Never forget merger: Pairin
Tuesday, 22 August 2006 (Source: Daily Express)

TAMBUNAN: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan hopes the nation will continue to remember the significance of Sept. 16, 1963, the day the Federation of Malaysia came into being.

An event in commemoration of the formation of the Malaysia Federation was held at Taman Jitra in Kedah on Sept. 16 last year.

"The celebration with the concept to commemorate the formation of Malaysia must be continued so that the whole Malaysian citizens will feel as a part of the Merdeka month," he said.

He added the concept of remembering Sept. 16 as the Independence Day could also be a catalyst to the patriotism of Malaysians in peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.

Speaking to launch the district level Merdeka month at the Pisompuruan Square here, Monday, Pairin who is also Rural Development Minister said there are two important dates in history in relation to the Merdeka month celebration.

The Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President said the first date was Aug. 31, 1957, the day Malaya gained independence, while the second one was Sept. 16, 1963, the day the Federation of Malaysia was formed by Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak. Singapore pulled out several years later.

During the Sept. 16 event that was graced by the Sultan and Sultanah of Kedah last year, then Information Minister Datuk Kadir Sheikh Fadzir had stated that beginning that day the independence celebration be known as Merdeka Month or Independence Month.

Meanwhile, Pairin expressed confidence of a parallel development of Malaysia and its people, in line with the leadership approach of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi towards Vision 2020.

He called on all level of community to continue to defend the country's independence because a new wave of colonisation can still happen especially in terms of mindset, culture and economy.

About 500 participants from various contingents took part in the celebration.