Today (Tuesday) marks the Malaysia’s National Day (or Hari Merdeka) which is celebrated in Kuala Lumpur at the Dataran Merdeka or Merdeka Square situated in front of the Royal Selangor Club.

Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) commemorates the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule in 1957. During this holiday, a number of colorful parades take place around the country, fireworks are launched, and buildings are decked out with the national flag, known as the Jalur Gemilang.

Malaysia and the Philippines enjoy strong bilateral relationships. Malaysia and the Philippines are founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They are historically linked by centuries of cultural and people-to-people interaction. Philippine languages are closest to the Malay language because they belong to the same family. The official diplomatic representation in the Philippines by Malaysia as a sovereign state was established in 1964. Initially a consulate, it was upgraded to an embassy in 1966.

Malaysia’s support for peace in the Philippines is also manifested by its heading of the International Monitoring Team (IMT). Through the IMT, Malaysia helps oversee the enforcement of the 1996 Peace Agreement between the Philippine Government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The two countries also form part of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). As well as the Agreement on Information Exchange and Establishment of Communications Procedures in the fight against terrorism initiated by the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

We congratulate the people and government of Malaysia led by His Majesty, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, and H.E., Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, and its Embassy in the Philippines headed by H.E., Ambassador Dato’ Seri Dr. Ibrahim Saad, on the occasion of their National Day. We wish them all the best and success in all their endeavors.