But that is not the only thing they have in common. The fraternal twins also have a burning desire to see a Malaysia that is united once more.

For Vinod, the older of the two, Merdeka Day fills him with pride as it was the day on which Malaysia gained its independence.

“Merdeka is an opportunity to integrate. To unite everyone as Malaysians.

“This is why the Merdeka theme should not be political, but should be about unity. One that embodies the spirit of Malaysia,” he told FMT.

Vinodhini agreed, saying Merdeka was a day for everyone to gather and stand united for the country in spite of racial or religious differences.

The twins, who grew up in the small town of Paloh in Johor, said life there was vastly different from that in Klang, where they now reside.

Vinod said in his childhood days, his Malay friends in Paloh could always visit his house comfortably.

“Then we came to Klang, and we saw how significantly different it was. It was so racial, so segregated,” he said.

Vinodhini added that when they came to Klang, they were forced to learn how to speak in Tamil.

“You could not just go to any friend’s house,” she said.

These days, Vinod said, people were also more likely to jet off for a vacation rather than visit their friends on national holidays or festive occasions.

“We need to embrace each other’s cultures, and to understand that skin colour does not matter.

“Cultural barriers must be broken down.”

As for Nor Muhamad Ahmad, 60, being born on the country’s independence day fills him with pride.

He said his friends all know him as Mat Deka, because of the day on which he was born.

“I am proud to be an anak Merdeka,” said Muhamad, who was born at 1am on August 31, 1957.

For 11 years in a row, Muhamad, a former army man, has been celebrating his birthday by participating in the Perak state-level national day parade.

“The spirit of Merdeka is alive in me. It is so meaningful for me, to be born on the same day as when the country gained its independence,” he said.

To Muhamad, Merdeka means that the country has been freed from its shackles of British colonial rule.

“That freedom was hard fought for by our first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and his friends. When he shouted ‘Merdeka!’, that meant freedom for us.

“Every year when Merdeka comes, I get excited,” he said.

For Kelantan native Mohd Merdaka Che Soh, 60, his name alone points towards the day on which he was born.

“I couldn’t be prouder to share my special day with the country’s independence,” said Merdaka, who hails from Pasir Mas.

This year’s celebration for him will be bittersweet, as he will be retiring from the teaching profession after 31 years.

But he has fond memories of his teaching career, especially of being picked by his school, SMK Tendong, as the one to declare “Merdeka!” during its national day celebration each year.

“Doing that means a lot to me,” he said.

As for S Velmunigan, 60, Merdeka means freedom, no restrictions, and on a lighter note, everyone having an easy time remembering his birthday.

“On the eve of Merdeka, my brothers will come to my house and at midnight, they will sing Happy Birthday to me.

“The next day, I take part in the national day parade,” said the Subang Jaya native.