PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, 1 September 2003 — Thousands of Malaysians thronged Putrajaya yesterday to join festivities marking 46 years of independence from Britain and the looming retirement of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Waving the Malaysian flag and chanting slogans of “independence,” they gathered in Putrajaya, the country’s new administrative capital south of Kuala Lumpur. The joyful gathering had somber undertones as it was to be the last time the veteran Mahathir, 77, would celebrate national day as premier after 22 years in power.
King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin and Queen Tengku Fauziah Abdul Rashid arrived in a horse-drawn carriage and were welcomed onto a huge stage to join Mahathir and other leaders.
Mahathir, Asia’s longest-serving elected leader, used his national day message to spur his compatriots to be disciplined and to keep their greed and impatience in check on the road to success. Mahathir took the Malay community to task for failures in meeting the objectives of the new economic policy, chastising them for their willingness to trade rights for quick profits.
Yesterday’s festivities brought many to Putrajaya who ordinarily observe national day from the comfort of their own homes, so as to pay tribute to Mahathir.
