Without them, Malaysia will not be what it is today
Updated 5 years ago · Published on 16 Sep 2021 10:00AM
Children in a Sekinchan village happily flying the Jalur Gemilang in the middle of a padi field, even though the main celebration is held in Kuala Lumpur. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021
by Mohd Hazli ‘Bobo’ Hassan
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia – an independent, one-of-a-kind and sovereign country – is where people of various races, ethnicities, and religions coexist peacefully.
This peaceful country took root with the presence of Parameswara in Malacca, followed by the existence of the Federation of Malaya, the Japanese conquest of Malaya, and the subsequent formation of Malaysia.
As a matter of fact, this year saw the government sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with opposition parties for transformation and political stability, which is a difficult thing for a government in this region to do.
On top of all this, the country’s political arena has seen three different prime ministers since the last election in 2018.
Malaysia was formed on September 16, 1963, with Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore as members, but the island nation across the Tebrau Strait was forced to split from the federation formed less than two years later on August 9, 1965, after a majority of lawmakers voted 126-0 in favour of the separation.
The long journey of uniting the people of Peninsular and East Malaysia continues, with the sixth prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak turning Malaysia Day – which was previously only a public holiday for Sabah and Sarawak – into one for the entire country from 2010.
Malaysians since then have been able to commemorate Merdeka Day and the establishment of the sovereignty of the country known as Malaysia twice: on August 31 and September 16.
Even though the country is still in trouble due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, all Malaysians celebrated the nearly month-long festival by flying the Jalur Gemilang everywhere.
Malaysians young and old have been celebrating Malaysia Day by waving the Jalur Gemilang since the Merdeka Day celebration on 31 August.
The Vibes shutterbugs SAIRIEN NAFIS, AZIM RAHMAN, ALIF OMAR and SADIQ ASYRAF toured the city to see the waving of the Jalur Gemilang in conjunction with the Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day celebrations. – The Vibes, September 16, 2021
The recent Merdeka Day celebrations are being held during the MCO in a moderate fashion. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021Drivers usually fly a smaller version of Jalur Gemilang on their cars, but this motorist sports a full-sized flag on his in spirit of the celebration. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021No matter where, Malaysians’ patriotic nature shines through the flying of the Jalur Gemilang. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021The August 31 Merdeka Day celebration was held in a lively manner with various shows. Though there were no attendees due to the MCO, celebrations continued in new-normal fashion. – Information Department Pic, September 16, 2021Families took the opportunity of the Merdeka holiday to spend leisure time outdoors in Putrajaya recently. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021Rifa’i Jalinus, 71, put up about 50 Malaysian flags around his house in conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebration in Kg Baru, Kuala Lumpur. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021Mohd Noor Shahril, along with his children, Ahmad Najeh Syauqi, Ahmad Najid Saufi, and Naa’ilah Sofiyyah, capturing a patriotic moment at Tugu Negara. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021Not only the Jalur Gemilang, Rifa’i Jalinus also waved the Federal Territories flag in celebrating Malaysia Day today. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021Children from the village near the water-rush tragedy in Gunung Jerai, Kedah, taking the opportunity to join in the Malaysia Day festivity. – ALIF OMAR/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021Pangsapuri De Palma management office staff raising Jalur Gemilang buntings around the residence in conjunction with Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day in Setia Alam. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021Buildings around the capital decorated with electronic Jalur Gemilang displays. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021The Jalur Gemilang represents the sovereignty of Malaysia that must be protected. – SADIQ ASYRAF/The Vibes pic, September 16, 2021
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