TOMORROW is Malaysia’s National Day (Hari Kebangsaan or Hari Merdeka). The event is celebrated every year on August 31 to commemorate the country’s independence from British rule in 1957.
Happy 69th National Day, Malaysians! The Federation of Malaya gained independence on August 31, 1957, so 2026 commemorates 69 years of independence.
Malaysia was formed on September 16, 1963, through the union of the Federation of Malaya, the State of Singapore and the British crown colonies of North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak. Singapore later left the federation to become an independent nation in August 1965.
Sarawak attained self-government on July 22, 1963 and achieved formal independence through the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963.
This year’s national-level Malaysia Day celebration on September 16 will be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) in Kuching.
Tomorrow’s National Day will see Malaysians coming together in a colourful display of patriotism and national pride in Putrajaya. The celebrations will feature a grand parade with marching contingents, colourful floats, cultural performances, patriotic songs and displays by the military and uniformed services. A special air show will also add excitement to the festivities.
For the past few weeks, I have been hearing patriotic national songs such as ‘Tanggal 31 Ogos” and ‘Jalur Gemilang’ being played frequently on the radio and reading news about the National Day rehearsals at Dataran Putrajaya ahead of Aug 31 parade.
‘Tanggal 31 Ogos’ is a famous Malaysian patriotic song associated with Hari Merdeka (National Day).
The song celebrates freedom and independence, love and pride for the country, unity among Malaysians, the joy of Merdeka and appreciation for the sacrifices made for independence.
‘Jalur Gemilang’ is a Malaysian patriotic song about love, pride and loyalty towards Malaysia, with the national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, as its central symbol.
The song celebrates Malaysian national pride, unity, love for the country, patriotism, hope and confidence. Whenever I hear ‘Tanggal 31 Ogos’ and ‘Jalur Gemilang’, I feel like matching proudly with the Malaysian flag, surrounded by fellow Malaysians as we celebrate our unity and freedom. I feel a strong sense of pride in being Malaysian.
On Friday, August 28, in anticipation of the National Day celebrations on August 31, crowds gathered at Dataran Putrajaya to witness parade rehearsals featuring vibrant performances by security forces and cultural troupes.
Tomorrow, the actual event, themed “Malaysia MADANI: Kesejahteraan Dinikmati,” is expected to attract over 80,000 attendees.
It will be broadcast and telecast live on national television and streaming platforms from 7.20 am to 10.30 am. The TV channels involved are TV1, TV2, and Saluran Berita/RTM World. Live streaming is available via the RTMKlik application and official social media pages like Merdeka360.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Prime Minister’s National Day address today is scheduled for 2 pm (rescheduled from the original 9.30 pm time slot.
The new venue is the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) (relocated indoors from Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur).
The Prime Minister’s address has been shifted to the afternoon and moved indoors due to haze conditions affecting parts of the country to prioritise public health and safety.
Even though many of us cannot be in Putrajaya tomorrow for the grand National Day parade, we can still watch it, thanks to the live telecast and broadcast.
I will be watching the live telecast of the parade because I want to experience the excitement, patriotism and unity of Malaysians celebrating together. I want to see the colourful performances, marching contingents, cultural displays and the Jalur Gemilang, while appreciating what it means to be part of a diverse and united Malaysia.
I am very proud to be Malaysian because Malaysia is such a beautiful and diverse country where people of different backgrounds can come together as one. I am proud of our rich culture, delicious food, beautiful landscapes and, most of all, the spirit of unity and togetherness among Malaysians.
Like many other Sarawakians, especially those involved in the preparations, I’m sad, however, that the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee has postponed this year’s state-level National Day celebrations in Kapit due to the worsening haze and unhealthy air quality across parts of the state. The event was originally set for August 30-31.
The postponement was aimed at protecting public health, especially for high-risk and vulnerable groups like children and individuals with asthma or respiratory conditions.
Other large outdoor gatherings that have been postponed include the Sarawakku Sayang programme in Mukah. Organisers of most large-scale outdoor public assemblies and festive events scheduled around this period have been advised to wait for better air quality conditions.
Driven by intense El Niño forest fires in Kalimantan, this year’s severe haze is among the worst August spikes recently recorded. Air quality in Kuching and Sri Aman has reached very unhealthy levels, ranking among the worst globally.
Since the state-level National Day celebration was originally planned for August 30–31, with organisers expecting participation from outside Kapit, I wonder what happens now to the out-of-town participants?
Will those who have already travelled to Kapit be asked to return home? Who bears their additional travel and accommodation costs?
What happens to performers, contingents, students and uniformed groups who have been rehearsing? Will their transport and accommodation bookings be cancelled, transferred or reimbursed?
I guess sometimes, things are unavoidable. No matter how much we plan, hope or try to change the outcome, certain things are simply beyond our control. All we can do is accept what has happened, learn from it and move forward.
Now back to tomorrow’s National Day celebrations and parade in Putrajaya. After watching them live on the national television and streaming platforms, I will either relax at home, enjoying a quiet and peaceful day away from the usual hustle and bustle, or simply spend some time doing the things I like at my own pace. I’m glad that tomorrow is a public holiday.
Sometimes, staying home gives me the chance to slow down, rest and recharge after a busy week. It is also a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with my two dogs and cat.
Playing with them and simply having them around bring me a sense of comfort and happiness. These quiet moments at home allow me to unwind, clear my mind and appreciate the simple joys of everyday life.
Once again, to all Malaysians, Happy 69th National Day!
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at adelinel888@gmail.com.
