Did You Know: Malaysia Day is Only Recognised as a Nationwide Public Holiday Thanks to Najib Razak?

As Malaysians, we had just proudly celebrated the 68th anniversary of our country’s independence on Sunday (August 31).

In about 2 weeks, we have another historical day to look forward to, which is Malaysia Day on September 16 (and not to forget the extra public holiday on September 15, thanks to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim)!

In case you are not aware, here’s why we celebrate Malaysia Day.

Simply put, we celebrate Malaysia Day to commemorate the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963.

On that day, a historical event happened, and the country witnessed the formation of Malaysia through the union of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia), Sabah (previously North Borneo), and Sarawak. Singapore was also initially part of Malaysia until the city-state seceded from the Federation on August 9, 1965.

This day marks the moment when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore (before it left) came together to create the new, beloved nation we call Malaysia.

Malaysia Day is not only a celebration of Malaysia as a whole, but also to celebrate the national unity and the creation of the Malaysian federation.

Don’t we have Independence Day on August 31 for that?

Yes, we do, but let’s put it this way.

The iconic chants of “Merdeka!” on August 31, 1957, by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, were a defining moment that marked Malaya’s independence from British rule. However, Sabah and Sarawak had yet to join Malaya when the country gained its independence, according to a video by the Parliament about Independence Day.

Hence, technically, only Peninsular Malaysia, known as Malaya at the time, achieved its independence on August 31.

If not for Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Malaysia Day would be a holiday only reserved for Sabah and Sarawak

For illustration purposes only

Despite Malaysia Day’s official announcement on September 16, 1963, it wasn’t widely celebrated or recognised as a nationwide public holiday. In comparison, Merdeka Day has been recognised as a nationwide public holiday since 1957, as per the official website of the Sabah Library.

In 2009, former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is now serving his prison sentence, changed that.

As part of the 1Malaysia initiative, in October 2009, Najib announced in Parliament that from 2010 onwards, September 16 would be formally recognised as a nationwide public holiday, not just in Sabah and Sarawak.

Najib also wanted to foster unity across Peninsular and East Malaysia, as you can see from one of Najib’s Facebook posts in 2019.

On September 16, 2010, the first national observance took place, and what was a holiday meant only for Sabah and Sarawak has since been recognised and celebrated nationwide.

Symbolically, Malaysians celebrate Independence Day on August 31 every year to remember the freedom from colonial rule. Malaysia Day, on the other hand, is celebrated for what comes after Independence Day – the unity of different regions that led to the eventual formation of Malaysia.

Or, you can also view these celebrations from a different lens. Malaysia Day marks the country’s true independence, while Malaysia Day saw the true birth of Malaysia as a nation.

Of course, both celebrations are equally significant, as they are about celebrating freedom and togetherness. In terms of celebrations, while you can expect parades, fireworks, and patriotic events across Malaysia, unity-themed events are often prioritised for Malaysia Day.

Fellow Malaysians, are you ready for this year’s Malaysia Day?

Also read: Did You Know: SGD1 Would’ve Always Been RM1 If Malaysia Didn’t Terminate This 1967 Agreement