By KUNA,
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia is celebrating today, Sunday, its 51st independence day from British occupation in 1957, and today, the country boasts of its economic achievements and its political stability.
The highlight of the celebration was the Merdeka (Independence) Day parade that took place at the Merdeka Square here. Thousands of Malaysians flocked to the square as early as 6:30 a.m. to catch a glimpse of the colourful parade and procession.
About 16,433 participants including pre-school pupils, police pensioners and others from various organizations took part in the two-hour event.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Unity, the Thrust of Success.” Among the dignitaries that attended the Merdeka Day celebration at the historical Square were the King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and the Queen Tuanku Nur Zahirah, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Jeanne Abdullah and his deputy, Najib Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdullah in his National Day message to the nation Saturday night said the true test of a country depends on how its people react in trying times.
The country, he said, after the March 8 general elections, had to deal with food and fuel price hike that had also caused a higher inflation rate.
“All these are huge challenges to us and it might raise questions and concern among the people as to whether we would be able to handle the situation.
“I am confident and believe we can again overcome every test we are currently facing if we stand together and work hand in hand, with a strong determination and commitment to carry out our responsibilities,” said the premier.
He also said the world respected Malaysia because not many countries with such a diverse population could live in harmony.
Abdullah, however, admitted that the country still had a long way to go and much had to be done.
“We want to be a developed country in our own mould, that promises a bright future for every one of its citizens without discrimination against race, religion and background,” he said.
Malaysia first came into existence in 1826, when the colonies of Binang, Dandong, Malaga, and Singapore united to become the “Straits Settlements,” with Great Britain spreading its rule on the Malawian sultanates.
In the year 1895, the protectorate of Federal Malay States was established with the agreement of the governors of the central administrations’ of Biraq, Selangor, Behang, and Similan.
Between 1942 and 1945, Japanese occupation led to the unification of Malaysian efforts to seek independence, and noble roots began to appear in the united Malawi states.
And in the year 1946, Britain planned to unite all Malawians after the collapse of key colonies due to the opposition of Malawian nationals. In 1948, all areas under British rule were united under the Malawian Union — excluding Singapore.
Following this, the local communists and the Chinese launched armed resistance against the British rule, prompting Britain to declare a state of emergency.
On August 31, 1957, the Malawi Union was granted its independence from British rule, and Badul Rahman Tunku was appointed as the first prime minister, while in the year 1963 the colonies of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined the union and its name was changed to Malaysia Union.
Singapore separated from Malaysia to become an independent republic in the year 1965.
The rulers of Malaysia are represented by Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, the former ruler of the Tringano mandate, to become the 13th king in the series of Malaysian monarchs in the year 2006.
The Malaysian monarchy is of honorific nature, and the ruling circulates among the nine Malawian state governors every five years.
Prime Minister Ahmad Badawi has always aspired to place Malaysia among the developed nations by the year 2020. He succeeded Dr. Mahathir Mohamed, who during his 22-year holding of the premiership transformed the country to one of the Asian tigers.
In 2005, the population of Malaysia hit 25.3 million, where the ethnic Malaysia is composed of 60 percent Malawis, and 10 percent Chinese, eight percent Indians, and 10 percent others, while the main religions are Islam, Budism, Taosim, and Hinduism, and Christianity.