Compiled by C. ARUNO, JUNAID IBRAHIM, and R. ARAVINTHAN
ONCE it bustled with National Day celebrations, but Kampung Merdeka in Teluk Intan, Perak, is now a quiet village, with fewer than 10 people living there, Utusan Malaysia reported.
Most of the villagers have moved away to seek jobs and only three houses remain occupied.
Resident Anuar Arshad, 67, said Kampung Merdeka was once populous and National Day festivities were held annually.
“This village was named Kampung Merdeka because it used to be the site for the National Day celebrations.
“Villagers would work together to put up the Jalur Gemilang and the place would be lively with the sound of firecrackers and fireworks,” he said.
Another resident G. Subramaniam, 67, said his family has lived there for two generations.
“The spirit of celebrating independence has faded; all my friends have left the village. What remains are just memories and the name,” he said.
> Singer Zubir Khan (pic) has reached out to the family of the late naval cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman, Harian Metro reported.
Zulfarhan was bullied to death by fellow National Defence University Malaysia students in 2017, and six of his bullies have been sentenced to death.
Zubir said he reached out after he was told by social media users that he bears a striking resemblance to Zulfarhan.
However, he said he is not ready to meet them, concerned about the emotional impact it might have on them.
The singer of the Tamil song Yennode Macha said he would wait for the right time before deciding to meet Zulfarhan’s family.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a, it denotes a separate news item.
