To the rest of the world, 31st of August may come and go every year as imperceptibly as the changing of the seasons. To Malaysian, howerver, it is a date of deep significance. It was on this date, in 1957, that Malaysia (Then known as Tanah Melayu to the Malays and Malaya to others) made history as it flew the flag of independent Malaya in place of the Union Jack. The Changing of the Flag symbolised that the nation was no longer a colony of the British Empire but one that had established its own government with the institution of the monarchy as the symbol of its glory. The monarchy itself is represented in the person of the Yang di-Pertua Agong

In 1957, the Union Jack flag is lowered in the Downstream Township of Malacca. Lowering the flag is made exactly at 6.30pm, ahead of the expiration of the period of British rule in Malaya, which was supposed to begin at midnight. The unveiling of the Union Jack flag was held in a quiet atmosphere, witnessed by British Resident Commisioner in Melaka, Mr HG Hammett, along with thousands of people.

The flag was lowered by two crew members of the HMS Saint Brides Bay warship, then handed over to British Resident Commissioner Mr Hammett.Hand over the Union Jack flag to Mr. En. Hammett represents the end of British colonial rule in Malaya. On the eve of the "independence" cries from the Selangor Club grounds in Kuala Lumpur, where the summit was held, to lower the British flag, which symbolized the Queen's sovereignty. The revelation of 'Union Jack' on this day in 1957, meaning that flags are no longer overshadowing the state of Malacca and the Malayan whole.

Source: National Archives of Malaysia