A song for the whole country
A national anthem is a special song that stands for a country. When Malaya was about to become independent in 1957, it needed its own anthem. The song chosen was Negaraku, which means "My Country".
From a state song to a national song
The tune of Negaraku was not brand new. It came from the Perak state anthem, called Terang Bulan. This gentle melody was already loved by many people. A committee led by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the country's first leader, listened to many songs and chose this beautiful tune.
New words were written so the song would speak about the whole nation, not just one state. Negaraku was first played as the national anthem in 1957, the year Malaya gained independence.
Key idea
Negaraku became Malaysia's national anthem in 1957. Its tune came from the Perak state anthem, Terang Bulan.
Remember
- Negaraku means "My Country".
- Tunku Abdul Rahman helped choose it.
- An anthem is a symbol of the nation, like the flag.