Federal Territory Day
Celebrated in the Malaysian federal territories of Labuan, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya, Federal Territory Day is a holiday that commemorates the anniversary of the establishment of the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory in 1974. This holiday is observed on February 1st most years, but if the holiday falls on a weekend, then the observance of this holiday is moved to the following Monday.
Malaysia (Common local holiday)Because it’s a public holiday in certain federal territories, it’s a non-working day for the people living in those areas and is also a day off for businesses, government offices, and schools in those regions. This holiday is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm in those territories, often with a wide variety of events.
The History of Federal Territory Day
When the former British colony of Singapore joined the Federation of Malaya, along with the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, new territories came under the control of the Malayan federal government.
During this time, the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, was part of the state of Selangor. On February 28, 1974, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Agreement was signed. Four days later, Kuala Lumpur became a federal territory.
When the state of Sabah ceded Labuan to the federal government, another federal territory was created in 1984. To deal with overcrowding in Kuala Lumpur, a new city was planned. This city was Putrajaya, and it would become the Malaysian administrative center. However, creating this city required Selangor to cede more land.
In 1999, the seat of the Malaysian government was shifted to Putrajaya from Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya became the third federal territory. In all three federal territories, February 1st is observed as a public holiday to commemorate the creation of Kuala Lumpur as a federal territory.
Observing Federal Territory Day
This holiday is observed in the three federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya on February 1st. In these territories, there are a variety of events such as concerts, theater productions, parades, and sporting events. There are also fishing competitions at Lake Perdana and fireworks displays. It’s a day of fun and entertainment for the people of these three federal territories.
Malaysia (Common local holiday)
