After years of somehow being 'overshadowed"/"sidelined" by the Merdeka Day (31 August 1957), at last we Malaysian officially celebrated the MALAYSIA DAY ...
As a primary/secondary student, I do not recall any emphasis being made on this date , 16 September 1963 - the year I was born in March. Not even in the History books at school during those days.
Of course I have heard of it along the way but I was only became really aware of the importance of this date was when I was in Year 2 when Allahyarham Prof. Azmi Khalid stood at the front of the lecture hall that 16 September 1986. He asked the students re: the significant of the date & he proudly as a Malaysia he was - "today is the date on which Malaysia was born!!!"...
We had Sabahans (William Mojilip & gang)and Sarawakians (Allahyarham Rosli & gang) in that class & we looked at each other - as a Malaysian I supposed ...
It's a sad thing actually and with this move, I really hope the importance & significance of this day would be treasured and cherish by every Malaysian. It was secured through hard negotiations & "give and take". Hard way due to the strong objection from Phillipine & of course Indonesia , with Indonesia declaring "confrontation" via 'ganyang Malaysia" campaign.
Well, Soekarno had his own "problem" & agenda at that time and it just happened that the new born Malaysia was a "good" punching bag in diverting Indonesians from her own domestic/political chaos at that point of time.
The sad thing was that Singapore - read Lee Kuan Yew - broke away from Malaysia in 1965. Some historians were of the view that the severed tie was actually a blessing in disguise for both parties. What I could gather from my readings is this - Lee Kuan Yew grabbed the opportunity to be in the federation of Malaysia on this august date due to him not being able to fend off the Socialist Front - led by the charismatic and "youthful" Lim Chin Siong!!! Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew was just waiting for "stability" and the right time to leave Malaysia ....
Life goes on anyway for Malaysia & we have progress leap and bound.
Happy Birthday Malaysia ....
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