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Independence Declaration Memorial was officially opened by YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj on 31 August 1985. The establishment of the memorial is to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the fighters and the national independence from the colonial grip. The struggle to search for independence which begun in 1511 had took over 446 years and ended with the declaration of national independence on 31 August 1957. This memorial also recalls the history of the independence struggle with displayed materials such as documents, pictures, souvenirs, formal dresses, pens, keris (traditional weapon), royal stamps and election box.
The exhibition materials are displayed according to certain sectors to facilitate the visitors in knowing and understanding more on the country’s struggles toward independence. The sectors include Introduction to Malay and its Sovereignty, Challenges of Foreign Power, Uprising the National Spirit, Against the Malayan Union, United Malay National Organization, Communist Challenges, Towards Independence, Independence, Constitutional Monarchy, National State and Government Leader and Malaysia Establsihment.There are also cars that were used during the 1957 independence day and two units of tank, which were used during the emergency crisis displayed at the outside of the memorial building.
Apart from the exhibition items, the visitors can also witnessed the uniqueness of the memorial building which combined the elements of both locals and British architecture. Initially the building was a Malacca Club, which was built around 1911. This building is located in front of Padang Banda Hilir of Malacca which is a place where YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra had made the declaration date of independence after the Independence Trip returned from London. The 20 February 1956 event was an important episode in the history of national independence struggle. Want to see the keris held by Tunku during the independence declaration? Come and visit the Independence Declaration Memorial.