Selamat Hari Merdeka!!! (2012)

WISHING

ALL

MALAYSIANS

Happy Independence Day

SELAMAT

HARI MERDEKA!!!

On the night of August 30th, 1957...crowds gathered at the Royal Selangor Club Padang in Kuala Lumpur to witness the handover of power from the British. Observing two minutes of darkness & on the stroke of midnight...the lights were switched back on & the Union Flag in the square was lowered. The new Flag of Malaya was raised as the national anthem Negaraku was played. This was followed by seven chants of 'Merdeka' by the crowd. Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman gave a speech hailing the ceremony as "greatest moment in the life of the Malayan people".

On the morning of Saturday, August 31, 1957...the festivities moved to the newly completed Merdeka Stadium. The Queen's representative, the Duke of Gloucester presented Tunku Abdul Rahman with the instrument of independence. He then proceeded to read the Proclamation of Independence...which culminated in the chanting of 'Merdeka' seven times again with the crowd joining in. The ceremony continued with the raising of the National Flag of Malaya accompanied by the national anthem being played & a 21-gun salute...followed by an azan call & a thanksgiving prayer in honor of this great occasion.