The 57th Merdeka celebration wishes decorate most of the social media today reflecting the strong spirit of patriotism despite the nation's sadness over the tragedies of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 and downing of the MH17 recently.

Many Malaysians including ministers, leaders and athletes all over the country took on the new media as the key platform to send their Hari Merdeka messages.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has this message to Malaysians.

"Let the Malaysian people celebrate the 57th national independence day in peace and prosperity. Wishing Malaysians a happy 57th Independence Day, here, where love begins," he said in his Twitter account today.

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said Malaysians should not forget the struggle of leaders who fought together to bring an end to the British administration in 1957.

"At this time, We should remember the struggle of our leaders, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun V.T. Sambanthan and Tun Tan Cheng Lock and together with the people of Malaya in achieving independence.

"We should learn to love our mother nation and bring the spirit to the coming generation," he wrote on his Facebook today.

Meanwhile, World number one men's badminton player Datuk Lee Chong Wei said in conjunction with National Day, he would do his best in the ongoing BWF Badminton World Championships in Denmark.

"The BWF Badminton World Championships falls on Merdeka57. I will fight to the end for Malaysia," he said in Twitter.

Lee will play China's Chen Long in today's final.

Malaysia's well-known Singer Datuk Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin also sent her wishes via twitter today.

"Happy 57th Merdeka Day. I am proud to be a Malaysian," she said.


Meanwhile, Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong in a statement said the founding spirit of the nation must never be casually forgotten or taken for granted.

"We must not rely passively on a sudden and cataclysmic turn of events to serve as an incidental reminder to our patriotism and devotion to our beloved country," he said.

He also said conscious and voluntary efforts in subscribing Malaysians to the meaning of nationhood was a lifelong engagement that people must never renounce or depreciate.