Remember, Remember, the 16th of September
Coming this September 16, celebrated for the very first time in Malaysian history as a declared federal public holiday is Malaysia Day! But before anyone thinks of this as just more time to sit at home and chill, here are some interesting facts about this commemorated day in history as well as our country then and now.
- Malaysia Day is the day that Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore became one as a country with Malaya, forming our country known as Malaysia.
- Back then, the country was known as the Federation of Malaya which consisted of 11 states only.
- Prior to the formation of Malaysia, the Cobbold Commision was set up to determine if the residents of Sabah and Sarawak were in favour of such an action. The response was a positive one. This Commission of Enquiry was headed by one Lord Cobbold, hence the name of the commission.
- Malaysia Day was originally slated to happen on 31 August 1963. However, due to objections by the Philippines and Indonesia, the formation of Malaysia was postponed to a slightly later date.
- This postponement also allowed it to coincide with the announcement of the findings of a United Nations conducted survey on whether the peoples of Sarawak and North Borneo wished to join Malaysia.
- Back then, Sabah was known as North Borneo. It was only after forming Malaysia with Malaya did it become Sabah.
- Two years after Malaysia was formed, Singapore broke away from Malaysia to form its own government in 1965.
- Random Trivia: Ex Prime Minister of Singapore and singer Richard Marx both were born on September 16.