Hari Merdeka (Malaysian for 'Independence Day'), also known as Hari Kebangsaan

(National day), refers to the day when the Federation of Malaya's independence
from the British Empire was officially declared. At exactly 09:30 on 31 August
1957, the declaration was read by the first Chief Minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul
Rahman at the Merdeka Stadium in the presence of thousands of people
including Malay Rulers, members of the federal government, and foreign
dignitaries.

To commemorate the event, Hari Merdeka was declared a national holiday in

Malaysia and observed annually on 31 August. The day should not be confused
with Hari Malaysia ('Malaysia Day') that commemorates the formation of
Malaysia on 16 September 1963, when North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore
federated with the existing states of the Federation of Malaya.
Road Of The Independent Malaysia History

Hundreds of years ago Malaysia passed through many of the historical periods,
where the occupation came to Malaysia one after another, started from the
Portuguese and ending with the British. During the colonial period, the Malay
people have struggled and fought to regain their land and rights until the year
1957.
In 31 August 1957 has been declared the independence of Malaysia after several
negotiations were among Malaysians led by Tengku Abdul Rahman and the
British. In that day, Tunku Abdul Rahman proudly declared the independence of
Malaya (now Malaysia) by shouting out "merdeka" seven times at the merdeka
stadium.
The independence of Malaysia is different from much of the independence of
other countries, because is a peaceful independence achieved by holding talks
with the British. No other country has ever done that before Malaysia.
Additionally , the Malaysian independence was realised by three people with
different culture and religion
After independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman became the Prime Minister of
Malaysia and he was the first Prime Minister of Malaysia then Tun Abdul Razak b.
Hussein then Tun Hussein b. Onn then Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad then Dato' Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi then Najib Tunku Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of
Malaysia now, and Malaysia developed and became a tourist country after
independence.
ROAD OF THE INDEPENDENT MALAYSIA
After the Japanese Occupation
After the Japanese Occupation the Malayan Union was proposed to unify the
peninsula under one central administration. Singapore remained a Crown Colony,
but the other British settlements and protectorates came under the
administration of a British High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur. The traditional
power of the Malay rulers was restricted, and the large immigrant populations,
namely the Chinese and the Indians, were accorded citizenship in the new
federation.
Malay opposition to the Malayan Union proposal was powerful, and the Malayan
Union was quickly replaced with the Federation of Malaya and preparations for
self-government began. But the Malayan Union gave rise to the United Malays
National Organisation (UMNO), then led by Dato' Onn Jaafar, the Menteri Besar of
Johor. Dato' Onn resigned when his idea to open UMNO to non-Malay
participation was opposed by a majority of UMNO members.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Aj-Haj became UMNO's second president. The Tunku
was aristocratic, an anglophile and popular among the non-Malays. He was
considered ideal for the stewardship of a new nation, and it was him who steered
the people of Malaya and Borneo towards present-day Malaysia.
ROAD OF THE INDEPENDENT MALAYSIA
After the Japanese Occupation
After the Japanese Occupation the Malayan Union was proposed to unify the
peninsula under one central administration. Singapore remained a Crown Colony,
but the other British settlements and protectorates came under the
administration of a British High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur. The traditional
power of the Malay rulers was restricted, and the large immigrant populations,
namely the Chinese and the Indians, were accorded citizenship in the new
federation.
Malay opposition to the Malayan Union proposal was powerful, and the Malayan
Union was quickly replaced with the Federation of Malaya and preparations for
self-government began. But the Malayan Union gave rise to the United Malays
National Organisation (UMNO), then led by Dato' Onn Jaafar, the Menteri Besar of
Johor. Dato' Onn resigned when his idea to open UMNO to non-Malay
participation was opposed by a majority of UMNO members.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Aj-Haj became UMNO's second president. The Tunku
was aristocratic, an anglophile and popular among the non-Malays. He was
considered ideal for the stewardship of a new nation, and it was him who steered
the people of Malaya and Borneo towards present-day Malaysia.
However, the road to independence was not without obstacles, the biggest of
which was certainly the up rise of the communists, mostly from Chinese quarters.
In 1948, a state of Emergency was declared when communist rebels in Sungai
Siput murdered three European planters. The communists declared an armed
struggle to liberate Malaya from the British and started the bloodiest British
undeclared war that should last twelve years. Eventually the communists were
beaten through a combination of aggressive jungle warfare, the cutting-off of
supplies and the establishment of multi-racial co-operation between the
respective race-based parties in Malaya. Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaya's first
Prime Minister, declared the Emergency over in 1960.