MELAKA: The book on the Proclamation of Malaysia, symbolic of the Malaysia Day celebration, was signed for the first time in the peninsula during this year’s edition here.
The Independence Declaration Memorial Square in Banda Hilir here witnessed the symbolic signing ceremony of the document by representatives of the federal, Sabah and Sarawak governments.
The book was signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, witnessed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam in front of a crowd of thousands.
Earlier, during the start of the ceremony on Friday (Sept 16), the book was brought to the main stage by four ethnic groups representing the communities in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak in addition to being accompanied by members of Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) of various races.
The ceremony is observed every time Malaysia Day is celebrated as a symbolic and commemorative history of the formation of Malaysia as a result of the merger of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak on Sept 16, 1963.
The book was introduced in 2010 and contains a compilation of documents signed by representatives of the federal, Sabah and Sarawak governments in previous Malaysia Day celebrations, after which it is kept at the Sabah State Archives Department.
Uniquely, the cover of the book is decorated and wrapped in woven motifs with local ethnic patterns from Sarawak, Sabah and the peninsula which are gold-plated and neatly stored in a special box made of teak wood, making its total weight almost 25kg.
The Proclamation of Malaysia book was first signed by the country’s first prime minister and Father of Independence Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj on Sept 16, 1963.
The declaration of Malaysia document is about the formation of Malaysia, and among others, it states that Malaysia remains a democratic country that is independent and sovereign with freedom and justice as its foundation, in addition to ensuring peace is always defended and preserved.
The first document, made of goat’s skin measuring 70cm long and 50cm wide, is now kept in the National Archives. – Bernama