Embrace diversity to strengthen unity

FOR many decades after the Malayan independence in 1957, we celebrated National Day in a grand way, with parades, and performances, and fly bys, oh my! After all, losing the colonial yoke is understandably something to be proud of.

But we were still a loose federation of states on Aug 31, 1957. We actually only became the nation that we are now six years later, when we officially became “Malaysia” on Sept 16, 1963.