Malaysia’s Golden Jubilee is celebrated with pride and joy

The series of events began on Aug. 17, when the triumphal event of Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj proclaiming Malaysian independence to over 100,000 people in 1956 is re-enacted. Starting Aug. 29, various religious activities are held at mosques and Buddhist and Hindu temples throughout the country to celebrate Malaysia's religious diversity.

On the eve of Aug. 30, a mass gathering took place in Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi joined the crowds in counting down to National Day. The lights on the square were turned off before the countdown and turned on again after midnight, marking the climax of the event. This was followed by the raising of the Jalur Gemilang and shouts of Merdeka led by the Prime Minister.

On Aug. 31, a National Day parade will be held in Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur showcasing Malaysia's achievements and success over the past 50 years. More than 25,000 people will take part in the event. The parade will comprise contingents from the public and private sectors, including 35 brass bands and 15 floats.

Here in Taiwan, the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre is having a National Day reception attended by Taiwan government officials, foreign dignitaries, and members of the local business community, said Shahril Effendi Abd. Ghany, Acting President of the center.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian food festival, called "Malaysia -- Truly Asia Kitchen," is currently held at the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel right next to the friendship center, an occasion where Taiwanese can get a taste of the special blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian flavors that make up Malaysian cuisine. In fact, "Malaysia -- Truly Asia Kitchen" is held globally in celebration of the country's 50th anniversary. It is also held in Beijing, New York, London, and Tokyo, with chefs from Malaysia dispatched to these places to cook real, authentic food for local residents, Shahril said.

But in Shahril's words, the country's Golden Jubilee is more than a time to celebrate. It is also a time for Malaysians to remember what they have achieved in the past and think of what lies ahead.

"Unlike other former colonies seeking to achieve statehood in the 1940s and 1950s, we did not have to fight for our independence," Shahril said. "Rather, we did it through peaceful dialogues and negotiations."

Over the past 50 years, Malaysia has turned from a British colony into a prosperous country and a strong economy in the region. Economically speaking, Malaysia is the world's 19th largest economy, with its gross domestic product growing at a steady 7 percent annually.

Realizing that the country cannot thrive amid tensions in the region, Malaysia, along with Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, formed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, in 1967. Forty years later, ASEAN has become a major economic region in the world, with ten member states representing some 500 million people. ASEAN has become such a force in the region that it has drawn the participation of China, Japan and Korea to form the ASEAN+3 pact.

"We have gone from a non-player in the world to a key player, and other developing nations are now looking to us for advice and support," Shahril said.

Domestically, Malaysia has long cultivated peace and harmony among its three major ethnic groups, namely Malays, Chinese and Indians, realizing that "freedom without peace is meaningless," Shahril said. While minor ethnic clashes have happened sporadically throughout Malaysia's history, most people know how to get along with each other and tolerate and respect each other's differences, so as to contribute to a peaceful society in the interest of the country's overall development.

All this, Shahril said, has resulted in Malaysia's prosperity as the country moves toward becoming a developed nation by the year 2020, a goal set by the government under its "Vision 2020" national development initiative. In the future, the country will focus more on industries that create higher added value and revenue for Malaysia, such as the information technology and biotechnology industries, Shahril said.

Malaysia has long enjoyed a cordial relationship with Taiwan, due to continued efforts by both sides to maintain strong ties in spite of political difficulties, Shahril said.

Economically, total trade between Malaysia and Taiwan was US$10.83 billion in 2006, an increase of 15.83 percent from 2005, and the number is going to increase this year, he said. Taiwan has over the years invested some US$10 billion in Malaysia and has some 2,000 companies in the nation.

Ties between Malaysia and Taiwan also exist on other levels. For example, the Kuala Lumpur Philharmonic Orchestra is scheduled to visit Taipei in October, to reciprocate a visit by the Taipei Symphony Orchestra to Malaysia last year. Currently, some 4,000 Malaysian students are studying in Taiwan, and it is Malaysia's hope that Taiwan's students will also consider Malaysia as an alternative destination to study English, as the country is seeking to become an education hub in the region, Shahril said.

"Malaysia has a strong English-based education system, and Taiwan students pursuing English as a second language programs in Malaysia are most welcome," he said.

Tourism-wise, Taiwan travelers to Malaysia numbered 185,000 in 2006, a number expected to increase to more than 200,000 this year, thanks to a variety of attractive packages offered by local travel agencies in conjunction with the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board as part of the "Visit Malaysia Year" initiative in celebration of the country's 50th anniversary. The 200,000 are part of 20 million travelers from all over the world expected to tour Malaysia this year as a result of this program, Shahril said.

While most Taiwanese go to famous cities and regions such as Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Sabah and Kota Kinabalu, the Malaysian government is also focusing on other destinations, especially southern Malaysia, to attract more Taiwanese tourists, Shahril said.

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