Hari Kebangsaan bukan Hari (Ulangtahun) Merdeka

The photograph shows among others, right foreground AAziz Zain,Judge of HighCourt, Wan Sidek (olboi V 55),
Tunku A Rahman, PM., LeeSiokYew, Minister Without Portfolio, Jalil Hassan, Principal of Muslim College,
and left foreground, SD (olboi V61), HT Ong, CJ. HighCourt of Malaya.

"Why are we calling the celebrations of 31st August 'Hari Merdeka'? Hari Merdeka happened only once i.e. on 31 08 1957, while its repeats are anniversaries thereof, i.e. Hari Ulangtahun Kemerdekaan.

"However following the formation of Malaysia in 1963 and especially after 1970, we should no longer use the term 'Hari Ulangtahun Kemerdekaan' as it is not relevant to the Sabah and Sarawak States that made up Malaysia for without them there is no such nation known now as 'Malaysia'.

"Our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra in his wisdom and sincerity, decided on the term 'Hari Kebangsaan' (National Day) which, inter alia, is meant to be a common multi-religious, -racial, -regional celebration to re-emphasise the importance of developing and promoting a common national sentiment and patriotism, via the organisation of events as we now are familiar with at the national level and other celebrations and activities which should be organised at sub-national levels by the people themselves.

"The Hari Kebangsaan themes were to be taken or adapted from the five dedicated objectives , i.e. the Cita-cita of the Rukunegara. Hence in the first few years, the themes adopted were Muhibbah dan Perpaduan (1970), Masyarakat Progressif (1971), Masyarakat Adil (1972), Masyarakat Berkebudayaan (1973), Sains dan Teknologi Alat Perpaduan (1974) and so on.

"The main Parade consisting of the uniformed services, viz Police and Military, only at the head and tail ends with other public and private sector contingents forming the main body of the Parade have been the style of our main morning National Day event since 1970. Such Parades have also been organised in the various State capitals instead of the National Capital, so that the people everywhere could enjoy similar sense of national pride and participation. But as the Tunku had decided, sub-national celebrations could and indeed should be organised any time suitable and convenient from that date (Merdeka Day anniversary) to the midnight ending the Malaysia Day anniversary of 16th September.

"But 'anniversaries' are out as Hari-hari Kebangsaan (National Days) are to be identified by their year, for example 'Hari Kebangsaan 2008' ".

-The Star page N53, 30 Aug 2008.