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Chan Kwee Sung, 67, prefers to be known as a housekeeper.
Malaysia Day was supposed to be on the 31st of August, which is now officially celebrated as Malaysia's National Day. But it didn't fall on that day because of Indonesia's confrontation. So they had to postpone it until two weeks later.
So Malaysia Day took place on Sept 16, 1963. And even before that, it had been all over the air, over TV, over radio, the slogan that came on the air, very often, every day, almost every hour: Malaysia, as sure as the sun will rise.
When Malaysia Day came along, there were bright lights everywhere, just like our own National Day. One or two weeks before Malaysia Day, the lights and flags were already set up.
Malaysia Day celebrations at the PadangBright lights were set up in front of City Hall, with the big word, Malaysia, spread on it. Members of various races in a joyous mood pictured on a frame. Flags and banners were on the padang. Parades were held. Special gala events such as stage shows like cultural dances on the City Hall steps and all that. Everybody was in a holiday mood.
Holiday crowds, holiday atmosphere -- bright lights everywhere, flags and banners flying. I went to enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy the mood, enjoy the bright lights. I was there on several occasions, walking around, sometimes with a friend, sometimes alone. That's why I could remember it very well.
Malaysia, as sure as the sun will rise -- they even played the song, quite a jingle, they played on the air every day, something about Malaysia, 11 million strong. It was a happy jingle. Quite entertaining.
So nobody would have guessed that scarcely two years after, Singapore would have been ejected.
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