'Merdeka! Dengan Darah!': Fiery youths mark 71st API anniversary

In downtown Kuala Lumpur, a battle cry from a bygone era echoed in the streets.

"Merdeka! Dengan Darah!" (Freedom! With Blood!) shouted a group of some 100 youths gathered along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman today.

Despite the nature of the chant, the youths decked out in traditional clothes were not baying for blood or violent revolution, but were instead commemorating 71 years since the birth of one of Malaysia's most influential youth movements - Angkatan Pemuda Insaf or API.

API was the youth wing of Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) - a short-lived but significant leftist party which was established in pre-independence Malaya.

API and PKMM operated from Feb 15, 1946, fighting for independence until the day it was banned by the British on July 17, 1947.

71 years later, as Malaysia heads towards what is set to be the most hard-fought election in its history, the call for this 'fire' to be reignited burns bright once more.

"The struggle (for independence) by API must not only be remembered, but it must be continued!" said veteran activist Ishak Surin (photo, with raised fist), a founding member of API.

"We must continue this struggle until our country becomes one that is fair and prosperous.

"We are disappointed, we are incensed when the Independence fought by our predecessors has been monopolised by those who are cowards, who are traitors, who have oppressed the people of this country," he added.

Ishak, 85, was a special guest at the commemoration march organised by youth group Malaysia Muda.

The Batu Amanah division chief also urged those present to remember the struggles of API leader Ahmad Boestamam, who was jailed for seven years, eight months after he won the Setapak parliament seat in the first general elections held after Independence in 1959.

Earlier, the group gathered outside the Sogo shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur after marching a short distance from the nearby Maju Junction, mostly dressed in white with a red band on their left arm.

They sang and marched to the beat of drums, carrying red banners and placards, with bold white fonts, in Jawi, Tamil, Chinese and Roman characters with a united message for the government of the day: The people will rise against an oppressive and corrupt government.

Aside from Ishak's speech, the gathering which lasted for about one hour also featured poetry recitations and a monologue.

The finale was a symbolic "mandi bunga" (flower bath) ritual to wash away the ills inflicting the country.

While unplanned, the lines they recited at times matched lyrics from songs played by the regular buskers outside Sogo, adding to the atmosphere.

As a youth activist was reciting Indonesian poet WS Rendra's "Sajak Anak Muda" with lines which questioned their role in society, a female vocalist was singing "hey what's going on?" from the American rock band 4 Non Blondes' hit song "What's Up."

The monologue on life's everyday struggles was also indirectly backed by the chorus of "...we are fighting..." from The Cranberries' song "Zombie".

Spokesperson for the organising group of Malaysia Muda Amir Abdul Hadi said their aim was to commemorate Ahmad Boestamam's struggles with the same outfits worn before the first API congress was held in 1946.

He also said they were satisfied with the day's turnout and it had met their aim.

"We only targeted about 50 to 100 people... but from the participation today, it is a good start.

"Our other target is of course not to have any confrontation with the police. We want to end it peacefully," he told reporters when met after the gathering ended at around 3pm.

Some 20 police officers were placed on standby around the area since about 1pm when the march was initially supposed to start.

- Mkini