Time was of the essence as they only had nine months to complete the entire project in time for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 1989.

One man Michael instantly thought of and contacted was his architect cousin, Sandy Yap.

With meticulous planning, the cousins and their team pulled off the project on time, even building a one-level underground parking area and commercial site.

With the Dataran Merdeka project under their belts, the cousins moved on to their next job, this time in Penang, where sadly, Sandy unexpectedly died from a heart attack.

A heartwarming reunion

In conjunction with Merdeka Day this year, Sandy’s son, Richart, shot a video at Dataran Merdeka, speaking of his late father’s involvement in helping build a towering flagpole there, saying he missed his father the most every Merdeka Day.

So heartfelt was his tribute to his father, that the video went viral, chalking up over 80,000 views on TikTok.

FMT reached out to Richart, as well as Michael’s son, Simon to talk about the momentous project their fathers were involved in.

For the duo, this meeting was a reunion of sorts, as they had lost touch after Sandy’s passing.

So, what do Richart and Simon remember about those days? The men were 18 and 13 years old respectively when the project was underway.

“I recall my father feeling stressed when he worked on the project due to the limited time,” said 46-year-old Simon.

It was a sentiment echoed by Richart. “Besides my father, even my mother felt jittery! As for me, I remember sending my father to the site as I just got my driving license and wanted to use the car often,” the 51-year-old shared with a laugh.

According to Simon, as the turnkey developer of the project, the company took on the roles of developer as well as main contractor.

However, unlike a normal contractor who builds a structure based on drawings provided, a turnkey developer is also in charge of designing and submitting the designs for approval.

Keeping the Jalur Gemilang flying high

Simon revealed that his father envisioned a flagpole so tall that everyone in the surrounding area could clearly see the Jalur Gemilang flying high and proud in the sky.

So, the team worked on building a towering 95-metre, free-standing flagpole – reputed to be the tallest upon its completion in Asia at the time.

It was no easy feat as a free-standing flagpole was neither attached nor supported by another structure, making the project both exhilarating and challenging.

Aside from its incredible height, the flagpole also had another unique feature.

“According to my father, Uncle Sandy came up with a concept to ensure that the flag would not wrap itself around the pole, no matter what direction the wind blows,” shared Simon.

“He conceptualised the idea and sketched it out. After that, I believe there would have been others, such as engineers, who would have worked on it further,” said Richart, about his father’s involvement in the project.

Today Dataran Merdeka and the sturdy Malaysian flagpole erected there decades ago hold a significant meaning to these men.

“This was not one person’s work as there were many others such as subcontractors and technicians who were a part of it,” said Simon.

“And it was successful because everyone’s hearts and minds were in it,” shared Richart, adding that he believed in the value of teamwork.

“I like the idea that Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures, and we should all see ourselves as Malaysians, regardless of the background we come from,” added Simon.

For him, the flagpole and the Jalur Gemilang represent hope.

“When you look at the flag, it’s hope. Even with everything that the country has gone through, it’s important to still have hope because if we want to make a change or improve something, what drives those intentions? Hope. When all is lost, hope will give you strength and help you to get back on your feet so that you can continue your journey.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by Richart, who said Malaysia Day, just like Merdeka Day, was a time to celebrate hope.

“We are very blessed here and that is why in my video, I encouraged Malaysians to be proud of the flagpole because it was a Malaysian achievement. The video is not just a tribute to my father, but to every Malaysian who was involved in the project.”