KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak outlined three points in his Merdeka speech which was delivered live in front of an audience for the first time and telecast by radio and television stations.
They are:
* Strengthening solidarity among Malaysians, including unity in grief, and in facing challenges and tests;
* Cultivating confidence that the nation can achieve any ambition as long as there is unity; and
* Leaving behind a prosperous and peaceful Malaysia.
In his speech at the 57th National Day celebrations at the Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman in the Malaysian Tourism Centre (Matic) here, he said solidarity among the people who united in grief, for instance, was witnessed during the ceremony — the highest ever accorded to civilians — to honour the victims of the MH17 tragedy.
"We showed our unity during the national day of mourning, and we will continue to do so during good times as well as bad, always,"he said.
The Prime Minister also said the future would be bright if the people lived in harmony and worked together to achieve a noble objective.
On the third message, he said: "Whatever the challenges, whatever the tests, we will continue marching ahead, building a peaceful Malaysia for our children's future."
The venue where the prime minister delivered his Merdeka address is historically significant as it was where the Federation of Malaya held its first first council meeting on February 24, 1948.
This year’s Merdeka theme is “Malaysia Where Love Grows.”