KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- Australia's Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery will represent the government and people of Australia at Malaysia's 50th Merdeka celebrations.
Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Penny Williams said the Governor-General would attend the National Day Parade and the Merdeka grand celebration at the Merdeka Stadium tomorrow, during his three-day visit to Malaysia.
"Australia has a long history of friendship with the Malaysian people and it is a mark of our respect for Malaysia that our Governor-General is attending this important celebration," she said in a statement here Thursday.
Jeffery has a close personal connection with Malaysia. He was posted to then Malaya in 1962 for operational service with the second and third battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment.
He was awarded the Pingat Jasa Malaysia last year.
Williams said the Australia-Malaysia relationship today was stronger than ever and that though the friendship was founded on strong defence ties, a vibrant trade partnership and educational cooperation, it was the people-to-people ties that have brought Malaysia and Australia closer together.
"This visit (by the Governor-General) provides a valuable opportunity to build on the historical, close and increasingly dynamic relationship between the two countries," she said.
Australia was closely associated with the establishment of the Federation of Malaya in 1957 and sponsored Malaya's application for membership of the United Nations.
Australia also took a close and positive interest in the formation of Malaysia. A former governor-general of Australia, Sir William McKell, together with four other Commonwealth jurists helped draft the Malaysian Constitution.
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=282219
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Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka,
from the HD Committee and its decision.