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Malaysia marks 50 years as nation | Malaysia marks 50 years as nation |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Thousands of people are attending celebrations in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, as the country marks 50 years of nationhood. | |
Dancers and drummers paraded though Merdeka Square, where Malaysia's first prime minister announced independence from Britain on 31 August 1957. | Dancers and drummers paraded though Merdeka Square, where Malaysia's first prime minister announced independence from Britain on 31 August 1957. |
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi used an anniversary speech to urge people to unify as a nation. | |
"We must ensure that no region or community is left behind," he said. | |
"We will hold true to the concept of justice and fairness for all citizens." | "We will hold true to the concept of justice and fairness for all citizens." |
The celebrations come at a time when debate is growing about what it means to be Malaysian in the ethnically diverse nation, correspondents say. | |
Military on parade | |
Some 60,000 people gathered on Thursday evening to watch scenes of the nation's last 50 years projected on to the capital's skyscrapers. | Some 60,000 people gathered on Thursday evening to watch scenes of the nation's last 50 years projected on to the capital's skyscrapers. |
Malaysia's air force joined the celebrations | |
Fireworks lit up the sky and the national flag was raised to mark the end of British colonial rule on the Malay peninsula. | Fireworks lit up the sky and the national flag was raised to mark the end of British colonial rule on the Malay peninsula. |
Friday's celebrations featured a fly-past by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, as well as displays from the police cavalry and tracker dog units. | |
Several foreign dignitaries are attending the celebrations, including Britain's Prince Andrew. | Several foreign dignitaries are attending the celebrations, including Britain's Prince Andrew. |
Prime ministers from Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are all present. | Prime ministers from Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are all present. |
Dramatic changes | |
The BBC's Asia correspondent, Andrew Harding, says Malaysia has changed dramatically since 1957. | |
Political stability and years of ambitious development have transformed the economy. | |
There are concerns that Malaysia's authoritarian brand of democracy is being challenged by an increasingly conservative form of Islam, with Sharia courts overriding the country's secular constitution, he says. | |
But the general mood in Malaysia seems to be one of optimism as this nation reflects on half-a-century of upheavals and progress, our correspondent adds. | |