Independence Day

Hari Merdeka

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 first batch of foreign representatives to Malaya were:

1) King and Queen of Thailand
2) Crown Prince and Princess of Japan
3) Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom, Prime Minister of South Africa
4) Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India
5) Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Prime Minister of Pakistan
6) Pham Van Dong, Prime Minister of Vietnam
7) Solomon Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Ceylon
8) U Nu, Prime Minister of Burma
9) Sim Var, Prime Minister of Cambodia
10)Sir Alexander Grantham, Governor of Hong Kong
11)John Foster Dulles, US Secretary of State (represent US President, Dwight D Eisenhower)
12)High Commissioners of Australia, Canada and New Zealand
13)Lim Yew Hock, Chief Minister of Singapore
14)Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (represent Queen Elizabeth II)
15)Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
16)Prince William of Gloucester
17)Sir Gerald Templer (former British High Commissioner in Malaya)
18)Lady Edith Margery Templer (wife of Sir Gerald Templer)
19)Lady Isabel Lowther Weir (wife of Sir Henry Gurney)
20)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

1970 Muhibah dan Perpaduan(Love and Unity)
1971 Masyarakat Progresif(Progressive Society)
1972 Masyarakat Adil(Fair Society)
1973 Masyarakat Berkebudayaan Malaysia(A Society with Malaysian Culture)
1974 Sains dan Teknologi Alat Perpaduan(Science and Technology as Tools of Unity)
1975 Masyarakat Berdikari(A Self-Reliant Society)
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)
2009 1 Malaysia, Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan