Independence of Malaya 1957

In 1957, the Malay Peninsula was granted 'independence' by her colonial master. With independence came a new system in politics: 'Parliamentry Democracy'. A group of compradore-bureaucrats were elected to be overseers of the neo-colony.

What has independence brought to the people of Malaysia? The following poem by Usman Awang was written after 'independence'. The picture of rural poverty and hope was painted in the poem. Today, 21 years later, the poem reflects like a mirror the scene we still see in the countryside, despite the superficial prosperity we are meant to believe in.