SHAH ALAM - People born on Merdeka Day are extra special because they get to celebrate it with the whole nation.
Yelillarasi Ramesh, a 21-year-old accounting student who shares her birthday with Merdeka Day, expressed that she usually celebrates both her birthday and Merdeka while on vacation.
"I would celebrate my birthday with family members and plan outings to celebrate Merdeka since we are on vacation," she said. She added that it was a significant day in her life. When she was born, she received many hampers as she shares her birthdate with Merdeka Day.
"I feel grateful and amazed that I was born on the exact date of Merdeka. This is a blessing and a gift that no one else would have," she expressed.
Meanwhile, Lee Jia Ying, a 21-year-old mass communication student born on Aug 27, stated that being born in the Merdeka month gives her a sense of connection to Malaysia.
"Being born in the Merdeka month gives me a sense of connection to our nation. I usually celebrate my birthday with friends and family. Merdeka is where Malaysia gained its independence and where we achieved our freedom. Embracing our nation's spirit should be present throughout this Merdeka month," she said.
Lee added that there are numerous initiatives for those born in the Merdeka month, but she hasn't explored them much yet. She also encouraged Malaysians to visit Malaysia as much as possible.
Further commenting, Sumaya Jasmin, a 21-year-old business student born on Aug 19, expressed that being born during the Merdeka month is a gift because she shares her independence day with her country.
"Merdeka means home to me because Malaysia is my home, and I love it with all my heart. I usually celebrate Merdeka by attending the parade, but last year I couldn't, so I watched it on television. It was uplifting. Watching these events reminded me of how hard our ancestors fought for our country. I'm also excited for this year's celebration as we mark 66 years of independence," she said.
Sumaya added that there are many incentives and special promotions even for non-Merdeka month babies.
"I enjoyed the discounts and special promotions offered by the government and other companies. I particularly enjoyed them at restaurants and even with online shopping," she said.
She also urged Malaysians to be grateful and to remain united despite their different races, as that's what makes Malaysia.
"I would say Malaysia is a beautiful country, and being born here, I’m blessed to witness all races uniting. This sets a perfect example for future generations. I urge Malaysians to always love our country, never give up on it, and stay united and strong despite the diversity of races, as that is the essence of Malaysia," she expressed.