INDEPENDENCE

D A Y
Hari Merdeka, also known as Hari Kebangsaan or National Day is the
official independence day of Federation of Malaya. It commemorates
the Malayan Declaration of Independence of 31 August 1957, and is
defined in Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia. The day is
marked by official and unofficial ceremonies and observances.

Hari Malaysia commemorates the formation of Malaysia in 1963,

when North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore federated with the
existing states of Malaya to form Malaysia. Some, especially people
from East Malaysia, argue that it is illogical to celebrate 31 August
1957 as Malaysia's national day when Malaysia was only created in
1963.

The effort for independence was spearheaded by Tunku Abdul

Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, who led a delegation of
ministers and political leaders of Malaya in negotiations with the
British in London for Merdeka, or independence along with the first
president of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Tun Dato Sri
Tan Cheng Lock and fifth President of Malaysian Indian Congress Tun
V. T. Sambanthan.

Once it became clear that the Communist threat posed during the
Malayan Emergency was petering out, agreement was reached on 8
February 1956, for Malaya to gain independence from the British
Empire. However, logistical and administrative reasons led to the
official proclamation of independence in the next year, on 31 August
1957, at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.