Patriotism, national pride, and solidarity on Saturday united members of the Malaysian community and their Cambodian friends at a grand party to mark Malaysia’s 67th Independence Day, also known as Hari Merdeka, hosted by the Malaysian Business Chamber in Cambodia (MBCC).
Malaysia (then Malaya) gained Independence from the British on August 31, 1957 and immediately established diplomatic ties with Cambodia which had gained independence four years earlier.
Therefore Saturday also marked the 67th anniversary of diplomatic relations
While the event has been held annually over the past years by MBCC, Saturday’s joyous celebration witnessed for the first time ever the presence of the Malaysian Ambassador Shaharuddin Onn, who was just designated to his diplomatic mission in Cambodia back in May.
The Merdeka evening commenced with a heartfelt performance of Malaysia’s national anthem, “Negaraku”. Guests then waved Malaysian flags as they sang along to “Tanggal 31”, a beloved patriotic anthem by Sudirman bin Arshad. This iconic song, which has become a staple of Merdeka Day celebrations, continues to resonate with the spirit of the occasion.
In his opening remark, MBCC president Oknha Tan Khee Meng underscored this year’s theme, “Spirit of Independence”, which has been reflected by the historical effort by Malaysian nationalist leaders to fight for the country’s independence from the British Empire.
He also presented a brief history of Malaysia’s independence.
MBCC president Oknha Tan Khee Meng speaks on the history and significance of Malaysia’s Independence. KT/Pann Rachana
Malaysia’s history is rooted in the Sultanate of Malacca, established around 1400 AD, which became a major trading hub due to its strategic location. Islam spread as the dominant religion, initiated by the Sultan’s conversion. In 1511, the Portuguese conquered Malacca, beginning Malaya’s colonial era. The Dutch took over in 1641, followed by the British in 1824. British rule, the longest of these periods, centralised Malaya’s administration, leading to local dissatisfaction. Despite several attempts by figures like Dol Said and Tok Janggut to resist, these uprisings were largely unsuccessful.
In the 1920s and 1930s, education began to spread among the residents of Malaya, leading to the rise of a nationalist movement. Educated individuals used media and formed associations like Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) and Kesatuan Melayu Singapura (KMS) to advocate for independence. However, Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945 disrupted their efforts. After Japan’s surrender, the Communist Party of Malaya (PKM) attempted to take control but was thwarted by British forces, who declared a state of emergency in 1948. The British then established the Malayan Union in 1946, which faced strong opposition from the Malay population.
Tunku Abdul Rahman’s leadership marked a turning point, as his formation of the Alliance Party led to the London Agreement on February 8, 1956, signalling Malaya’s path to independence on August 31, 1957. On February 20, 1956, Tunku declared Malaya’s independence in Melaka. Later, on May 27, 1961, he proposed the merger of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei to form a new nation. Malaysia was officially established on September 16, 1963, although Brunei ultimately did not join.
“We achieved independence through multi-racial cooperation, categorised by the coming together of ethnic groups: Malays, Chinese, Indians, and the indigenous community,” Oknha Tan said, adding that the The Malayan Constitution ratified just before the country obtained independence brought upon national consensus by guaranteeing the rights of all groups.
“To all my fellow Malaysians, I would like to highlight the sacrifices (of our heroes), which brought us to where we are today. Let’s honour the memories of our forefathers by striving as best as we can and by building a Malaysia that is better, fairer, stronger, and more prosperous than ever.”
Oknha Tan also took the opportunity to stress the strong relations and partnership between Cambodia and Malaysia in numerous areas noting that both nations’ established diplomatic ties also on August 31, 1957. The same day Malaysia became Independent.
“Let’s work together to work together to build a future of peace, prosperity, and understanding while the bond of our nation grows even stronger,” he remarked.
Ambassador Shaharuddin, in his remarks, praised MBCC for playing crucial roles in elevating the Malaysia-Cambodia friendship and cooperation. He also mentioned that the celebration of Hari Merdeka and other Malaysian festivities in the Kingdom by the chamber has significantly brought the two peoples closer and made them embrace the joint spirits.
“As the Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, I am very proud of our Malaysian citizens in Cambodia; some very long-time residents have a strong sense of belonging,” he said. “I am determined to reach out to as many Malaysians in the country as possible to have a better understanding of the Malaysian businesses here and work to improve the business environment for our business people here.”
MBCC was rooted in the first meeting of representatives of Malaysian businesses operating in the Kingdom in 1993 under the advice of then-Malaysian ambassador Dato Mohd Deva Ridzam. The same year, it took on its first shape as the Malaysia Club, and Teh Sing was elected the first president. The club was renamed the Malaysian Business Council of Cambodia a few years later.
The first notable activity of MBCC was an evacuation of Malaysian nationals from Cambodia on July 6, 1997, during a tumultuous period in Cambodia; however, in the coming years, after peace was restored, it started gathering Malaysian-owned businesses and conducted business networking sessions and social gatherings.
On August 1, 2019, MBCC officially changed its name from the Malaysian Business Council of Cambodia to the Malaysian Business Chamber of Cambodia. Recently, it was slightly changed to the Malaysian Business Chamber in Cambodia.