On August 31, 1957, Malaya's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, shouted "Merdeka!" seven times at the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. What a historic moment for Malaya's independence when it became a free, independent, and sovereign country. Too many struggles and sacrifices have been made to ensure this country's independence. We must remember the values that brought our forefathers together in their fight for independence and have continued to keep the country peaceful and people of different races together. History must not be forgotten, and the younger generation of Malaysians, in particular, must remember that our nation's independence from colonialists was achieved through the sacrifices of the major races.