Tomorrow, August 31st, Malaysians will be rejoicing all over the country, not only because it is a public holiday but the auspicious date marks our 53rd year anniversary celebrating the country’s Independence from British colonialism and the day the joyful, triumphant shouts of “Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka!” resonated throughout the nation by Malaya’s first Prime Minister, Allahyarham Tunku Abdul Rahman.(The name Malaya was then changed to Malaysia when the country was officially made a federation of 13 states including Sabah and Sarawak).
So dear friends, lets fly our ‘Jalur Gemilang’ high and celebrate the freedom we now enjoy that our forefathers fought for!
But of course, with the heat and all, you can opt to celebrate the momentous occasion indoors with many exciting Merdeka-themed programmes; such as The Best Of 1Malaysia Stories On Air; a showcase of more than 150 titles on one new dedicated channel ‘MySTORY’ on Astro.
With all the cheer going around and dedication to the 1Malaysia concept from the harmonious melting pot of cultures, one can’t help but feel proud to be Malaysian!
Happy Independence Day, Malaysia!
Here are some interesting facts you should know about our beloved motherland:
Capital City: Kuala Lumpur
Population: over 24 Million
Main Languages: Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Tamil, Chinese
Currency: Malaysian Ringgit (RM)
Country Dialing Code: +60
National Flower: Hibiscus or ‘Bunga Raya’
Key National Symbols: The Malaysian Flag or ‘Jalur Gemilang’, the National Anthem; ‘Negaraku’, the National Monument; ‘Tugu Negara’
