Usaha untuk mendapatkan kemerdekaan telah diterajui oleh Tunku Abdul Rahman, Perdana Menteri pertama Malaysia, yang mengetuai delegasi menteri dan pemimpin-pemimpin politik Malaya dalam rundingan dengan British di London untuk Merdeka, atau kemerdekaan bersama-sama dengan presiden pertama orang Cina di Tanah MelayuAssociation (MCA) Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock dan Presiden kelima Malaysian Indian Congress Tun VTSambanthan. Apabila ia menjadi semakin jelas bahawa ancaman Komunis yang ditimbulkan semasa Darurat Malaya telah petering keluar, perjanjian telah dicapai pada 8 Februari 1956, Malaya untuk mendapatkan kemerdekaan daripada Empayar British. Walau bagaimanapun, bagi beberapa sebab-sebab logistik dan pentadbiran, ia telah diputuskan bahawa pengisytiharan rasmi kemerdekaan hanya akan dibuat tahun depan, pada 31 Ogos, 1957, di Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), di Kuala Lumpur.
Hari Merdeka (Hari Kemerdekaan) adalah hari kebangsaan Malaysia memperingati kemerdekaan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu daripada penjajah British pada tahun 1957, yang disambut pada 31 Ogos setiap tahun.Tetapi Malaysia telah ditubuhkan pada 16 September apabila ia disertai oleh Sabah dan Sarawak.
Attendees
The foreign guests of honour included:
Members of royal families
The King and Queen of Thailand
The Crown Prince and Princess of Japan
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (representing The Queen)
Prince William of Gloucester
Heads of government
The Prime Minister of South Africa, Johannes Gerhardus Strijdom
The Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy
The Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Van Dong
The Prime Minister of Ceylon, Solomon Bandaranaike
The Prime Minister of Burma, U Nu
The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Sim Var
The United States Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles (representing US President Dwight D. Eisenhower)
Representatives from other British colonies
The Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Alexander Grantham
The Chief Minister of Singapore, Lim Yew Hock
The High Commissioners of Australia, Canada and New Zealand in Malaya
Members of the former British colonial administration
Sir Gerald Templer (former British High Commissioner in Malaya) and Lady Templer
Lady Gurney (wife of former British High Commissioner in Malaya Sir Henry Gurney)
Lady Gent (wife of former British High Commissioner in Malaya Sir Edward Gent)
| Year | Theme |
|---|---|
| 1970 | Muhibah dan Perpaduan (Love and Unity) |
| 1971 | Masyarakat Progresif (Progressive Society) |
| 1972 | Masyarakat Adil (Fair Society) |
| 1973 | Masyarakat Berkebudayaan Malaysia (A Society with Malaysian Culture) |
| 1974 | Sains dan Teknologi Alat Perpaduan (Science and Technology as Tools of Unity) |
| 1975 | Masyarakat Berdikari (A Self-Reliant Society) |
| 1976 | Ketahanan Rakyat (Strength of the People) |
| 1977 | Bersatu Maju (United and Progressive) |
| 1978 | Kebudayaan Sendi Perpaduan (Culture is the Core of Unity) |
| 1979 | Bersatu Berdisplin (United and Disciplined) |
| 1980 | Berdisplin Berbakti (Discipline and Service) |
| 1981 | Berdisplin Berharmoni (Discipline and Harmony) |
| 1982 | Berdisplin Giat Maju (Discipline Creates Progress) |
| 1983 | Bersama Ke Arah Kemajuan (Together Towards Success) |
| 1984 | Amanah Asas Kejayaan (Honesty Brings Success) |
| 1985 | Nasionalisme Teras Perpaduan (Nationalism is the Core of Unity) |
| 1986 | Bangsa Tegas Negara Teguh (Steadfast Society, Strong Country) |
| 1987 | Setia Bersatu Berusaha Maju (Loyally United and Progressively Working) |
| 1988 | Bersatu (Unity) |
| 1989 | Bersatu (Unity) |
| 1990 | Berjaya (Success) |
| 1991 | Wawasan 2020 (Vision 2020) |
| 1992 | Wawasan Asas Kemajuan (Vision is the Basis of Progress) |
| 1993 | Bersatu Menuju Wawasan (Together Towards Vision) |
| 1994 | Nilai Murni Jayakan Wawasan (Good Values Makes the Vision a Success) |
| 1995 | Jatidiri Pengerak Wawasan (Steadfastness Moves the Vision Forward) |
| 1996 | Budaya Penentu Kecapaian (Culture Determines Achievements ) |
| 1997 | Akhlak Mulia Masyarakat Jaya (Good Values Make a Successful Society) |
| 1998 | Negara Kita, Tanggungjawab Kita (Our Country, Our Responsibility) |
| 1999 | Bersatu Ke Alaf Baru (Together Towards the New Millennium) |
| 2000–2006 | Keranamu Malaysia (Because of you, Malaysia) |
| 2007 | Malaysiaku Gemilang (My Glorious Malaysia) |
| 2008 | Perpaduan Teras Kejayaan (Unity Is The Core of Success) |
| 2009 | 1 Malaysia: Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan (1 Malaysia: People First, Performance Now) |
| 2010 | 1 Malaysia: Menjana Transformasi (1 Malaysia Transforming the Nation) |
| 2011 | 1 Malaysia: Transformasi Berjaya, Rakyat Sejahtera (1 Malaysia: Transformation Success, People Peace) |
| 2012 | 55 Tahun Merdeka: Janji Ditepati (55 Years of Independence: Promises Fulfilled) |
sources-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hari_Merdeka
