Activist: Stop confusing Malaya’s independence with Malaysia’s nationhood, respect history

MIRI (Aug 29): The federal government has been called on to respect history by not confusing Malaya’s independence in 1957 with Malaysia’s National Day.

According to Sarawak rights activist Peter John Jaban, it is misleading for Malaysians, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, to be made to celebrate Aug 31 as the country’s ‘National Day’ when Malaysia did not even exist then.

“Aug 31, 1957, marked the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule. At that time, only Malaya existed, not Malaysia,” he stressed in a statement.

He pointed out that for Sarawakians, the more significant dates are July 22, 1963 – when Sarawak gained independence, and Sept 16, 1963 – the day Malaysia was formed with Malaya, Sabah (then North Borneo), Sarawak, and Singapore as equal partners.

“Let’s be clear, Aug 31 is Malaya’s Independence Day, July 22 is Sarawak’s Independence Day, and Sept 16 is Malaysia’s National Day,” he pointed out.

Peter added that if Malaysia is truly a partnership of equals, then both truths must be honoured.

“Without Sept 16, 1963, there would be no Malaysia. Anything else is an insult to history and to the people of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

He also observed that in recent years, fewer Sarawakians are flying the national flag on Aug 31, not because they are unpatriotic, but because they do not see the date as representing their independence or national identity.

“For us, Aug 31 is not our National Day. It is Malaya’s Independence Day. The government must stop confusing Malaya’s independence with Malaysia’s nationhood,” he added.