By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 16: The return of the Malaysia Day Celebration Special Book to Sarawak in conjunction with this year’s celebration reflects the enduring historical ties and spirit of harmony among Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak.
Kept by the Sabah State Archives Department, the official volume serves as a silent witness to the unity and integration of the three regions, with representatives signing the book at each Malaysia Day celebration as a symbol of national unity.
Sabah State Archives officer Razali Dait said the signing ceremony would be performed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at tonight’s celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
“The signatures symbolise the unity among the three regions. Although the ceremony takes only a minute or two, it carries the true symbolism of Sept 16, which marks the formation of Malaysia,” he told Bernama.
First introduced in 2010, the special book contains a compilation of documents signed by representatives of the federal government, Sabah and Sarawak.
The initiative was the brainchild of then Information, Communications and Culture Minister Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim, while its preparation was undertaken by the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation.
The cover of the official Malaysia Day celebration record book is gold-plated and features woven motifs inspired by patterns of indigenous communities from Sarawak, Sabah and the Peninsula.
The book is housed in a teakwood box bearing the national coat of arms and the coats of arms of all 13 states.
Razali, who was responsible for transporting the book from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching, said the movement of the historic document was carried out under tight security and through close coordination between the Sarawak government, as host, and federal agencies.
He said the ties symbolically reaffirmed through the document provided an important foundation for cooperation between the federal and state governments in advancing the aspirations of people across the country.
Razali also hoped the values of harmony and mutual understanding reflected in the tradition would continue to be embraced by younger generations as an important pillar of peace and stability.
“Let us practise a culture of cooperation, mutual understanding and caring for one another so that Malaysia continues to be held in high regard, remains peaceful and develops alongside other countries,” he said.
The signing of the Malaysia Day Celebration Special Book is a longstanding tradition held during Malaysia Day celebrations to commemorate the formation of Malaysia through the union of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak on Sept 16, 1963.
The book was last brought to Sarawak for the 2023 Malaysia Day celebration at the Unity Stadium here. — Bernama
