Malaysia Independence Day Celebration - 2008

Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule, celebrated on August 31. In a wider context, it is to celebrate the formation of Malaysia. The effort for independence was spearheaded by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, who led a delegation of ministers and political leaders of Malaya in negotiations with the British in London for Merdeka, or independence along with the first president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) Tun Dato Sir Tan Cheng Lock and fifth President of Malaysian Indian Congress Tun V.T. Sambanthan. Once it became increasingly clear that the Communist threat posed during the Malayan Emergency was petering out, agreement was reached on February 8, 1956, for Malaya to gain independence from the British Empire. However, for a number of logistical and administrative reasons, it was decided that the official proclamation of independence would only be made the next year, on August 31, 1957, at Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), in Kuala Lumpur.

The Federation of Malaysia, comprising the States of Malaya, North Borneo (later renamed Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore was to be officially declared on the date August 31, 1963, on the 6th anniversary of Malayan independence. However, it was postponed to September 16, 1963, mainly due to Indonesian and the Philippines' opposition to the formation of Malaysia. Nevertheless, North Borneo and Singapore declared sovereignty on August 31, 1963. Indonesian opposition later escalated to a military conflict. Indonesia considered Malaysia as a new form of colonization on the provinces of Sarawak and Sabah in the island of Borneo (bordering Kalimantan, Indonesia), which they laid claim on.[citation needed] To assure Indonesia that Malaysia was not a form of neo-colonialism, a referendum, organized by the United Nations, and the Cobbold Commission, led by Lord Cobbold, were formed to determine whether the people of Sabah and Sarawak wished to join Malaysia. Their eventual findings which indicated substantial support for Malaysia among the peoples of Sabah and Sarawak, cleared the way for the final proclamation of Malaysia.

How To Become A Helicopter Pilot

So you've always wondered what it would be like to fly, to be a pilot, to take command of an aircraft and actually leave the surface of the planet under your own power. But you didn't know where to start or how to go about it. People just like you have earned their pilot's licenses. Learning to fly is easier than most people think it will be. People from all walks of life become pilots.

The purpose of our website is to answer many of your questions and dispel many myths about flying and learning to fly. Some people learn to fly to use aircraft to help their businesses. Others want to pursue a career in aviation. Most people learn to fly for the fun, adventure, and the challenge of flying. Many use aircraft for business purposes. Light aircraft can take you places other people only dream about.

Flying can be the most fun you can have in public!You can begin learning to fly TODAY! There are no prerequisites. You can begin to fly at any age. You must be 16 to solo an aircraft and 17 to earn a Private Pilot's license.

A word about safety . . . it comes first in flight training. Safety is the most important consideration , not only during training, but afterwards and always. Meticulous maintenance, proper pre-flight and strict operational procedures are taught and stressed at all times to ensure safety. Your training will be structured so that you will become a safe pilot, and still have fun!