Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule in 1957, celebrated on August 31 each year.The effort for independence was spearheaded by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, who led a delegation of ministers and political leaders of Malaya in negotiations with the British in London for Merdeka, or independence along with the first president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock and fifth President of Malaysian Indian Congress Tun V.T. Sambanthan. Once it became increasingly clear that the Communist threat posed during the Malayan Emergency was petering out, agreement was reached on February 8, 1956, for Malaya to gain independence from the British Empire. However, for a number of logistical and administrative reasons, it was decided that the official proclamation of independence would only be made the next year, on August 31, 1957, at Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), in Kuala Lumpur.
In this 2012, Malaysia will celebrate its 55th Independence Day (Hari Kemerdekaan Malaysia 2012) on Friday, 31 August 2012. Just like the previous years, Malaysia Independence Day 2012 will be celebrated throughout August 2012 and possibly extended until mid-September 2012. Malaysia observe the Independence Day 2012 as a public holiday. This year 2012, the theme of Malaysia Independence Day will be “Janji Ditepati” (A Promise Fulfilled).
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