Thursday, September 01, 2005

Malaysia Merdeka (Independence) Day

Yesterday (31 August) was Malaysia's independence day. Thousands attended State-level parades and festivities, which was held throughout the country to mark the nation’s 48th National Day.

The Malaysian Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak also joined in the colourful Merdaka celebration in a dazzling show of patriotism and national pride.

In Kapit, which hosted the Sarawak-level Merdeka celebrations, more than 2,200 participants from 54 contingents took part in a parade at the sports complex.

In Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, the state Merdeka Day parade took on a colourful ethnic twist with dancers garbed in the traditional costumes of its indigenous communities performing the sumazau of the Kadazandusuns, the daling daling of the Suluks, and the monggigol of the Rungus.

Sabah leaders also rightfully reminded the nation that "Malaysia is 42, not 48 years old" as reported in The Star by Ruben Sario as follows:

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah leaders want to set the record straight: the National Day that the state and neighbouring Sarawak will be celebrating is for 42 years of independence – not 48.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said that while the states in the peninsular became independent on Aug 31, 1957, the two eastern Malaysian states ceased to be British colonies on Aug 31, 1963.

“Sabah was, therefore, literally a nation before Malaysia was formed.

“Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah were formalised as Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement on Sept 16, 1963,” he said.

“Malaysia is therefore only 42 years old today, not 48.

“Let us not continue this unnecessary distortion of history,” said the United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation president in his National Day message.

“The time has come for us to express openly what is on the lips of many Malaysians in Sabah and, perhaps, in Sarawak, too,” said Dompok.

Deputy Chief Minister and Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan shares this sentiment in his message.

He added that Sept 16 should be a significant date in the country's history, as important as Aug 31.

In his National Day message, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said Malaysia came into being 42 years ago and had since overcome numerous political, economic and social obstacles because of the people’s perseverance and hard work.

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