Page 45 - Malayan Story
P. 45
MALAYAN STORY
CHAPTER 13 MERDEKA 1957
By 1957 Sir Gerald Templar felt that the work for which he had been sent to Malaya was complete
and that he and Lady Templar could return to the United Kingdom. Curfew had been lifted, villages
were declared to be “white” and the few terrorists who refused to come out of the jungle and receive
a free pardon, had now moved on to other hiding places near the border of Thailand.
Recapping the recent history of Malaya, in August 1955, the Tunku and the Rulers had talks with
the visiting British Secretary of State for the Colonies. It was agreed that a conference should be
held in London in early 1956 to discuss future relations between the Federation and Britain. The
London Conference was attended by representative of the sultans, the Chief of the Federation, and
three other Alliance leaders. Talks lasted three weeks and it was agreed that Independence should
be proclaimed by August 31,1957. Subsequently, a Constitutional Commission was appointed. The
Reid Commission held its meetings in Malaya between May and October, 1956, and completed a
long and detailed Report which provided the basis for Malaya's new government. At a ceremony
held in Kuala Lumpur on August 31, 1957, Malaya’s Independence was proclaimed. Tunku Abdul
Rahman became the first Prime Minister of Malaya, and held the post until 1970.
“Merdeka” means “independence” or “freedom”, and to those of us who were innocent bystanders
in this declaration of independence, it was a time of uncertainty. Some warned us that there would
be chaos in Kuala Lumpur, and we should not venture out on to the streets. Many felt that we would
be wise to get right away from Kuala Lumpur into the country where we would be safe.
Actually it turned out to be a day of celebration tinged with sadness that the Templars would be
returning to the United Kingdom. Percy and Ken Price were invited to attend the final farewell to
Sir Gerald and to celebrate the lowering of the Union Jack and the raising of the Malayan flag.
Merdeka, freedom, had come at last. It was the end of an era.
There were now groups of believers in many villages and our preaching and teaching had changed
form purely evangelistic to a teaching ministry. In some villages elders and deacons were appointed
and gradually began to take over the leadership of the church. The missionaries had tried to give
them a vision of a self-governing, self-propagating and self-supporting church and they were
beginning to see this happening. Many of them looked forward to having their own church building
and in many villages money was put aside for that purpose. When Winnie and Maijorie went to
Cha’ah to live, there was already a group of believers in the village, and the two ladies together with
Dr. Pearce and Percy, when he was there, helped them to catch the vision to set up their own church
building. When they did, it was an unpretentious atap building with open sides, built by voluntary
labour.
45
CHAPTER 13 MERDEKA 1957
By 1957 Sir Gerald Templar felt that the work for which he had been sent to Malaya was complete
and that he and Lady Templar could return to the United Kingdom. Curfew had been lifted, villages
were declared to be “white” and the few terrorists who refused to come out of the jungle and receive
a free pardon, had now moved on to other hiding places near the border of Thailand.
Recapping the recent history of Malaya, in August 1955, the Tunku and the Rulers had talks with
the visiting British Secretary of State for the Colonies. It was agreed that a conference should be
held in London in early 1956 to discuss future relations between the Federation and Britain. The
London Conference was attended by representative of the sultans, the Chief of the Federation, and
three other Alliance leaders. Talks lasted three weeks and it was agreed that Independence should
be proclaimed by August 31,1957. Subsequently, a Constitutional Commission was appointed. The
Reid Commission held its meetings in Malaya between May and October, 1956, and completed a
long and detailed Report which provided the basis for Malaya's new government. At a ceremony
held in Kuala Lumpur on August 31, 1957, Malaya’s Independence was proclaimed. Tunku Abdul
Rahman became the first Prime Minister of Malaya, and held the post until 1970.
“Merdeka” means “independence” or “freedom”, and to those of us who were innocent bystanders
in this declaration of independence, it was a time of uncertainty. Some warned us that there would
be chaos in Kuala Lumpur, and we should not venture out on to the streets. Many felt that we would
be wise to get right away from Kuala Lumpur into the country where we would be safe.
Actually it turned out to be a day of celebration tinged with sadness that the Templars would be
returning to the United Kingdom. Percy and Ken Price were invited to attend the final farewell to
Sir Gerald and to celebrate the lowering of the Union Jack and the raising of the Malayan flag.
Merdeka, freedom, had come at last. It was the end of an era.
There were now groups of believers in many villages and our preaching and teaching had changed
form purely evangelistic to a teaching ministry. In some villages elders and deacons were appointed
and gradually began to take over the leadership of the church. The missionaries had tried to give
them a vision of a self-governing, self-propagating and self-supporting church and they were
beginning to see this happening. Many of them looked forward to having their own church building
and in many villages money was put aside for that purpose. When Winnie and Maijorie went to
Cha’ah to live, there was already a group of believers in the village, and the two ladies together with
Dr. Pearce and Percy, when he was there, helped them to catch the vision to set up their own church
building. When they did, it was an unpretentious atap building with open sides, built by voluntary
labour.
45
