5 Merdeka 2025 Commercials That Celebrate The Spirit of Nation-Building

Malaysia celebrated its 68th Independence Day a couple of days ago. Merdeka, the Malaysian Independence Day, has always been more than a date on the calendar– it’s the celebration of the everyday spirit of Malaysians to work together and take their nation forward. This is reflected in their ad campaigns as well, and Merdeka 2025 commercials were no exception, capturing how small acts of care, kindness, and responsibility can make a major difference.

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So, here we are with 5 Merdeka 2025 commercials that showed that real independence is won when there is a purpose behind it. Let’s take a look at them.

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1. Prasarana Malaysia Berhad: Irfan

They say cleanliness is next to godliness. However, even if you aren’t particularly religious or spiritual, the importance of cleanliness still remains paramount, especially if you love your country and wish to see it progress.

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The ad follows the story of a young schoolboy, Irfan, who, unlike his classmates who travel within and outside Malaysia to engage in Merdeka festivities, visits Merdeka Square in the evening with his father to pick up rubbish. Why? Because Irfan loves his nation and understands the impact that even the smallest acts of kindness and love towards one country can have.

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You see, Merdeka is not just a parade or a holiday. Sometimes, it's about small sacrifices like Irfan.

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2. Maybank: Pembina Impian

Children are the future of any country. But without proper education and guidance, that future will be seriously jeopardised. Thankfully, there are people who are willing to take up the cudgels of nation-building through education, as shown in this ad.

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The ad showcases a group of teachers who visit underprivileged children across the remotest parts of Malaysia to arm them with the ever-effective weapon of education. From tackling the weather to scaling the difficult terrain, these mentors do everything to bring quality education within the reach of children who otherwise have no access to it and motivate them to realize their dreams.

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Because every child has a dream, but every dream needs someone who believes in it.

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3. Radio Televisyen Malaysia: Budi Tak Pernah Mati

Kindness goes a long way in bridging hearts, and when hearts are united, a truly unified country is formed. This advert is a fine example of that.

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The ad shows a teacher interacting with a young student who hasn’t been able to attend classes because he was busy helping his mother with her business. We then see the teacher, Faiz, in flashback helping his mother with her business, and find out about their financial hardships when he skips his classes only to earn some money and buy his sister a hearing aid.

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Thankfully, someone helped Faiz and his family scale their financial challenges back then, and Faiz extends that kindness to his student in the current day by helping him financially.

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Kindness never dies. From individual to individual, from heart to heart — this is the chain of kindness that unites Malaysians.

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4. Maxis: Ilmu Cahaya Merdeka

Education is the gateway through which every road to success and progress must pass. And it is the job of every individual blessed with the fruits of education to share those fruits with others, as Khairul Anwar does.

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The ad shows how Khairul went out of his way to help bring the light of education to children and actively performed his role in building Malaysia. By choosing meaningful actions, step by step, he changed the way young Malaysians access education.

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This is proof that tomorrow's achievements begin with today's efforts.

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5. Ajinomoto: Seribu Rasa, Satu Cinta

The different flavors of Malaysia unite the hearts of the people and serve as a strong binding force for the country. This advert celebrates the rich diversity of Malaysian flavors and the shared love that Malaysians have for their homeland.

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The commercial revolves around a bunch of “national recipe agents”, who pursue the owners of certain recipes after they go missing from their recipe database. Will they be able to find all of them and restore the recipes in the database? Watch the ad to find out!

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Wrapping Up

Independence Day campaigns in Malaysia have long been a stage for brands to do more than just advertise — they tell stories of unity, progress, and responsibility. Merdeka 2025 commercials were no exception, with ad campaigns highlighting how businesses and communities alike can play a role in building a stronger nation. These ads remind us that nation-building isn’t confined to leaders or policies alone; it lives in the choices, gestures, and contributions of ordinary people.

​If you liked the ads covered in this blog, feel free to check out these awesome Malaysian Independence Day commercials from yesteryear. We’ll be back with more ad campaigns for you. Till then, stay tuned!