AYER KEROH, MELAKA: The 59th year of the formation of Malaysia was celebrated at Dataran Memorial Pengisytihraan Kemerdekaan, Melaka on Friday evening and the first time held outside Sabah and Sarawak.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, this special event was held here as it had witnessed the shouts of Independence Declaration at Bandar Hilir, Melaka on 20th February 1956 and 30th August 1957 had witnessed the Union Jack Flag was pulled down at 6.30pm.
The Prime Minister added, 16th September is a sacred date and it should be made as the starting point to increase determination and invigorate the spirit in search of commonness.
“Living in the country and under the same sky, Malaysian Family should stand together to embrace the spirit of loyalty to the King and the country,” Ismail said in his speech at the Dataran Memorial Pengisytihraan Kemerdekaan here in conjunction with the 59th year of the formation of Malaysia.
Ismail also said that the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj had voiced out his intention to form Malaysia for the first time at the Foreign Journalists in South East Asia Conference held in Hotel Adelphi, Singapore on 27th May 1961.
“The process to form Malaysia was not easy as it had to have understanding and agreement among the Malay states, Sabah and Sarawak including Singapore. The challenges such as collecting voices and long crucial negotiation pleading for definitions had tested the patience of the “fighters”.
“All the challenges had proven that there was no short cut in forming a nation based on Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy. The challenges at that time were from internal and external forces including communist confrontation, confrontation in the formation of Malaysia, racial riots, economic challenges and the differences in religion, ethnic group, culture and language,” Ismail reiterated.
Ismail urged the people to remember names such as Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens, Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun, Tun Abang Haji Openg Abang Sapiee, Tun Jugah Anak Barieng, and Tan Sri Abang Abu Bakar Abang Mustapha. They were among the leaders who had finalised the negotiation to form Malaysia.
“The Federated Malay States was formulated as an independent country with sovereignty on 31stAug. 1957 and later the formation of Malaysia on 16th Sept. 1963,” Ismail said.
Referring to the guarantee that the Federal Government will give its attention to issues relating to Sabah and Sarawak that was mentioned in 2021 Malaysia Day celebration, Ismail said, “As the Special Council Chairman on the Malaysia Agreement 1963, I will ensure that the rights of Sabah and Sarawak as stipulated in the MA 63 will be protected.
“The government is committed to eliminate the development gap and this had been proven with the allocation of RM5.6 billion for Sabah and RM4 billion for Sarawak in 2022 to implement development projects involving water supply, electricity,roads besides education and health facilities,” Ismail said. –Malaysia World News
