At midnight on Aug 30, 1957, millions of Malayans rejoiced the momentous occasion of the nation’s father Tunku Abdul Rahman replacing the Union Jack with the Malayan flag at Padang Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.

About 450 kilometres away, deep in a thick jungle at the border of Malaya and Thailand, a smaller band of brothers (read: armed comrades) was huddled in front of a fire, pondering what would that act of lowering the Union Jack mean to them.

Fifty-two years on, they are all bitter that the truth about their role in gaining independence for the country remains unrecognised, and are worried that it would die with them.