Local heritage group brings Malaysia’s history to life

KUALA LUMPUR: For many people, history lives in documentaries, museum halls, and the pages of textbooks.

But for members of Persatuan Reka Ulang Sejarah (PRUS), history is not confined to the past: it is re-lived, re-experienced and celebrated in the present.

For many years, this group has been breathing new life into bygone eras by donning period uniforms, recreating battles, and sharing stories to remind others of the country’s colourful heritage.

PRUS founder and chairman Abdul Hakim Abdul Rani explained that he got involved with historical reenactment out of a fascination with military uniforms.

“I started collecting uniforms, and learnt a lot more about them. I noticed that in quite a number of museums, the uniforms displayed there were inaccurate. Some of my foreign friends noticed this, and told me about it,” Hakim, 33, told FMT Lifestyle.

“I decided then that this would be our group’s personal mission, to ensure that the uniforms we displayed to the general public would be as correct and accurate as possible!”

PRUS is mostly devoted to re-enacting World War II, and the brief post-war period.

“I don’t think that period is as well-documented as other parts of our history. I therefore think it is important that we raise awareness and remember these times as best we can, before it is all forgotten,” added PRUS secretary Mohamad Alif Daniel Mohammad Nor.

He stated that he grew up listening to stories about the country’s past from his late grandmother, which had sown in him a deep appreciation for history.

The society currently comprises about 20-30 members: while most hail from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, others come from Johor, Kelantan and Kedah, all united by their passion for local history.

Hakim explained that military reenactments had been staged here since 2012. It all started after the Port Dickson Army Museum organised an event at the Sungai Besi air force base that year, inviting anyone who collected military paraphernalia to attend.

These collectors soon began carrying out activities together, calling themselves “MyReenact” and “We Are Re-enactors”. In 2023, they registered as an official society under the PRUS name.

The society has made regular appearances and held showcases at various local schools, museums and historical-themed events since their formation.

Their busiest months are in August and September, where they are frequently invited to Merdeka and Malaysia Day celebrations.

During their meet-ups, the society engages in historical research, or conducts military drills. They often do general reenactments of the invasion of Malaya and the fall of Singapore.

These reenactments are an eye-catching sight, with members looking sharp wearing vintage uniforms.

Some members are dedicated to a specialised area of historical expertise which they use to inform their re-enactments: Hakim, for example, focuses on the British Malayan military, while Arif (who once studied in Japan) researches the Japanese army.

“We source some of our uniforms locally. Some we find in old markets. Historical re-enactment is really big in the US and the UK, so it’s easy to buy replicas from there which we add to our collection,” Hakim said.

“Other than uniforms, we also look for trinkets, medals, buttons, and headwear. And items such as old radios and telephones. Sometimes, there’s camping involved, so we look for tents, bedding, personal kits…we aim to be as historically accurate as we can,” Hakim added.

While PRUS is still quite small now, it is Hakim’s hope that more people discover the joys of history, and join the society so they can plan events on a larger scale in future.

He added that there were plans to conduct more activities related to their interests, such as camping trips, exhibitions and compass-reading training.

And while many of their activities may involve donning traditional military uniforms, Arif stressed that their society promoted peace instead of war.

“We wear uniforms, but they are historical, not political. I think it’s very important that we all remember our local history, and learn from the mistakes of our past,” Arif, 24, added.

“We want to show the younger generation how the older generation lived. Things were not as easy for them as they are now, and we should appreciate that. We should take pride in our history, which is a great way to foster unity.”

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