by Anthony Dylan
Malaysia is a country which seems to have never ending issues with diversity. While we celebrate Malaysia, many hate mongers seem to start mongering along the lines of race (ethnicity) and religion. When you tear away the rhetoric which politicians never seem to get bored of in making themselves relevant and popular, we find that peace does not seem to be their intent. It is as if politicians are the real culprits. How can we ever respect them but yet continuously play to their tune every now and then. Yes, like it or not we are like puppets. We show strength but cow when it matters.
What was the dream of Malaysia? Is it not for a new nation which would stand tall as a model for unity in diversity? A strength found in the sinews of every Malaysian focusing on the well being and progressive nature as a country instead. Is it not enough shame that we have shown how we could build world class facilities but yet fail in inculcating a world class use and maintain culture?
Today, Malaysia is at a crossroads. Only the people can save it. Not foreigners or permanent residents who do nothing but spew divisive rhetoric. The government is placed there by the citizens of Malaysia. If there is a blame to be pointed out, it would be the voters who have put them there. Expecting a world class line up but failing to monitor and maintain world class actions expected of them. The same fervor and passion ended at the result night.
The history of Malaysia should be corrected. It should begin with the Ministers, Government officials, CEOs and Directors of private institutions. It is disappointing when despite many reminders; many in power or those who have been tasked with doing public relations fail to comprehend.
The real birthday of Malaysia is not 31 August 1957. It is 16 September 1963. There is no Malaysia Merdeka. Because Malaysia was the product of a formation of a federation by Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo (Sabah) and Singapore on 16 September 1963. The Merdeka celebration was to remember the proclamation of independence from the British and 7 exclamations by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman in Stadium Merdeka on 31 August 1957. That was Merdeka. And this Merdeka is for the Federation of Malaysia.
Sabahans and Sarawakians respect the celebrations of Merdeka of Peninsular Malaysia. But Sabah and Sarawak also needs to be respected of their rights within the Malaysia Agreement 1963 as well as the issue with 1976 amendment of Article 1 (2) of the Malaysia Federal Constitution. Not putting historical facts right is disrespecting the historical fact that Malaysia is a new nation of partner states. These today should be between the Federation of Malaya, Sabah (North Borneo) and Sarawak. Singapore separated from Malaysia on 9th August 1965 to become an independent and sovereign state. It was believed that this separation was the result of deep political and economic differences between the ruling parties of Singapore and the other partners of Malaya, Sabah (North Borneo) and Sarawak.
I tend to believe that this was due to Singapore and Malaya more than Sabah (North Borneo) and Sarawak. It must also be pointed out that Sabah (North Borneo) was self governing on 31 August 1963 from the British. Sarawak was given self rule on 22 July 1963. This date has been unilaterally declared by the Sarawak Government as Sarawak Independence Day.
This was published in the Sarawak Government Gazette Part II Vol. LXXI No 38 on 20th May 2016. In verbatim it reads:
Swk. L. N. 150
The Public Holidays Ordinance
The Public Holiday (Sarawak Independence Day)
Notification, 2016
(Made under section 5)
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 5 of the Public Holidays
Ordinance /Cap. 8 (1958 Ed.)/, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri has made the following
Notification:
Citation
- This Notification may be cited as the Public Holiday (Sarawak Independence Day) Notification, 2016.
22nd day of July every year to be observed as a public holiday
- The 22nd day of July in every year commencing form the year 2016, has
Been appointed to be observed as a public holiday in Sarawak to be known as the Sarawak Independence Day, in addition to the days mentioned in the First Schedule to the Ordinance.
Dated this 10th day of May 2016.
By command,
DATUK PATINGGI TAN SRI (DR) HAJI ADENAN BIN HAJI SATEM
Chief Minister
We should remember that Malaysia was officially born on 16th September 1963. It turns 56 on 16th September 2019. It is not 62 years old. Merdeka for the Federation of Malaya is 62 years old. The facts must be right. The Real Malaysia was born on 16th September 1963. Now, it is up to the real Malaysians who believe in Unity in Diversity to stop those who believe in Diversity in Unity. The voice calling of referendum within the Rule of Law is building up in Sarawak.
