Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) is the national holiday of Malaysia. It is originally a day to commemorate the independence of Federation of Malaya from the colonial forces of the British.
Spearheaded by Tunku Abdul Rahman (Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj), the future first Prime Minister of Malaysia, he lead a delegation of ministers and political leaders of Malaya and peacefully negotiated for the sovereign nation of Malaya. By February 8, 1956 they successfully accorded and achieved independence from the Britsh Empire. However, it was decided that the official date and announcement of Independence would only be done the next year, on 31 August 1957 at Stadium Merdeka (Independance Stadium, formerly known as the Padang Selangor Club), in Kuala Lumpur.
Formation of Malaysia
The Federation of Malaysia, comprising of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore was to be officially declared on the date 31st August 1963, on the 6th anniversary of Malayan independence. However, it was postponed to 16th September 1963. This was mainly confrontation with Indonesia over the formation of Malaysia. Indonesia considered it as a new form of colonisation on the provinces of Sarawak and Sabah in the island of Borneo (bordering Kalimantan, Indonesia), which they lay claim on. A referendum and official commission, led by Lord Cobbold aptly named as Cobbold Commission was formed to find consensus from the people of Sabah and Sarawak on the formation of Malaysia. The overwhelming response of the people of Sabah and Sarawak supporting the formation of Malaysia, made the formation of Malaysia official.
Formation Malaysia was announced on 16th September 1963. However the celebration of Merdeka Day (Independence Day) is still retained on the 31st August, the original independence date for Malaya.
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