All eyes are on the 65th Merdeka Day celebrations, which will be held at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, tomorrow.
This comes after a muted independence day celebration over the past two years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As Malaysia continues its transition into the endemic phase, some 50,000 people are expected to throng Dataran Merdeka tomorrow to celebrate the nation’s victory over colonial British rule in 1957.
Twentytwo13 lists down several facts about the national-level Merdeka Day parade.
What’s the significance of Dataran Merdeka?
It was referred to as the ‘padang’ (field) and hosted numerous sporting events and activities when the Selangor Club (now known as the Royal Selangor Club) was established next to it in 1884. The Selangor Club was a social club for ranking British officials and elite members of society. At midnight on Aug 31, 1957, the Union Jack was brought down and the Malaya flag was hoisted at the field for the very first time. Then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj shouted ‘Merdeka!’. Since then, the field is known as Dataran Merdeka (independence square).
What time will the parade begin?
It will start at 8am and is expected to end at 10.30am.
How do I get to Dataran Merdeka?
As there will be several road closures and traffic diversions in and around Dataran Merdeka, it’s best to take public transport. Train services for the LRT Ampang, Sri Petaling, Kelana Jaya Lines, KL Monorail, MRT Kajang Line, and MRT Putrajaya Line, will start at 4.30am on Aug 31.
What will I get to see?
An array of the nation’s military and enforcement assets will be on parade. They include tanks, missile launchers and even fighter jets. Big bikes and vintage cars will also be featured, as will representatives from ministries, government agencies and Malaysia’s national athletes, who competed in the Commonwealth Games, the 11th Asean Para Games and SEA Games.
There will also be four floats by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, Measat, Petronas-Tenaga Nasional Bhd, and several telecommunications companies.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong will be joined by ministers and officials, among others, from the Armed Forces, the Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Navy, and Royal Malaysia Police.
Are there any celebrations outside KL?
Yes. Here are the state-level events:
Merdeka eve celebrations (tonight, 9pm onwards)
Perlis – Tuanku Syed Putra Sports Complex
Perak – Dataran MBI, Ipoh
Putrajaya – Anjung Floria
Selangor – Dataran Kemerdekaan, Shah Alam
Merdeka Day celebrations (tomorrow 7am onwards)
Kedah – Dataran Medan Bandar, Alor Setar
Penang – Padang Kota Lama
Perak – Ipoh City Hall
Negeri Sembilan – Seremban City Council field
Melaka – Dataran Sejarah, Ayer Keroh
Johor – Dataran Iskandar Puteri, Nusajaya
Pahang – MBK 4 field, Kuantan
Terengganu – Taman Awam Batu Burok
Kelantan – Ketereh District Council field
Sarawak – Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan Sports Hall, Betong
Labuan – Taman Damai Layang-Layangan
Sabah – Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu
Are there any other activities besides the parades?
The Information Department of Malaysia has lined up several competitions in conjunction with Merdeka and Malaysia Day (Sept 16) for all ages. They include colouring, photography, and sajak recital contests. For the full list of events, visit Merdeka360.my.
