I’m confused. The video and print ads on Malaysia Day all speak of harmony, be it cultural, food and others. But wasn’t this said in their ads during Merdeka too?
Can someone please tell me:
- How did this celebration of Malaysia Day come about?
- Why should Malaysians be celebrating it?
Honest to say, a direct translation of Merdeka is independence, so it’s hard to miss. Thus, what’s Malaysia Day?
Malaysia Day is held on September 16 every year to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation on the same date in 1963. It marked the joining together of Malaya, North Borneo (now state of Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore to form Malaysia.
Source: Wikipedia
Er, what’s a Malaysian federation? Pardon my blur-ness as I was educated in BM on Malaysian history and I don’t recall my teachers telling me, how to differentiate between this event and Merdeka. And I’m wondering if teachers today do educate students about Malaysia Day.
So, is Malaysia Day our country’s birthday? I’m not sure.
The name Malaysia was adopted in 1963 when the existing states of the Federation of Malaya, plus Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak formed a new federation…
The continental part of the country bore the name Federation of Malaya until 1963, when it federated with the territories of Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore.
Source: Wikipedia
Okay. She got her name sometime in 1963. Thus, Malaysia Day may not be celebrating her birthday. So, what are we celebrating then? And, why?
I’m still confused. How to love my country more like that?
P.S.: It’s disappointing to know I’ve to refer to Wikipedia instead of myself to write something in regards to my own country’s history. 🙁