History of the Holidays: Aug 31st, Merdeka Day

Malaysia's National Day marks the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule in 1957.
Let's take a look at the history of this holiday.
Back in the 18th century, the Malay kingdoms had become subject to the British Empire.
After the end of the second world war, the call for independence grew louder.
On August 31st 1957, over 20,000 people gathered at the Merdeka Stadium in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.
The new prime minister read out the Declaration of Independence.
Government officials shouted “Merdeka!” seven times in a declaration of freedom.
The national anthem was sung for the first time and the Malaysian flag was raised.
This event marked the official birth of the Federation of Malaya which was renamed Malaysia in 1963.
Selamat Hari Merdeka, Malaysia! Happy Independence Day!
To celebrate, here are some fun facts about Malaysia!
The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur were the world's tallest buildings from 1998-2004. They measure 451.9 metres.
The biggest roundabout in the world is located at Putrajaya in Malaysia. It is 3.5 km in diameter.
Malaysia is home to the rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. It is 1 metre in diameter.
Its name translates into “corpse flower” because it smells like a dead body and can be smelt for miles.
The world’s largest cave chamber is the Sarawak Chamber in Gunung Mulu National Park.
Malaysia’s Taman Negara (literally, “national park”) is 130 million years old making it one of the oldest rainforests on Earth.
Sipidan Island in Borneo is considered one of the world’s best scuba locations due to its rich marine habitats.
The largest leaf in the world is found in Sabah in Malaysia. It is called Alocasia macrorrhiza and measures 3 metres long and 1.9 metres wide.
Tanjung Piai in Johor is the southernmost tip of mainland Asia.
Orangutan, or “man of the forest” in Malay, is humans’ closest relative and can be found only in the wild in Borneo and Sumatra.
According to a recent survey, Malaysians have the highest number of Facebook friends, with an average of 233.
Malaysia’s national dish is Nasi lemak, a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk, often served wrapped in a banana leaf, and usually eaten for breakfast.
The word “ketchup” is thought to be derived from the Malay word "kicap", a fish sauce brought by Chinese traders.
The Sultanate of Kedah on the Malay Peninsula is one of the oldest in the world, established in 1136 AD.
Malaysia is the world’s third-largest natural rubber producer and the largest supplier of rubber gloves.
Read more at www.officeholi...