Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule, celebrated on August 31. In a wider context, it is to celebrate the formation of Malaysia.
Malaya Independence
The effort for independence was spearheaded by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, who led a delegation of ministers and political leaders of Malaya in negotiations with the British in London for Merdeka, or independence along with the first president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock and fifth President of Malaysian Indian Congress Tun V.T. Sambanthan. Once it became increasingly clear that the Communist threat posed during the Malayan Emergency was petering out, agreement was reached on February 8, 1956, for Malaya to gain independence from the British Empire. However, for a number of logistical and administrative reasons, it was decided that the official proclamation of independence would only be made the next year, on August 31, 1957, at Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), in Kuala Lumpur.
The formation of Malaysia
The Federation of Malaysia, comprising the States of Malaya, North Borneo (later renamed Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore was to be officially declared on the date August 31, 1963, on the 6th anniversary of Malayan independence. However, it was postponed to September 16, 1963, mainly due to Indonesian and the Philippines' opposition to the formation of Malaysia. Nevertheless, North Borneo and Singapore declared sovereignty on August 31, 1963. Indonesian opposition later escalated to a military conflict. Indonesia considered Malaysia as a new form of colonization on the provinces of Sarawak and Sabah in the island of Borneo (bordering Kalimantan, Indonesia), which they laid claim on. To assure Indonesia that Malaysia was not a form of neo-colonialism, a referendum, organized by the United Nations, and the Cobbold Commission, led by Lord Cobbold, were formed to determine whether the people of Sabah and Sarawak wished to join Malaysia. Their eventual findings which indicated substantial support for Malaysia among the peoples of Sabah and Sarawak, cleared the way for the final proclamation of Malaysia.
The formation of the Federation of Malaysia was then announced on September 16, 1963 as Malaysia Day. The Independence Day celebration is still held on August 31, the original independence date of Malaya. However, this has caused some minor discontent among East Malaysians in particular since it has been argued that celebrating the national day on August 31 is too Malaya-centric.
Guests of Honour
When Malaya celebrated its first Independence Day, new hotels were built everywhere in Kuala Lumpur to accommodate the huge foreign delegation invited by the Government of the Federation of Malaya to witness the historical day.The historical event was captured by Malayan Film Unit, below are the recorded arrival of the guest of honour.
- Part 1 (The arrival of the foreign delegation)
- Part 2 (The Merdeka event took place)
- Part 3 (The installation of His Majesty Yang Di-Pertuan Agong)
- Part 4 (The national anthem was displayed for the first time ever)
The first batch of foreign representatives to Malaya were:
- King and Queen of Thailand
- Crown Prince and Princess of Japan
- Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom, Prime Minister of South Africa
- Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India
- Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Prime Minister of Pakistan
- Pham Van Dong, Prime Minister of Vietnam
- Solomon Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Ceylon
- U Nu, Prime Minister of Burma
- Sim Var, Prime Minister of Cambodia
- Sir Alexander Grantham, Governor of Hong Kong
- John Foster Dulles, US Secretary of State (represent US President, Dwight D Eisenhower)
- High Commissioners of Australia, Canada and New Zealand
- Lim Yew Hock, Chief Minister of Singapore
- Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (represent Queen Elizabeth II)
- Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
- Prince William of Gloucester
- Sir Gerald Templer (former British High Commissioner in Malaya)
- Lady Edith Margery Templer (wife of Sir Gerald Templer)
- Lady Isabel Lowther Weir (wife of Sir Henry Gurney)
- Lady Guendolen Mary Wyeth (wife of Sir Edward Gent)
Upon arriving at the Sungei Besi Airport, the guests of honour were welcomed by the British High Commissioner in Malaya, Sir Donald Charles MacGillivray and Lady MacGillivray, the First Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaya, Tuanku Abdul Rahman accompanied by the Raja Permaisuri Agong and the first Prime Minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Theme and Logo
In nearly every year, a brand new theme and logo were made for the celebration of the Independence Day of Malaysia.| Year | Theme | Logo |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Muhibah dan Perpaduan (Love and Unity) | none |
| 1971 | Masyarakat Progresif (Progressive Society) | none |
| 1972 | Masyarakat Adil (Fair Society) | none |
| 1973 | Masyarakat Berkebudayaan Malaysia (A Society with Malaysian Culture) | none |
| 1974 | Sains dan Teknologi Alat Perpaduan (Science and Technology as Tools of Unity) | none |
| 1975 | Masyarakat Berdikari (A Self-Reliant Society) | none |
| 1976 | Ketahanan Rakyat (Strength of the People) | |
| 1977 | Bersatu Maju (United and Progressive) | |
| 1978 | Kebudayaan Sendi Perpaduan (Culture is the Core of Unity) | |
| 1979 | Bersatu Berdisplin (United and Disciplined) | |
| 1980 | Berdisplin Berbakti (Discipline and Service) | |
| 1981 | Berdisplin Berharmoni (Discipline and Harmony) | |
| 1982 | Berdisplin Giat Maju (Discipline Creates Progress) | |
| 1983 | Bersama Ke Arah Kemajuan (Together Towards Success) | |
| 1984 | Amanah Asas Kejayaan (Honesty Brings Success) | |
| 1985 | Nasionalisme Teras Perpaduan (Nationalism is the Core of Unity) | |
| 1986 | Bangsa Tegas Negara Teguh (Steadfast Society, Strong Country) | |
| 1987 | Setia Bersatu Berusaha Maju (Loyally United and Progressively Working) | |
| 1988 | Bersatu (Unity) | |
| 1989 | Bersatu (Unity) | |
| 1990 | Berjaya (Success) | |
| 1991 | Wawasan 2020 (Vision 2020) | |
| 1992 | Wawasan Asas Kemajuan (Vision is the Basis of Progress) | |
| 1993 | Bersatu Menuju Wawasan (Together Towards Vision) | |
| 1994 | Nilai Murni Jayakan Wawasan (Good Values Makes the Vision a Success) | |
| 1995 | Jatidiri Pengerak Wawasan (Steadfastness Moves the Vision Forward) | |
| 1996 | Budaya Penentu Kecapaian (Culture Determines Achievements ) | |
| 1997 | Akhlak Mulia Masyarakat Jaya (Good Values Make a Successful Society) | |
| 1998 | Negara Kita, Tanggungjawab Kita (Our Country, Our Responsibility) | |
| 1999 | Bersatu Ke Alaf Baru (Together Towards the New Millennium) | |
| 2000-2006 | Keranamu: MALAYSIA (Because of you: MALAYSIA) | |
| 2007 | Malaysiaku Gemilang (My Glorious Malaysia) | |
| 2008 | Perpaduan Teras Kejayaan (Unity Is The Core of Success) |
See also
External links
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Last updated on Monday October 06, 2008 at 21:46:23 PDT (GMT -0700)
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