Kathirasen on Sunday: The day when Mohamed Noor was moved to tears

27 Aug 2006
Kathirasen


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THE tradition of cutting hair to fulfill a vow goes back in time. The reason, as my guru explained it, is simple: The hair is the only part of the body that we can offer to God without mutilating ourselves.

Anything else we offer is not an intrinsic part of ourselves.

This reflection was occasioned by the reading of an article in the Straits Times of Sept 1, 1957. It said that a Kedah Umno Youth leader by the name of Mohamed Zakaria kept a Merdeka vow by cutting his hair at midnight Aug 31 in Alor Star.

He had not cut his hair for two years, swearing that he would only visit the barber on the day Malaya achieved independence.

The report said as the clock struck midnight, Kedah Umno deputy chief Mohamed Zahir snipped off one lock of hair and that as it fell, Zakaria shouted "Merdeka". A waiting barber did the rest.

The same issue talks about a communist terrorist, Siew Fong, 29, surrendering on the morning of Aug 31 because: "Today is Merdeka Day, and with independence already achieved, there is no more reason for us to continue our struggle."

He was the first terrorist to surrender in independent Malaya. Siew gave himself up to estate conductor E.V. Kunji Raman at Nova Scotia Estate near Telok Anson (today’s Teluk Intan).

Kunji Raman (Kunji, by the way, is one of the names the National Registration Department frowns upon) told the estate manager who told the district police chief who came to take Siew away.

On the same page were some quotes from Malayans about how they felt. Regimental Sergeant Major Mohamed Noor of the Malay Regiment wept as the Duke of Gloucester handed over the constitutional instruments to the father of the nation, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj.

Mohamed Noor said: "For a moment, I forgot that I was a soldier. I was deeply touched by the Duke’s words. There was also the thought that the British had now relinquished their power over Malaya. But when the Tunku declared that we were now free and equal as the people of other free nations, I could not help but cry for joy."

Housewife Che Halimah Endot said: "When I return home to Kuala Terengganu, I shall tell my children of this historic event so that when they grow up, they can be really proud of the country."

Student Pang Kee Jual said: "I am proud to be a citizen of this new independent nation."

Civil servant Gorbex Singh said: "We shall now look forward to real unity in this new nation of ours."

I think most Malaysians feel the same way even today. We can be united if we are willing to treat each other not as Malays, Chinese and Indians but as Malaysians.

Merdeka. From the New Straits Times.