Road to independence related artifacts, documents open for public viewing

KUALA LUMPUR: Untold stories and never-seen before artifacts and documents on the nation's road to Independence will be made available for public viewing through a special exhibition at one of the nation's national heritage sites Carcosa and Seri Negara or better known as Carcosa Seri Negara.
To be held a day after the country's 60th independence anniversary and throughout September, the exhibition "Jalan Merdeka: Traversing the routes to Merdeka" is an inaugural project by the Asian Heritage Museum Sdn Bhd (AHM), which was recently granted the tenancy of the heritage site.
AHM chairman and lead curator Tunku Zain Al-Abidin Tuanku Muhriz said the month-long exhibition is slightly different from all the other independence-related exhibitions held before as it will also feature some of the rarely-told perspectives of Merdeka as well.
"We are trying to deliver a cohesive multimedia story of Merdeka, not just from the perspective of the political stories that most Malaysians are familiar with, but also from the perspective of ordinary people as well as trade unions and labour movements.
"Another special element about the exhibition is the historical significance of the site itself. People may not be aware that many of the important decisions, discussion and events pertaining to Merdeka actually took place here," he told a press conference at the Seri Negara building here yesterday.
Tunku Zain later revealed that one of the historical events that took place at the heritage site was the signing of the Federation of Malaya Agreement in 1948.
"The pen that was used to sign it will also be featured in the exhibition," he said.
He added that walking tours panel discussions, movie and documentary screenings, music and dance events, as well as colouring competitions for children are some of the activities lined up for the exhibition.
Meanwhile, curator and co-founder of Imagined Malaysia Netusha Naidu said forums on alternative history of the country's formation would also be showcased during the exhibition.
"The road to Merdeka was also driven by personalities in the 40s and 50s who each had contentions on how Malaya should have been formed," she added.
Negri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, who is also the grandson of Malaysia's first Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Rahman, is slated to launch the exhibition on Merdeka eve.
The exhibition is part of AHM's efforts to fully utilise Carcosa Seri Negara over the next three years where among other activities that would take place at the site includes performing arts and cultural events as well as the setting up of a permanent museum of artifacts and a resource centre.