KUALA LUMPUR: Crowds at Dataran Merdeka, in front of City Hall, in KLCC park and other parts of the city joined in the countdown to the country's 55th Merdeka Day and, at the stroke of midnight, as a mini fireworks went off, they cheered with jubilation.

Some sounded horns, some threw confetti and some sang the national anthem Negaraku.

The crowd at Dataran Merdeka

National laureate and Bersih Co-chairman Datuk A. Samad Said recited a poem titled Janji Demokrasi which he had composed.

Many Mat Rempit contributed to the occassion by revving their engines and choking Jalan Parlimen with exhaust fumes.

By 1am Friday, most people had left Dataran Merdeka.

Police had earlier Thursday advised the public to avoid a rally by a group called Janji Demokrasi at Dataran Merdeka, saying the rally was illegal as it had not obtained a permit from police or City Hall.

Clusters of police and City Hall personnel were present at Dataran Merdeka.

Meanwhile, the Merdeka March For Jalan Sultan organised by the Jalan Sultan community and Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCHA), set off on their walk from the Gospel Hall, Jalan Hang Jebat through Jalan Sultan, before reaching Dataran Merdeka after 10pm on Thursday.

Those groups are concerned about the preservation of heritage buildings jeorpadised by the MRT project.

Police stood by to prevent untoward incidents and to handle traffic to avoid congestion.

The crowd started swelling after 11pm ahead of the countdown to Merdeka Day.

Several people wearing yellow shirts or wearing yellow scarves were spotted among the crowd.

Mohamad Sabu, PAS Deputy President, was also spotted.

Meanwhile, political activist Hishamuddin Rais and others urged the crowd in front of City Hall, many chanting Janji Demokrasi, to be silent and to sit down ahead of midnight.

• IHH Healthcare earnings up 3.6% to RM127.27m
• Petronas Dagangan Q1 earnings down 3.7% to RM237m
• Japan's tumble drags key regional, European markets lower (Update)
• KUB in JV with Singapore's Hiap Seng for Petronas project
• TDM to plant 5,000ha of new trees every year in Kalimantan
• KLCI falls to low of 1,765, rattled by Japan, HK
• Japan stocks crash on volatile bonds, weak China data; Nikkei ends down 7.3%
• MISC posts RM300m net profit in Q1, sees challenging year ahead (Update)
• KL Kepong slips to low of RM21.36 as quarterly profit drops
• Maybank's Q1 earnings up 11.8% to RM1.506b (Update)
• Lafarge Cement positive on markets, mulls expanding capacity
• Dayang Enterprise awards RM705m contract to Perdana Petroleum
• KLCI pauses, Japan, Hong Kong key indices slide (Update)
• ECM Libra plans to exit PN17 by year-end
• China HSBC flash PMI hits 7-mth low, fans growth fears

• Ranger, militant killed in Thai south shootout
• Japan man, 80, scales Everest, sets record
• Philippines vows to defend territory against China
• S. Korean girl killed by suicide jumper
• Ecuador warns satellite could hit rocket remains
• Short-story writer Davis wins Booker International Prize
• Two babies among US tornado victims
• Anti-Islamist protests flare following London attack
• 'British solider' butchered in suspected Islamist attack (Updated)

• Rugby: Former All Black coach Henry on misconduct charge
• Ice queen Nicol into British Open quarters
• Australia to consider following ban on anchor putters
• Intxausti wins 16th stage, Nibali still keeps pink jersey
• Indonesia drawn to meet China again – in knockout stage
• Results worldwide
• Malacca sprinter Mohd Azam Masri out to create history by winning five events in MSSM meet
• Athletics runs in the veins of Vallabouy family
• Chinese long jumper Jinzhe claims another Olympic scalp
• Dane Jorgensen’s wish is to avoid Chinese ace Lin Dan in World Championships
• National badminton team’s lack of depth a glaring factor in home tourney
• Khim Wah-V Shem perform above expectations in Sudirman Cup debut
• Jindapon aims to qualify for 2016 Olympics
• Kenichi’s goal is to take Japan into Sudirman Cup semi-finals
• Dong-keun shows he’s a capable replacement

• Please wait.

• Actress’ barking pet saves her from attacker in late night incident
• Colleges challenge new conditions set by registrar
• Tian Chua, Haris Ibrahim, Tamrin Ghafar to spend the night in lockup (Update)
• Transport Ministry reveals new FT registration plate to start with W1A
• What comes after WYY?
• In China, food scares put Mao's self-sufficiency goal at risk
• Verdict ends three years of restlessness for family, says Sosilawati's daughter
• All four accused guilty in murder of Sosilawati Lawiya and three others (Update)
• Chromebook to help rural pupils leapfrog into parity with urban peers
• Astro and Maxis to deliver new-age TV service in Klang Valley