About this Holiday
National Day (Hari Kebangsaan) marks the proclamation of Malayan independence from British colonial rule on 31 August 1957 at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, delivered by the first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman. It is celebrated with the national Merdeka parade at Dataran Merdeka, fireworks, and patriotic events across the country. The day symbolises the end of colonial rule and the birth of an independent nation built on the values of unity, sovereignty, and the Federal Constitution.