Malaysia must rebuild its historical narrative based on the experiences and struggles of its people rather than allowing it to remain shaped by the legacy and interests of former colonial powers, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the effort was important to ensure future generations understand the sacrifices, hardships and struggles faced by Malaysians while learning valuable lessons from the country’s colonial past.
Anwar stressed that Malaysia’s history should not be viewed solely through monuments or heritage sites left behind from the colonial era. Instead, he said greater emphasis should be placed on the role of ordinary people in shaping the nation’s journey towards independence and sovereignty.
“History cannot continue to be defined by monuments from the past or decades of rule by former colonial powers such as the United Kingdom and the United States. It must be shaped by the people themselves,” he said during the opening ceremony of Fort Cornwallis at Padang Kota on Saturday.
He said Malaysians must have a deeper understanding of the country’s complete history, including difficult and painful periods under colonial rule, as those experiences serve as important reminders in protecting national sovereignty.
Anwar added that developing cities through modern infrastructure alone was not enough if society lost its identity and cultural heritage. He referred to a quote by renowned writer Mark Twain, saying a city could become advanced with technology but still lack cultural depth.
“A country grows together with its history. We have glorious moments, painful chapters, difficult periods and experiences of colonisation. We must not erase them, but understand them,” he said.
The Prime Minister said early leaders after independence focused on uniting the people and building essential foundations such as schools, places of worship and national administrative systems.
However, he said the post-colonial era should focus on restoring historical artefacts and revisiting important chapters of the past so that society could better understand the realities faced by previous generations.
Anwar said younger Malaysians should be exposed to the tougher sides of history, including how Penang was once influenced by foreign powers from London, Tokyo and the United States rather than being determined by local communities.
He warned that without unity, development, peace and strong national defence, history could repeat itself and the country’s future could once again be influenced by external forces.
He clarified that efforts to rebuild Malaysia’s historical narrative were not intended to remove existing facts, but to place historical events in their proper context and help Malaysians understand the impact of colonialism.
Anwar added that decisions made by colonial authorities at the time were driven by their own strategic interests and often disregarded the needs, culture, heritage and survival of local communities.
He said the committee responsible for developing the new historical narrative carried a major responsibility to ensure Malaysia’s history is preserved fairly, accurately and serves as a valuable lesson for future generations.
