Thousands of people gathered at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (Aug 31) to celebrate Malaysia’s 65th National Day.
After two years of marking the occasion under COVID-19 restrictions, spectators witnessed a parade and march-past with about 20,000 participants from different contingents. The contingents showcased components of nationhood, governance, public order and national security, Bernama reported.
HISTORY: Malaysia Independence Day, also known as National Day or ‘Hari Merdeka’ in Malay is observed on August 31 and commemorates the Malayan Declaration of Independence of 31 August 1957. It is defined in Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia as the official independence day when it gained its freedom from the British colonial administration.
The efforts for the independence of Malaysia were headed by the first Malaysian prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. He led a delegation of ministers and political leaders of Malaya to negotiate with the British for independence.
When the threat of a communist revolt, posed during the Malayan Emergency gradually became less, an agreement was reached on February 8, 1956, for Malaysia to gain independence from the British Empire. But due to some logistical and administrative reasons, their actual independence was declared in the following year on August 31, 1957.
