Datuk Sebastian: significance of Malaysia Day

suppadmin | September 16, 2016

State Assemblyman for Piasau, Dato’ Sebastian Ting suggested that September 16 be celebrated on a larger scale as this is the day when Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah formed Malaysia way back in 1963.

Ting who is also the Secretary of Sarawak United Peoples’ party (SUPP) said September 16 is an important date for all Malaysians as it is a day of remembrance of the greatest achievement by our people back in 16 September 1963.

He suggested that a grand celebration be carried out by taking turn in Sarawak, Sabah and West Malaysia to celebrate the Day so that all Malaysians would be able to understand the significant of the day with a sense of comradeship and patriotism.

Many young generations of Malayisans today, he added, are not entirely clear in their mind of the significant of this date all due to the lack of emphasis and details in our students’ history text books all these years.

“Malaysia was formed in 16 September 1963 by 4 countries:- Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah (previously called as North Borneo), through the Malaysia Agreement 1963 which was signed in London on the 9 July 1963. The purpose was to form a political and economic cooperation between the 4 countries as equal partners to one another.

Our people must remember that the relationship between Sarawak with Kuala Lumpur is not the same as the relationship between Pahang with Kuala Lumpur because we have our own autonomous powers which was agreed in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 by all parties. For the states in Malaya, their relationship with the Federal government was established by the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957 whereas for Sarawak and Sabah, our relationship with the Federal government were established by the Malaysia Agreement 1963 which is an international agreement deposited in the United Nations on 21 September 1970,” he said.

Ting said on July 22 in 1963, he Head of State at that time was Governor Sir Alexander Waddell handed over the Administrative Rule to Sarawak First Chief Minister the late Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan and his Cabinet.

“Our first Sarawakian governor was Tun Abang Haji Openg who came into the office on the 16 September 1963 marking the end of the British rule in Sarawak. In our humble opinion, the 22nd Day of July is effectively our Sarawak Independence Day and indeed our present Chief Minister Datuk Patinngi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had declared this day as “HARI SARAWAK” and as a public holiday for all Sarawakians. Further, celebrating Malaysia Day on the 16 September should not be just about the formation of Malaysia but also to celebrate the greatest achievement by our Malaysians and for Sarawakians, the complete Sarawak’s independence from the United Kingdom,” he added.

SUPP, he assured are fully committed to “SAFEGUARD SARAWAK” and fight for the best interest of Sarawakians and Support the Initiatives taken by our Sarawak Government especially our Chief Minister Datuk Patinngi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in our quest for autonomy for Sarawak.

“As we celebrate this Important Malaysia Day, we, as loyal Malaysians, must continue to value, treasure and protect the Peace and Harmony of all Malaysians, irrespective of Race, Religion, Culture or political inclination. We must stay United,” he added.