Hari Merdeka

A man is thrown into the air by a crowd during Merdeka Day celebrations in Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur, 2008

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Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule in 1957, celebrated on August 31 each year. This should not be confused with Hari Malaysia (Malaysia Day) when Malaysia was formed on 16 September, 1963 together by Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.

Events leading up to independence

The effort for independence was spearheaded by Tunku Abdul Rahman, 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.

August 31, 1957

On the night of August 30, 1957, crowds gathered at the Royal Selangor Club Padang in Kuala Lumpur to witness the handover of power from the British. Prime Minister-designate Tunku Abdul Rahman arrived at 11:58 pm and joined members of the Alliance Party's youth divisions in observing two minutes of darkness. On the stroke of midnight, the lights were switched back on, and the Union Flag in the square was lowered. The new Flag of Malaya was raised as the national anthem Negaraku was played. This was followed by seven chants of 'Merdeka' by the crowd. Tunku Abdul Rahman gave a speech hailing the ceremony as "greatest moment in the life of the Malayan people".

On the morning of Saturday, August 31, 1957, the festivities moved to the newly completed Merdeka Stadium. More than 20,000 people witnessed the ceremony, which began at 9:30 am. Those in attendance included rulers of the Malay states, foreign dignitaries, members of the federal cabinet and citizens. The Queen's representative, the Duke of Gloucester presented Tunku Abdul Rahman with the instrument of independence. Tunku then proceeded to read the Proclamation of Independence, which culminated in the chanting of 'Merdeka' seven times with the crowd joining in. The ceremony continued with the raising of the National Flag of Malaya accompanied by the national anthem being played and a 21-gun salute, followed by an azan call and a thanksgiving prayer in honor of this great occasion.

Attendees

The foreign guests of honour included:

Members of royal families

• The King and Queen of Thailand
• The Crown Prince and Princess of Japan
• The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (representing The Queen)
  • Prince William of Gloucester

Heads of government

• The Prime Minister of South Africa, Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom
• The Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru
• The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
• The Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Van Dong
• The Prime Minister of Ceylon, Solomon Bandaranaike
• The Prime Minister of Burma, U Nu
• The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Sim Var
• The United States Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles (representing US President Dwight D. Eisenhower)

Representatives from other British colonies

• The Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Alexander Grantham
• The Chief Minister of Singapore, Lim Yew Hock
• The High Commissioners of Australia, Canada and New Zealand in Malaya

Members of the former British colonial administration

• Sir Gerald Templer (former British High Commissioner in Malaya) and Lady Templer
• Lady Gurney (wife of former British High Commissioner in Malaya Sir Henry Gurney)
• Lady Gent (wife of former British High Commissioner in Malaya Sir Edward Gent)

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 nationwide Independence Day celebration is still held on August 31, the original independence date of Malaya, while Malaysia Day was a public holiday only in East Malaysia. 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. In 2009, it was decided that starting 2010, Malaysia Day would be a nationwide public holiday in addition to Hari Merdeka on August 31.

Theme

Year	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 (1 Malaysia: People First, Performance Now)
2010	1 Malaysia: Menjana Transformasi (1 Malaysia Transforming the Nation)
2011	1 Malaysia: Transformasi Berjaya, Rakyat Sejahtera (1 Malaysia: Transformation Success, People Peace)
2012	55 Tahun Merdeka: Janji Ditepati (55 Years of Independence: Promises Fulfilled)

The 2012 theme has proven to be controversial, as it is seen by many Malaysians to be a political slogan rather than a patriotic one. The official "logo" was also ridiculed for its unconventional design. A video of the theme song uploaded on YouTube (with lyrics penned by Rais Yatim) has garnered an overwhelming number of "dislikes" because of its overtly political content, which had nothing to do with the spirit of independence.

See also

• Federation of Malaya Independence Act 1957
• History of Malaysia
• Peninsular Malaysia
• Federation of Malaysia
• Hari Merdeka Parade

External links

• Merdeka proclamation on YouTube video
• Theme and Logo for Hari Kebangsaan