By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 18: The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) would not have existed if July 22, 1963, had not happened, says Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) permanent chairman Dr John Brian Anthony.
In a statement, John Brian said the handover of self-governance to Sarawak gave it the constitutional status and political legitimacy to agree with an equal party alongside Malaya, Sabah, and Singapore.
“This marked the first time Sarawak was governed by its own people, making it a pivotal moment in the State’s political development. It symbolises the birth of Sarawak’s political autonomy, identity, and responsibility in managing its own affairs,” he said.
However, he said, over the years, many provisions of MA63—such as health and education—have ‘diluted’, leading to impacts such as the erosion of autonomy, which has prompted calls for the restoration of Sarawak’s rights.
Therefore, John Brian called for July 22 not to be reduced to a ‘ceremonial event’ but to be celebrated as a reminder for every Sarawakian to reclaim what is rightfully theirs.
In addition to pushing for full implementation of MA63 and uniting to demand equality and autonomy, he also urged Sarawakians to recognise July 22 as more than just Sarawak Day, as it is the cornerstone of their identity and rights.
“PBDS also calls upon the federal government to honour the promises made under MA63 and to engage in genuine, good-faith dialogue with Sarawak on constitutional and resource matters.
“It (July 22, 1963) marked the rise of Sarawak as a self-governing entity, and it laid the foundation for our entry into Malaysia. Today, it reminds us of what we once had, what we were promised, and what we must now reclaim,” he said. — DayakDaily
