KUALA LUMPUR: The Merdeka message to be delivered by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be open and carried live for the first time on Merdeka eve, which is among the major changes in celebrating the 57th anniversary of Independence Day.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the message would be delivered at the Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysian Tourism Centre (MaTic), Jalan Ampang, here on the night of Aug 30.
He said the Prime Minister would deliver the message in the presence of community leaders, as well as leaders of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and student representatives who would be invited to the hall, and it would be carried live on television.
“Previously, the delivery of the Merdeka message by the Prime Minister was recorded before being broadcast and it was formal and thus we made a change for this year.
“For the celebration this time around, the Prime Minister will speak before representatives of the community live when delivering the contents of his message,” he told reporters when met after visiting the hall.
Ahmad Shabery said the selection of the hall, which can only accommodate about 400 guests, as the venue for the delivery of the message was most significant to the theme of the celebration this year which is ‘Malaysia – Di Sini Lahirnya Sebuah Cinta’ or ‘Malaysia – Here, Where Love Begins’.
He said that although there were other halls which were bigger, the Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman had ‘created’ a thousand-and-one beginnings on the policies and principles of the country’s nationhood.
“The hall is most significant because of its history where the first session of Parlianment was held after gaining independence, and it was also here that three Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong were installed.
“And it was also here that many important decisions that became the basis of the present nation building and development were made. Actually, it was here that love began,” he said.
The Merdeka Day celebration this year is more significant compared to the previous years in line with the fact that it would be the 57th anniversary which also coincided with the year the nation gained independence in 1957.
Ahmad Shabery also said the Merdeka Day celebration this year would also be adjusted out of respect for victims of the tragedies that befell the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flights MH17 and MH370 which had left a great impact on the people of this country.
He said these included the cancellation of the traditional programmes such as the ‘Ambang Merdeka’ or Merdeka Eve celebration besides the entertainment programmes and fireworks display that were frequently held in the past. — Bernama