Cambridge in 1925. Soon after World War II he went back to
Britain to study law.
On his return to Malaya in 1949 he found a country eager for
independence but also struggling with communist extremism.
He founded the Alliance Party in 1952 which brought together
the ethnic Malay, Chinese and Indians. The party won the 1955 general election
with an overwhelming majority.
The Tunku became Chief Minister and ended the state of
emergency - introduced after a wave of attacks carried out by mainly Chinese
communists on mine-owners and plantations - and granted an amnesty to communist
terrorists.
Last year he led the negotiations with the British which
paved the way for independence.
The new Malayan head of state, Tuanku Abdul Rahman, will be
officially installed on 2nd September. He was chosen from among the rulers of
Malay's nine hereditary states.
He will hold the post of head of state for five years when
his successor will be elected.
The installation ceremony will be witnessed by the Duke and
Duchess of Gloucester who are flying in to represent the Queen.
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