I am surprised that there is so much argument going on about the Malaysia's independence day as it is a question of fact and not of opinion.

It is a historical fact that the Federation of Malaysia came into being on Sept 16, 1963 and being recognised as such by the United Nations. To say otherwise is simply twisting of the historical fact.

On that date, the states of Singapore, Sarawak, Sabah and Federated states of Malaya came together and formed the new Federation of Malaysia and a new nation was born.

We have to be clear and not blur with our past. Otherwise, like Dr Mahathir Mohamad once said in reference to leadership traits, 'if one doesn't know where he or she came from, he or she is unlikely to know he or she is going in the future.'

I hope Malaysians of all walks of life accept the historical fact and not be ashamed of our past. After all, it doesn't really cost anything to do so.