Instrument On Proclamation Of Independence Is Malaysia's Birth Certificate - National Archives

By Nur Syuhada Yusof

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- Every birth is officially recorded with a document - the birth certificate - a vital record that serves as legal proof of identity and the beginning of an individual’s journey as a member of society and citizen.

Similarly, the birth of Malaysia as an independent nation is recorded in the Proclamation of Independence on Aug 31, 1957, symbolising the end of British colonial rule over the Federation of Malaya and the establishment of a sovereign nation.

National Archives director (Development) Siti Hawiyah Manan said the document is not merely a historical artefact but is also regarded as the country’s official “birth certificate.”

“This proclamation is meticulously handwritten on goatskin using traditional Malay manuscript with intricate filigree carvings.

“It is the work of several individuals, including the nation’s first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj,” she told Bernama when at the National Archives of Malaysia recently.

Siti Hawiyah explained that the proclamation was produced in two complementary versions — one in Malay, written in Jawi script, and another in English, using Roman script.

According to historical records, the original text was drafted by independence fighter Ibrahim Mahmood, with assistance from several Malay nationalist figures, including Senu Abdul Rahman, while the handwriting of the proclamation was done by a scribe from Kelantan.

She said the proclamation, measuring 750mm by 500mm, is beautifully decorated in the style of traditional Malay manuscripts, accompanied by intricate filigree carvings.

"It uses polychromatic colour elements, with blue derived from laswardi gem powder, red from natural materials, and golden yellow using pure 24-carat gold," she said, adding that the red writing was also used to highlight important points in the document, as is common in Malay manuscripts.

Siti Hawiyah said among the key contents of the proclamation is the affirmation that all Malay states, including Melaka and Penang, will remain sovereign, independent and adhere to the principles of democracy, as well as the appointment of Tunku Abdul Rahman as Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya.

The document was signed in Jawi with the name “Abdul Rahman Putra,” without a conventional signature, serving as the legal mark of authentication, she said.

Now more than six decades old, the document has undergone two conservation and encapsulation processes in line with international preservation standards.

“The document was treated once to control its pH level, then bound and lined with special protective materials before being encapsulated,” she said.

To ensure its longevity, she said, the instrument of the proclamation is stored in a secure vault equipped with temperature and humidity controls, including hygrometers and dehumidifiers, which maintain humidity at no more than 55 per cent.

“This room cannot be accessed arbitrarily to safeguard the nation’s archival treasures,” she added.

Siti Hawiyah said the document was transferred from the Prime Minister’s Office to the National Archives about a year or two after independence.

On its authenticity, she said, all archival materials, including the proclamation, are from legitimate sources,  namely federal and state public offices, in line with the provisions under the National Archives Act 2003 (Act 629).

“An item can only be recognised as archive material once it is at least 25 years old, with selection based on enduring value, national interest, and integrity,” she said.

She added that official copies of the proclamation also exist in Chinese and Tamil, reflecting Malaysia’s unity and diversity since independence.

Today, the National Archives preserves over four million archival items, including documents, photographs, and video recordings, managed by more than 500 officers and staff.

Siti Hawiyah also urged the public, particularly the young generation, to take advantage of the National Month celebration by visiting the National Archives to witness the Proclamation of Independence, the authentic proof of the nation’s birth.

-- BERNAMA