Malaysia Day is celebrated annually on 16th September in Malaysia and it commomerotes the anniversay of the formation of the Malaysian Federation which took place on same date in 1963.
Malaysia Day is also a declared national holiday in Malaysia along with the Independence Day which is celebrated annually on 31st August.
Malaysia Day is also known as ‘Hari Malaysia’. This day was not recognized as an official holiday until 2010. The celebrations of Malaysia Day primarily include national ceremonies that celebrate the strength of Malaysians and the country of Malaysia today since its formation.
| Event | Malaysia Day |
|---|---|
| Date | September 16, 2022 |
| Day | Friday |
| Significance | The day commemorates the formation of the Malaysian Federation on the same date in 1963 |
| Observed by | Malaysia |
Malaysia Day History:
Malaysia Day commemorates September 16, 1963, when the Malaysian Federation was established. The East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak and the former British Colony of Singapore combined with the Malaya Federation to form Malaysia. However, Singapore was later expelled from the Federation two years after on August 9, 1965.
Earlier than that Malaysia was under the control of the British Empire for more than 100 years as Malaysia became a colony of Britain in March 24th, 1824 and lasted till 1957 and as a result the Federation of Malaya was granted full independence from Britain.
The British-ruled territories of the Malay peninsula formed the federation of Malaysia by 1948 and which only represents Malaysia today excluding only Singapore.
But the Federation of Malaya consisted of only today's West Malaysia and thus joining of East Malaysia was very important for the country and thus this day is considered very important in Malaysian history and that's why it totally deserves it's own celebrations along with Independence Day!
Sabah was a petroleum-rich state and that's why both the Philippines and Malaysia wanted to get their hands on it. However, Sabah became a British colony 17 years before joining the Malaysian Federation. The rush of Indonesian refugees in the 1970s and the feud of Sabah’s right to some of the neighboring islands resulted in the Indonesian Islands of Sipadan and Ligitan being officially declared as part of Sabah.
The state of Sarawak was ruled by the ‘white rajas’, a name given to the Brooke Dynasty. The state of Sarawak flourished under their rule and expanded. Both of these states joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 and thus we got country of Malaysia that we know today.
Malaysia Day Significance:
Malaysia Day is very significant for Malaysian history as it commomerotes the day which was very important in shaping the future of the country. As informed earlier that the territories of East Malaysia was very important for the Malaysian Federation both strategically and economically.
This is a day which also inspires the Malaysian people to show unity and brotherhood with each other. As Malaysia is a very diverse country with thirteen states and three federal federal territories and many of which also experiences some kind of autonomy but still at last everyone has one identity and that is Malaysian.
It is a day which also gives a chance to all of the Malaysians whether they might belong from any part of the country be it Easy or West or anyone from any religion as Malaysia is also very religiously diverse country. So it unites all of the Malaysians irrespective of their ethnicities and all other major differences.
This day also gives a chance to all of the Malaysians to feel pride, honour and love for their country. It also gives them to a chance to fully enjoy and celebrate the incredible Malaysian culture and people with full joyful spirit. This day Malaysian also use to show patriotism for their country and makes promises to each other to always protect the country and keep it safe.
And this day also serves as a memorial for all of the Malaysians to pay tribute and offer respect to all of the national heroes and great freedom fighters who fought very hard and had a huge contribution for the independence and formation of Malaysia.
Malaysia Day Celebrations:
The celebrations of Malaysia Day primarily include pompous and auspicious national ceremonies that celebrate the unity and strength of Malaysians. During this day various national symbols and monuments are paid respect.
Hence many Malaysians on this Day likes to pay visit to various important national monuments and historical places across the country to pay their respect to the heritage behind those places. Children mostly enjoy their day visiting the National monument where they learn about the fallen soldiers that fought for unity and the independence of the country. And they also visit National Museum to know the heritage of the country. Many people also likes to pay visit to famous Petronas Twin Towers on this day.
Eating is also a favourite Malaysian pastime. Hunting for the best food in town is also what Malaysians would do during the holiday. Famous Malaysian dishes such as Nasi Lemak, Rendang, and many others areostoy eaten on this day and all of them are very tasty.
Many national ceremonies are held on this day by the government to raise the morale and spirits of Malaysians. These includes everything from flag-hoisting ceremonies across the country, various types of parades and playing of national anthem and songs.
As it is a day-off so Malaysians also likes to enjoy their time doing many recreational activities which includes various things like going to various restaurants, cafes, theme parks, cinemas, religious places and many other things as well. Overall it is a very fun day full of excitement and patriotism.
Most Searched FAQs on Malaysia Day:
1. When is Malaysia Day is celebrated?
Malaysia Day is celebrated annually on 16th September.
2. Is Malaysia Day a public holiday?
Yes, Malaysia Day was announced as an official holiday in 2010.
3. When did Singapore seperate from Malaysia?
Singapore separated from Malaysia on August 9, 1965, to become a separate independent state.