Now a businessman, Ibrahim, the eldest child of the late Abdul Rahman Salleh and Wan Fatimah Wan Ahmad, considers himself lucky to be brought to the world on that day.
“My late father always told me that my first cry after I was born came simultaneously with the shouts of ‘Merdeka’ on the radio.
“I arrived earlier than expected. My mother had labour pains when people were making preparation for Merdeka Day at Dataran Pahlawan, Malacca.
“According to a midwife, my mother was expected to deliver only in early September. Who had expected that I would be ‘anak Merdeka’ (independence child),” he said. when met by Bernama.
Known as ‘Ibrahim Merdeka’ among the village folks, he said it was when he entered primary school at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Petiti that he realised how lucky he was to be born on that auspicious date.
It is a special date and it made me feel special to be born on that day with the extra attention I got from teachers.
“I always got a pat on the back from my teachers. They always advised me to study hard so that I can be a useful citizen and be able to contribute for religion, race and country.
“Every year, I would be feted at the school’s Merdeka Day celebration and received gifts from various quarters,” he said.
The special treatment as an ‘Independence child’ continued even when he went to secondary school at Sekolah Menengah Seberang Takir.
“Every year, I and two other ‘Anak Merdeka’ would be invited to the Menteri Besar’s house (then Tan Sri Wan Mokhtar Wan Ahmad) and would be feted in conjunction with the Merdeka Day celebration.
“The two Anak Merdeka are women and they are from Kemaman. Unfortunately, I have lost touch with them,” said Ibrahim, who has two children.
On his preparation for this year’s birthday celebration, Ibrahim said he was decorating his house with the Jalur Gemilang.
“I’ll also be attending the doa and hajat prayer hosted by several quarters in conjunction with Merdeka Day,” he added.
“Every year, I’ll be involved in the Merdeka Day parade and normally my children will celebrate my birthday on the evening of Aug 31,” he added.