FT Day: Between public holiday and history

KUALA LUMPUR: It is public knowledge that Federal Territory Day celebrated on February 1 annually is a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya but how many people know its significance?

Federal Territory Day is to commemorate the establishment of the three federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya which are under the administration of the federal government.

Checks at premises and several residential areas in the capital found that although Federal Territory Day will be celebrated soon, it is difficult to spot the Federal Territory flag of yellow, blue, red stripes and coat of arms.

When asked about Federal Territory Day, many city folk shrugged saying they did not know about the Federal Territory flag.

Housewife, Adeline Tan, 37, said though she has lived in Kuala Lumpur for a long time she never knew about the history of Federal Territory Day.

“I only know that it is a public holiday,” she told Bernama.

Meanwhile, Tuti Qudri, 30, said lack of exposure by parents and schools were among factors why many city folk do not fly the Federal Territory flag.

“In the old days, the parents and children would hoist the Federal Territory flag together,” said the resident of Seri Semarak Public Housing Project who always fly the Federal Territory flag.

Mohd Arsyad Zainal, 25, proposed that Kuala Lumpur City Hall ( DBKL) requires that the Federal Territory flag be flown at premises and homes every Federal Territory Day.

“In this way, we can educate the people to better appreciate Federal Territory Day,” added the student.

Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mhd. Amin Nordin Abd Aziz said DBKL had distributed 100,000 Federal Territory flags to non-governmental organisations, government agencies and corporate bodies.

“A total of 4,000 flags have been flown in the capital while 1,000 buntings promoting Federal Territory Day 2017 have been put up,” he added.

The history of Federal Territory began when the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, handed over Kuala Lumpur, which was part of Selangor, to the federal government to ensure direct administration.

Through the Kuala Lumpur Agreement, Kuala Lumpur was officially declared as the first Federal Territory on Feb 1, 1974 by then Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

In 1984, Labuan became a Federal Territory followed by Putrajaya in 2001. The three federal territories are under the Ministry of Federal Territories whose function is to administer and develop them. — Bernama