mknace unlimited | the colours of life

Malaysia Day Declared A Public Holiday

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has declared that Malaysia Day which falls on Sept 16 annually will be a national public holiday from next year.

He told Dewan Rakyat on Monday that the formation of Malaysia as an independent and sovereign country was an important chapter in the nation's history.

"As such, Malaysians will celebrate a twin national holiday. Merdeka Day on Aug 31 which reminds us of the fight for independence from the colonialists will be celebrated with processions and so forth.

"Malaysia Day will be celebrated with activities to strengthen unity, racial understanding, and the people's achievement in sports, socio-culture, culture and others to light up the spirit of 1Malaysia," he said.

Malaysia Day is celebrated annually on Sept 16 to remind of the formation of the federation of Malaysia following the inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak in 1963.

Najib was replying to a question by Datuk Dr Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan) who wanted to know about the people's acceptance of 1Malaysia and programmes needed to achieve it.

He told parliament which began at 10am that the people of Sabah and Sarawak should enjoy education, economic and social development like that in peninsula as the two states had joined Malaysia since 1963.

"The formation of Malaysia as an independent and sovereign country was an important chapter in the nation's history. We want the joy and sorrows of Sabah and Sarawak people to be felt by those in peninsula."

On the 1Malaysia Concept, Najib said the concept which had become the thrust of administration was to foster national unity among various races including strengthening national integration between Malaysians in peninsula and those in Sabah and Sarawak.

The Prime Minister said to strengthen ties, more regular flights would be introduced and that more funds would be allocated for infrastructure projects like roads, water, electricity, schools, hospitals and clinics.

"With national unity, the country will become more stable, strong and peaceful. Peace is the most important foundation to achieve the objectives of Vision 2020 that will make Malaysia a developed country in all aspects."

"Unity had led to peace in the country for more than five decades. The price of peace is too high and can't be bought with money. Those who try to disrupt unity are the ones destroying the peace," he said.

To a supplementary question by Mojigoh on the identity of Malaysia compared to Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand, Najib said it was based on other elements which had become the local culture and the country's strength.

"A look at the history of the formation of Malaysia revealed that we had chosen integration and not assimilation like Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. This showed that our leadership had an open attitude from the start.

"It was the best way as we can become strong based on unity and diversity. There is no other country like Malaysia," he said.

Replying to a question by Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS-Marang), Najib said the 1Malaysia concept was a continuation of previous policies which had been implemented.

"The journey is the same. We can't reach the destination in one or two terms. We consider it a continuation and god willing, when implemented, the 1Malaysia concept will have values that support Vision 2020," he said.

Abdul Hadi asked whether the 1Malaysia concept meant that the government was sidelining earlier policies like Islam Hadhari, Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy and Vision 2020.

-- BERNAMA