For a long time, national day celebrations occurred on Merdeka Day (31st August) and the number of years of independence was counted from 1957.
Naturally, Sabah and Sarawak were not thrilled, since 31st August 1957 was of no historical importance of them. The celebrations only had historical meaning for West Malaysia.
A quick rewind, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya, made a proposal to merge Brunei, Malaya, North Borneo (now known as Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore on 27 May 1961.
In the two years that followed, major meetings were held to discuss the matter, and the Cobbold Commission was set up on 17 January 1962 to find out if the citizens of North Borneo and Sarawak supported the formation of ‘Malaysia’.
The findings of the Cobbold Commission eventually led to the signing of Malaysia Agreement in London on 9 July 1963. The agreement laid out the terms for the formation of the Federation of Malaysia – made up of Singapore, Malaya, Sarawak, and North Borneo.
The Federation of Malaysia was formally proclaimed on 16 September 1963. Here are some photos taken during the era leading up to the historic event:
1. Tunku Abdul Rahman put forward his proposal about the formation of Malaysia for the first time, during his speech at the Adelphi Hotel in Singapore on 27 May 1961.
2. The Cobbold Commission, led by Lord Cameron Fromanteel (Kim) Cobbold, was set up on 17 January 1962.
There were five members in the Cobbold Commission and it was headed by Lord Cobbold, the former governor of the Bank of England.
The other members were Sir Anthony Abell and Sir David Watherston. There were also two representatives from the Federation of Malaya, namely Datuk Wong Pow Nee and Mohamed Ghazali Shafie.
3. The arrival of Lord Cobbold and his wife at the Kuala Lumpur airport on 5 April 1962.
4. Results gathered by the Cobbold Commission revealed that 80% of the North Borneo and Sarawak citizens supported the notion of the establishment of Malaysia.
This report was then presented to the British government and the government of the Federation of Malaya on 21 June 1962.
5. Tunku Abdul Rahman at a press conference about talks on Malaysia in 1962. Seated beside him is the first Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew.
6. Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, then Deputy Prime Minister, was escorted by Tun Muhammad Ghazali Shafie and Tun Thirunyanasambanthan Veerasamy before his departure to London on 25 June 1963.
7. Tunku Abdul Rahman signing the Malaysia Agreement at the Marlborough House in London on 9 July 1963.
8. The arrival of Tun Abdul Razak and his wife Tun Rahah Tan Sri Mohammad Noah ahead of the Malaysia Day celebrations in 1963.
9. Sir Alexander Waddell, the last British governor of Sarawak and his wife, Lady Jean Waddell left the Astana, their residence, via a white sampan on 15 September 1963.
10. The Proclamation of Malaysia was written in English and in Jawi.
11. Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun, Sabah’s first governor, seen at the Independence Day celebration on 16 September 1963. The celebration was held at the Jesselton (now known as Kota Kinabalu) city field.
12. Tun Muhammad Fuad reading the pledge at the Independence Day celebration on 16 September 1963.
13. The first Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, performed thanksgiving prayers with the public at Masjid Jamek on 16 September 1963.
14. Tunku Abdul Rahman shouted ‘Merdeka’ seven times to the expectant crowd, after reading the Proclamation of Malaysia on 17 September 1963.
15. The words ‘Hidup Malaysia’ (Long Live Malaysia) were formed in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebrations which was held at Stadium Merdeka on 17 September 1963.
