Today, as Malaysians, we celebrate our National Day.
Fifty one years since we were released from the clutches of a foreign power and came together as a nation. Errr … actually that’s not quite right. 31 August 1957 which is fifty one years, as of today, refers to the independence of Malaya from British Rule.
It is actually forty five years since my part of the country (Sarawak, along with Singapore and Sabah … and very nearly Brunei) was released from the clutches of foreign power by joining Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia. That date is actually 16 September 1963, which seems to be conveniently forgotten by most.
Ummm … now if we want to be really picky, the nation as it stands now came about when Singapore left the federation on 9 August 1965. But then we’d be commemorating our special day on the same day as our neighbour, the breakaway republic … let’s not even go there.
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- Declaration to form Malaysia, effective 16 Sep 1963.
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- Malaysia’s flag was adapted from Malaya’s flag by adding extra points to the star, and extra stripes.
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- Declaration of Singapore’s independence, effective 9 August 1965.
