Malaysia Day

Malaysia Day, observed on the 16th of September each year, commemorates the establishment of the Malaysian Federation on the same date in 1963. This significant occasion signifies the amalgamation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore to form Malaysia.

Originally planned for the 1st of June 1963, the formation of this new federation was postponed to the 31st of August 1963 to coincide with the celebration of the 6th Independence Day of Malaya. However, challenges, including opposition to the creation of Malaysia, delayed the declaration until the 16th of September of the same year. The postponement also allowed the United Nations time to conduct a referendum in North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak.

While initially not a public holiday in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, as of 2010, Malaysia Day is observed as a public holiday in all states of Malaysia.