Lo Khere Chiang: Malaysia’s True Birth Was in 1963, Not 1957

suppadmin | September 8, 2025

Dato Ir. Lo Khere Chiang, Assemblyman for Batu Kitang, has criticised the Director of the National Archives for declaring the 1957 Proclamation of Independence as Malaysia’s “birth certificate,” stressing that Malaysia was only formed in 1963.

“No amount of gold leaf, carvings, or poetic words can change the truth: the Proclamation of Independence 1957 is not Malaysia’s birth certificate. It is Malaya’s,” Lo said.

He emphasised that 31 August 1957 marked Malaya’s independence, while Sarawak and North Borneo gained independence in July and August 1963 respectively, before forming Malaysia with Malaya and Singapore on 16 September 1963.

“This is why Malaysia’s birthday cannot possibly be 31 August 1957. There was no Malaysia then,” he said, warning that to conflate the two events “erases the distinct identities of Sabah and Sarawak.”

Lo commended Sarawak’s Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi, for clarifying that 31 August commemorates Malaya’s independence, while 16 September marks Malaysia’s true formation.

He further linked the misrepresentation of history to longstanding grievances faced by Sarawak. “When resources were taken, it was done in a flash. Yet when it comes to restoring our rights, Sarawak is told to wait endlessly,” he said.

Lo concluded, “Malaysia’s true birth certificate is the Malaysia Agreement 1963. Malaysia’s birthday is 16 September 1963. And Malaysia’s real National Day should rightly be 16 September, not 31 August.”