Statement on the 52nd Anniversary of Malaysian Independence

On this day, Malaysians everywhere celebrate Hari Merdeka to commemorate the birth of the Federation of Malaysia fifty-two years ago. The principles that established our national identity in those early days continue to guide us now, as we enter a new period of greater responsibility and cooperation with the broader world.

Hari Merdeka should serve as a day for Malaysians to reflect upon how far we have come as a nation. We also want to renew our collective sense of purpose required to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

Our drive for independence and self-determination began humbly in the shop houses, the rubber plantations and the fishing villages throughout the country. Chinese, Malay, Indian – we came together in 1957 to defend our dream of self-governance and to forge a country out of our shared values.

These values reflect our dedication to community involvement, to working together and to creating a better future for generations of Malaysians to come. These founding principles will hold us steady even as we face a more challenging economic climate and other obstacles that we may not yet foresee.

In the decades that have passed since we first celebrated Merdeka, our values have been tested. We have had to make sacrifices to preserve the national unity that we as Malaysians hold sacred. We recognize that our sovereign rights and freedoms must be earned with each new generation. They cannot be taken for granted. Together, we must renew our commitment to work together to find common solutions to the challenges we face.

This commitment lies at the heart of our principle of 1Malaysia. It means that all Malaysians have a voice; that we strive for inclusiveness and respect. Our country is strong because of the plurality of our citizens and the steps we are taking to ensure all voices are heard.

Essential to the 1Malaysia concept is recognition that accountability and transparency are important ingredients for