KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Malaysians could celebrate Merdeka Day jointly with Malaysia Day on August 31 beginning next year, after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak suggested combining the two national days.
According to national news agency Bernama, Najib said combining the two national days would help reduce polemic and foster stronger unity.
Merdeka Day marks the independence of the Federation of Malaya from the British on August 31, 1957, but is commonly considered the country’s national day.
But it predates Malaysia Day that commemorates September 16, 1963, the day Malaya joined with Sabah, Sarawak and, briefly, Singapore to form the country known as Malaysia.
Malaysia Day was also not a national public holiday until 2010, after Najib made the decision in Parliament on October the year before.
