31st August or 16 September ... Why does it matter?

All these talk raised by the recently annointed leader of the PR and the debate that arises ... actually makes my blood rise, and the food that I ate during 'sahur' rise up as well.

On 31st August 1957 the Federated States of Malaya was formed. 11 states in all. We didn't have Sabah, Sarawak, Wilayah Persekutuan (KL, Labuan or Putrajaya) then. Neither did we (or we eventually) have Singapore. But that was the beginning of this independent country and the parliament and the government that forms this country of ours.

Now it can be argued (and incessantly argued until I feel like throwing up...) that Malaysia was not formed until 16 September 1963. Well actually there are other issues as well, the Malaysia that was formed on that date didn't last past 1965 when Singapore left. So do we celebrate the date that Singapore left as the date that Malaysia is truly formed. But what about Wilayah Persekutuan? It wasn't created until 1 February 1970. The citizens of Wilayah would cry foul then. What about WP Labuan and Putrajaya ... don't they count?

The above just demonstrate how silly this argument is. To the leader of the PR, the much looked upon (by you!) united States of America (note the uncapitalised 'u') was declared on 4th July 1776. But there was a war of Independence that went on until 1785 (and actually was started in 1775, when the revolutionaries seized control of these states from the British). Then. there were only 13 colonies (states) that went to form "these united States of America". The other states (some from France, Mexico, Spain) formed the union of 50 states by joining in one by one until the last one on August 21st, 1959 (after Malaysia was independent). That state being the former Republic of Hawaii. Maybe the leader of PR might consider asking his good friend to make 21/8 the National Day of USA.

The operative word in our celebration on 31 August is that it is the National Day / Hari Kebangsaan. Not Independence Day. Why can't we celebrate that day as all our National Day ... irrespective of actual time. It is after all a symbol?

The leader of PR has better things to do than this ... it reeks too much of political grandstanding for votes. Get to work, man!