By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 31: It is time that Malaysia recognises September 16—Malaysia Day—as the actual National Day instead of August 31, says Sarawak rights activist Peter John Jaban.
In a press statement, he said that for over 68 years, Malaysians, especially Sarawakians and Sabahans, have been told that August 31 marks the date when, in reality, it only signifies Malaya’s independence from British rule in 1957.
He elaborated that Malaysia, as a nation, did not exist at that time, as its formation occurred on September 16, 1963, when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore united to form a new federation.
Peter also claimed that such messaging would confuse the public and erase the ‘true history’ of Sabah and Sarawak’s role in the formation of Malaysia.
“To continue calling August 31 ‘Malaysia’s National Day’ is to rewrite history and erase Sabah and Sarawak’s place in the nation’s story. This narrative marginalises East Malaysia, undermines the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and promotes a Peninsular-centric view of our shared identity,” he said.
Therefore, a call has been made to the federal government to the following:
- Recognise September 16 as the actual National Day of Malaysia.
- Retain August 31 as ‘Hari Merdeka’ for Malaya’s Independence Day.
- Stop misleading campaigns claiming 68 years of Malaysia’s independence.
- Respect Sabah and Sarawak as equal founding partners, not just as states of Malaysia.
“I also urge my fellow Sabahans to stop calling August 31 ‘Hari Kebangsaan’ and to call it what it truly is—Malaya’s independence day—or Hari Sabah, to celebrate their own history. Let Malaysia Day on September 16 stand as the day we unite as a federation built on equality, respect, and truth.
“It is time to rewrite our national narrative with honesty and integrity. Recognising September 16 as Malaysia’s true National Day is not just about setting the record straight—it is about justice, dignity, and unity for all Malaysians.” — DayakDaily
