Malaysia have two National days
Frenz do you know that our neighbouring country, Malaysia have two national days? The first is August 31, they refer it as Indenpendent day or Merdeka day. Other on Sept 16, they refer it as Malaysia day. That was a year ago. To day they call both dates as National day.
What the different between the two?
Let go back to the past. Long ago there was entity known as the Federations of Malaya consisting of 11 states. It became independence of British rule on August 31, 1957. It was celebrated as Merdeka day, a National day for the federations of Malaya which consit of 11 states only. On September 16, 1963, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore has joined and became a part of federation. The new entity was called federations of Malaysia which consit of 11 states plus Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore. Since that, September 16 became Malaysia day.
There was a long history about so called September 16 or Malaysia day. If we look back to the days when Malaysia was being formed after numerous negotiations and fact finding misions, they actually planned and agreed to that Malaysia came into existence on August 31, 1963. However, few days before the date, the goverment of Philippines and the goverment of our beloved Country Indonesia disagree and objected to the new federation and managed to get UN to delay the declarations until after the world's body sent a mission to investigate whether the people of Sabah and Sarawak wanted to be part of the federations. Because it was imposible for the mission to complete before August 31, they find another day which was September 16, 1963 on former Singapore PM Lee Kuan Yew's Birthday. How ever all those involved agreed that no matter what August 31 would be the date for the whole federation to celebrate their Independent and National day. So, on August 31 1964, Malaysia celebrated its first anniversary.
Since this year for the first time September 16 also became a national holiday. Not only for Sabah and Sarawak but for the whole country. Congcratulations Malaysia, you so unique... because you have two national day.
SRC: what they say by En. Zainon Ahmad (the Sun )
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