Malaysia turns 49 on August 31st, 2006.Although... technically... on August 31st 1957, the country was known as the Federation of Malaya, and consisted of only the states on the Malay Peninsula [that finger just south of Thailand].
It was only on 16th September 1963 that Sabah, Sarawak [on the island of Borneo] and the island of Singapore merged with The Federation of Malaya, to become Malaysia. [Singapore subsequently withdrew in 1965].
But that's... that's.... that's... minor.... Malaysia celebrates its independance on 31st August... even though technically Malaysia was only born on 16th September. But shhhhhhhh! Pointing that out might get you in trouble with the powers-that-be! "Sensitive" or something, may affect the unity of the country or something. Whateverlah. If we'd kept the name of the Federation of Malaya, then fine... but "Malaysia" only came into existence on 16th September 1963.
Why should Sabah&Sarawak be the only states celebrating Hari Malaysia [Malaysia Day] on 16th September??
If nothing else, the powers that be are kinda addressing this by declaring 16 August - 16 September as Merdeka [independance] month - that's been going on for a few years now... and the big celebrations in the middle of this "month" looks like a good compromise... but... technically... the big bang should happen on 16th September, should it not??
So... after you read all that... kinda funny to see that Wikipedia describes Malaysia as "... a federation of 13 states in Southeast Asia, formed in 1963" ... hmmmmm now *why* would I think that that particular wiki entry is not officially sanctioned by the Malaysian Government??
Oh - something else to ponder upon:
According to the CIA Factbook on Malaysia [thanx, Marcia!], the Malaysian Flag design [14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam] was based on the flag of the US. 
Heh.
Really?
I've always found it "neat" that the Malaysian & U.S. flags looked similar, but never have I heard/read that one was based on the other.
Whaddaya think? U.S. arrogance? Malaysian cover-up?
Eh, probably a bit of both.
Well, whatever it is... Malaysia has a long way to go in making the country a true to home to the 49% of people who are of the "wrong" race [and therefore religion].
Happy pseudo-birthday, Malaysia - here's hoping you get wiser as you age, as opposed to getting more and more set in your ways.
hi the voelho you visit again!!
ReplyDeletehi azlynn. Just stopping by to say hi and Happy 49th Merdeka Day. Totally on the ball with you on the Malaya vs Malaysia Merdeka Day thingy. some convulted politician hinking :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how so many countries celebrate their independence day on a different date, rather than on the actual date. :-)
ReplyDelete49% of the people of the "Wrong Race" ... that sounds interesting. I do agree with you as I am from the wrong race and are considered a lesser Malaysian.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't a nice thing to say to fella Malaysians but the political inclination and the greed for power of those "wealth tappers" made it such...not so, in the perspective of most ordinary Malaysians.
Happy Birthday, Malaysia! That's gotta be some big cake.
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