By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, July 22: The history of the formation of Malaysia must include the history of Sarawak’s self-rule on July 22, 1963, says Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing.
“Today, the historians need to rewrite history on the formation of Malaysia so that the truth is revealed to the children of Malaysia,” Masing asserted in his Sarawak Day statement today.
He reiterated that this was never part of the education syllabus which distorted the fact about Malaysia’s formation.
“The Malaysian education syllabus didn’t tell the whole truth on the formation of Malaysia. It’s a shame that the children of Malaysia, especially those from Sarawak and Sabah were told that August 31 as Malaysia’s Independence Day, when in fact, it was Malaya’s Independence Day.”
Masing, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister pointed out that if it were not due to the efforts of former Chief Minster the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, Sarawak’s Independence Day on July 22, would not have been recognised by the federal government.
“Sarawak achieved its self-rule status on July 22, 1963. That’s when Sarawak formed its own government, elected its own Chief Minister and formed members of its Cabinet.
“Thus, July 22 for Sarawak was ignored by KL for years, till the late Tok Nan when he was the CM brought the matter to the fore,” added Masing.
On this day, in 1963, Sarawak gained its self-rule, which saw Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan appointed as Sarawak’s first Chief Minister and Tun Abang Openg Abang Shapiee appointed as Sarawak’s first governor.
Subsequently, Sarawak, along with North Borneo, Singapore and Malaya formed the Federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963. — DayakDaily
