Vesak day, sometimes call as Wesak Day, is a day where Buddhists celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha – the three moments were the most significant times in Gautama Buddha’s life.
Wouldn’t it be great if the people are allowed to choose their own leaders? Do you remember the night of the election where we sit in front of our television with our family anticipating which party has won and is given the power to govern Malaysia into a brighter future? Although going through a change in the parliament is quite a tedious process, we can all agree that the election day will be the highlight of the whole event.
The Sultan of Terengganu’s Birthday is a public holiday in the Malaysian state on April 26 every year. It honours the Sultan for all his efforts in serving the city. The current Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin was born on January 22, 29162. He is the 18th sultan of Terengganu whose lineage dates back to 1725. Mizan is the youngest ruler of Malaysian federal after getting appointed as the Sultan of Terengganu in May 1998. This was after his father, Sultan Mahmud, died.
In Malaysia, the declaration of Melaka as a historical city is being celebrated every April 15. The Malaysian state was recognized as such in 1989. Melaka, also referred to as Malacca, was established by Sumatran Prince Parameswara in the 14th century. He built the new kingdom after the fall of the Srivijaya Empire.
In eastern Malaysia, Pahang is considered the biggest state in terms of geography and is one of several states that retain their own sultan. Hari Hol Pahang is declared a public holiday to commemorate the death anniversary of one of the state’s former sultans. It is a day of grieving and honouring the previous leaders who dedicated their lives to the state.
Harvest Festival is an annual month-long celebration being held in Malaysia every May. Also known as Pesta Kaamatan, the festival has deep cultural roots with pagan origins and is considered one of the country’s grandest celebrations.
Dayak people in Sarawak, Malaysia celebrate Hari Gawai every June 1. It is a thanksgiving and harvest festival marking the abundant agricultural yields and even the prospects for the next harvest season. It was formally celebrated first on June 1, 1965.
Historians would say that past events or happenings always have a connection to a remembrance of something. And that those happenings will remain at the pinnacle of history over decades and centuries to come. Georgetown world heritage city day is one event that you’d remove amongst a gallery of historical events that dates back to the end of the 18th century.
The Penang state history dates back to the 18th century when the British were occupying Malaysia. Penang is among the four states under the parliamentary government system and the governor as the Head of State. And so, every second Saturday of July, residents celebrate Penang Governor’s birthday. This is to mark the birthday of His Excellency the Governor in Malay–Tang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang.
Perlis is geographically one of the smallest states in Malaysian Peninsular. The communities within the state of Perlis have a yearly celebration in their calendar year. Malaysia has different states, and within each state, some rulers govern them. The state of Perlis is under the ruler known as “Raja.” Under this state is where we have Raja Perlis’ Birthday celebration each calendar year.
In the mid-20th century, British control in Southeast Asia was slowly coming to an end. The British governor by then Alexander Waddell was preparing the declaration of independence, and on 22nd July 1963, Sarawak attained self-independence. Events that followed decades later saw Sarawak day a public holiday in 2016 by the late Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Pehin Sri Haji.
The State of Sabah in Malaysia forms part of the states that the governor is the head of state. Each first Saturday of October, the citizens gather to celebrate Sabah Governor’s Birthday. Malaysia is a country that honours its leaders, and some of these celebrations have some historical connections. And the governor’s birthday is no exception where it brings the citizen, officials, and dignitaries of Sabah together to celebrate in a colourful ceremony.
The tradition of commemorating ‘Hari Hol’ runs back to 1896 following Sultan Abu Bakar’s death. Ever since that time, the ceremony continues to be part of the celebrations in the state of Johor. The state of Johor observes Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar as a public holiday to commemorate the Sultan’s passing.
The Malaysia states have their own long history that runs from way before the colonial era. Malacca is a state that holds stories of the then powerful Malay Sultanate before the coming of the Portuguese. After the ousting of the Sultan in 1511the current position of “Yang Di Pertua Negeri of Melaka” or Governor of Malacca remains with the same atmosphere. The citizen of Malacca celebrates Melaka Governor’s Birthday as a public holiday on the calendar year.
In Malaysia, Sarawak is the largest state amongst the 13 states. The state’s ruler is a governor or “Yang di-Pertua Negeri”, who the King of Malaysia appoints. The citizen of Sarawak celebrates Sarawak Governor’s Birthday on the second Saturday in October. The date of the official celebration does not change with whoever is on leadership. The rulers in power saw it right to celebrate on those dates as it coincides with the 1st governor of Sarawak, Abang Haji Openg birthday. The first governor was born on 7th October 1905, marking the significance of the celebration dates.
Historically, the rulers of the Old Pahang Sultanate used this title. The title Sultan is a hereditary one. The current sultan is Al-Sultan Abdullah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah. He was proclaimed as the sixth ruler of Pahang on the 15th of January 2019. He replaced his unwell father, Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah, before the latter had his last breath on the 22nd of May in the same year.
Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-Lah is the 35th Sultan of Perak. He is currently the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Sultan of Perak’s birthday is on the first Friday of November. This is so the citizens of Perak can enjoy a long and relaxing weekend. A public holiday followed by a long weekend calls for a more extended celebration and a chill weekend.
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah is the 9th Sultan of Selangor. His Royal Highness ascended the throne on the death of his father, on the 22nd of November 2001. Sultan of Selangor is the title of the constitutional ruler of Selangor. He is the head of state and head of the Islamic religion in Selangor. The state of Selangor has declared the 11th of December as the birthday of his Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor.
The Agong’s birthday in Malaysia is a national public holiday. In 2020, Yang di-Pertuan’s birthday was changed to 8 June 2020 instead of 6 June 2020. In Malaysia, the King is known as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. When it is the King’s birthday, the entire country celebrates it with a nationwide public holiday. The birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan is one of the country’s biggest and grandest celebrations of the year.
Terengganu’s Arafat Day is a public holiday in the state of Terengganu only. On that day, schools and most businesses are closed so the public can enjoy the day off. This year, Arafat Day is celebrated on 19 July 2021. In the Islamic calendar, the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage is called Arafat Day. This is the day that comes before Eid ul-Adha, the major Islamic holiday. In the Islamic calendar, Arafat Day falls on the ninth day of the Dhu al-Hijjah. This also happens to be the final twelfth month in the Islamic calendar.