{
  "id": 4303202,
  "title": "At 104, Poktar still remembers the day Merdeka arrived",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/at-104-poktar-still-remembers-the-day-merdeka-arrived",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T23:45:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/30/at-104-poktar-still-remembers-the-day-merdeka-arrived"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At 104 years old, Mukhtar Mamat, fondly known as Poktar, still vividly recalls the hardships and fear experienced during Malaysia's pre-independence era. Born in Kampung Teras, Kelantan, life for Poktar was characterized by scarcity of jobs and food, and the daily struggle of walking long distances. He told Bernama that life then was filled with uncertainty and hunger, with eating young shoots being a common occurrence. At 18, he was forced to work on a military fort in Pengkalan Chepa three days a week, enduring long hours and receiving only RM1.50 a day. The hard labor was only overshadowed by the fear of punishment for any wrongdoings. He even remembers being struck by a hoe on his left arm and kicked in the back until he fell. This period of his life was marked by fear and suffering, with many forced to labor for the Japanese occupiers and living in constant fear. It was only after a year that he managed to escape to his family home in Padang Pak Amat, Pasir Puteh. In 1957, Aug 31 is more than just a date for Poktar. The day of Malaysia's independence, when Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed Merdeka, was a celebration of freedom and the end of colonial rule. He joined the jubilant crowds in Kota Bharu when the Tunku arrived in the capital, and the cry of \"Merdeka\" echoed in his heart. The scars of his past still remain and remind him of the hardships he endured. For Poktar, peace is not merely an abstract concept, but a deeply personal experience shaped by his lived memories. As Malaysia celebrates another Merdeka, Poktar hopes that younger generations will appreciate the peace and stability they have inherited, and remember that it was forged through the struggles and hardships of those who lived before them.",
  "summary": "Mukhtar Mamat lived through wartime hardship and occupation, making the peace Malaysians enjoy today something he never takes lightly.",
  "key_points": [
    "104-year-old Mukhtar Mamat recalls hardships of pre-independence Malaysia",
    "Forced to work on military fort at 18, received RM1.50 daily",
    "Celebrates Malaysia's independence on Aug 31, 1957"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Poktar's enduring memories of Malaysia's pre-independence hardships underscore the significance of Merdeka for him and highlight the value of freedom and stability for younger generations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "At 104, Poktar still remembers the day Merdeka arrived",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/at-104-poktar-still-remembers-the-day-merdeka-arrived-4305627",
        "published": "2026-08-29T23:45:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}