Theme, Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni – Compassion for the People
On 22 September 2025, the Embassy of Malaysia in the Netherlands proudly celebrated the 68th National Day and the 62nd Malaysia Day at Kasteel de Wittenburg in Wassenaar.
The event drew a vibrant crowd of friends of Malaysia, including ambassadors from Kazakhstan, Morocco, Yemen, the Philippines, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other members of the Diplomatic Corps, along with an enthusiastic gathering from the Malaysian diaspora.
His Excellency Dato’ Roseli Abdul, the Ambassador of Malaysia in the Netherlands, warmly welcomed his esteemed guests with hospitality. The evening came alive with captivating performances by acclaimed vocalists Ainy Yahaya and Emri Faridz, whose dynamic presence enthralled everyone in attendance.
In his welcome address, Ambassador Dato’ Roseli Abdul stated, “the months of August and September are pivotal for all Malaysians. We stand united as we commemorate our independence from British colonial rule on August 31, 1957, and the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, which saw the vital inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak from Borneo.
Despite the increasing geopolitical and go-economic complexities of today, Malaysia has still managed to retain its positive momentum across the board. As a result of the structural reforms spearheaded by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia was the third-fastest- growing economy in Southeast Asia last year, with GDP increasing by 5.1%. Malaysia has also climbed 11 spots in the 2025 World Competitiveness Index, to the 23rd position – highlighting its massive improvements in economic performance, government efficiency, and business ecosystem.
Notwithstanding this, there is always room for improvement, especially as Malaysia seeks to achieve a high-income nation status by 2030. To support this ambitious target, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar has tabled the 13th Malaysia Plan, a five-year socioeconomic blueprint for the year 2026-2030, in Parliament earlier this July.
In essence, the Plan focused on three main pillars – technological leadership; inclusive growth; and governance reforms – in efforts to accelerate Malaysia’s digital transformation while ensuring a fair and equitable distribution of economic growth across the society.
This year is also a special year for Malaysia as we have been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. Guided by the founding principles of ASEAN, Malaysia’s chairmanship revolves around ensuring regional peace, security, and prosperity, with ASEAN remaining at the forefront of all decisions made pertaining to Southeast Asia.
The date 31 August 1957 also holds great significance as it marks the official establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the Netherlands. Entering their seventh decade, the strong ties between the two countries have been nurtured through close government-to- government collaboration as well as people-to-people exchanges. Until now, the Netherlands has been one of the most important trading partners and one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment for Malaysia, focusing on semiconductors and agricultural products, among others.
At this juncture, I am proud to share two recent achievements between both countries, namely, the repatriation of 41 Neolithic skeletons, or the ‘Guar Kepah’ remains, back to Malaysia just a day before our National Day, as well as the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation in the Semiconductor Industry between Malaysia and the Netherlands earlier this month.
These land-mark outcomes demonstrate that – despite our distance and differences – Malaysia and the Netherlands have an even brighter future ahead across wide areas of cooperation. As we face common challenges of climate change and regional tensions, let us work even closer to fully utilise the potential of our ties.
On this note, to my fellow Malaysians who are currently living in the Netherlands, I call on each and every one of you to serve as “mini-Ambassadors” of Malaysia in this country. While we may not be that many here, I am confident that you can make a difference in strengthening further the bilateral relations between both countries. As the saying goes, “little drops make an ocean”.
Before I end, I wish to invite all of you to enjoy the dinner, especially the specially-prepared Malaysian kueh tonight. Terima kasih, dank je wel, and thank you.”
As the saying goes, Malaysia is truly Asia, and this sentiment was beautifully embodied in the sumptuous buffet that concluded the festive gathering, celebrating the rich diversity and vibrant culture that Malaysia has to offer.
