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Penang's untold story: Hartal 1967 By  Koay Su Lyn  |  The Edge Malaysia  –  Wed, Sep 11, 2013 TO SIMPLY begin with, the word 'hartal' refers to a cessation of work/businesses in protest against a political decision. Malaya, before her independence in 1957 once observed a one day hartal way back in October 1947, organised by the Pan-Malayan Council of Joint Action against the constitution of the Federation of Malaya. While the 1947 hartal is widely quoted on paper today, there is little mention of a hartal that once swept across the island of Penang in 1967. Originally intended as a peaceful protest, this hartal escalated into a bloody atmosphere of heightened racial tension. Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee, the island's first Chief Minister even related the said protest as one of the incidences which might have possibly led to the 1969 racial riots. However, a closer look at the mood and circumstances surrounding the 1967 Hartal explains the con...

Hartal: Untold Merdeka Story by Dinesweri Puspanadan This nation and its people stand out proudly on the Independence platform for almost 53 years. Every citizen of current generation is fed through the education system and reminded constantly on our leaders' struggle in the past to fight for 'Merdeka'. In fact, many tend to brag that Malaya(that time) achieved its Independence from British in a peaceful manner without dropping a single blood. Every ordinary and educated(even not educated) people of this land is aware of this cliche or 'fact'. However, the concern is how much truth is lingering in this structured piece of Malaysian History? Many, in the name of trust,accept  the presented history blatantly without posting any doubts or question its validity. Today, at this date, every single element of past history is re casting which paves way to dig out the buried history of the real Independence struggle which many 'heroes' would avoid to talk abou...

Yet another interesting twist of events in annals of Malayan history. I do not remember learning my history this way. Hartal 20.10.1947, the day the solidarity of the Malayans were showcased to the world for the first time. Thank the internet for that. Some how, I have the inclination that the present day politicians are feeling the same frustrations that their counterparts felt some 60 over years ago. To understand history is to understand the future. Yahya Nassim http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6210778727127163801&hl=en#   Hashim Said Lim Kean Chye