Celebrating 50 Years of Merdeka!

TESSY: Today is Merdeka Day (or Independence Day) in Malaysia. Malaysia is celebrating..., Malaysia is celebrating..., 50 years of Merdeka.

CARMEN: Yeah...., hurray...., Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

TESSY: Actually, it's 44 years since Malaysia was formed with Sabah and Sarawak, but..., but..., but..., it was 50 years ago that West Malaysia or Malaya then, became independent in 1957.

CARMEN: Oh..., cool... How do you know that?

TESSY: Daddy told me.

CARMEN: So is it 44 or 50 years of Merdeka?

TESSY: I don't know..., 44 or 50 years.

CARMEN: But everyone is saying that it's 50 years of Merdeka.

TESSY: Nah..., I think it should be 44 years but..., but..., I'm not sure why they are celebrating 50 years of Merdeka.

CARMEN: Oh Tessy, wow! You know more about Malaysia than I do.

TESSY: Well, I guess it doesn't matter how many years they are celebrating as long as..., as long as..., we know the whole history.