Independence Day - Merdeka! Merdeka!Merdeka

The 31st of August is a holiday that most Malaysians celebrate for various reasons. The festivity may involve family, friends or public gatherings. Popular culture would have you believe that the gala is a birthday party for the country. Flags wave, bands march and bystanders cheer. The parades are pageants, visible spectacles for all to applaud and enjoy. After the confetti blows away, what is the meaning of the day?

An Independence Day is an annual celebration observing the anniversary of a nation's independent statehood, usually after ceasing to be a colony or part of another state. All countries honor their respective independence day, celebrating it as a national holiday. The independence of Malaysia is different from that of the independence of other countries. It was a peaceful independence attained by holding talks with the British. Thus on 31 August 1957, Malaysia got its independence from the United Kingdom.

The first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj spearheaded the effort for independence, leading a delegation of ministers and political leaders of Malaya (now Malaysia) in negotiations with the British in London for Merdeka, or Independence. Just when it became clear that the Communist threat posed during the Malayan Emergency was getting out of hand, agreement was reached on February 8, 1956, for Malaya to gain independence from the British Empire. But for some reason it was decided that the official proclamation of independence would be made the next year, on August 31, 1957, at Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), in Kuala Lumpur.

On this glorious day Allahyarham Tunku Abdul Rahman proudly declared the independence day of Malaysia by shouting out "Merdeka" seven times at the Merdeka Stadium. Hari Merdeka meaning the Independence Day is the national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule. In a larger perspective this day is celebrates the formation of Malaysia. On August 31, 2008, Malaysia will celebrate its 50 years of independence.

The intention of the remembrance is to memorialize the Declaration of Independence. But the meaning of the word and certainly the idea of independence is routinely ignored and often purged from the gala. A party for the sake of enjoyment snubs the solemn legacy of the founders. Yet, those who rally their attention on patriotic fervor, make an even more profound error. Therefore, we must be careful with the interpretation on the meaning of Merdeka. Selamat Menyambut Hari Merdeka yang ke-50 kepada semua warga Malaysia......

"Merdeka!Merdeka!Merdeka!Merdeka!Merdeka!Merdeka!Merdeka!

"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest for freedom, go home and leave us in peace. We seek not your council nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."

Samuel Adams