By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 29: Sarawak rights activist Peter John Jaban has called on the federal government to stop confusing Malaya’s Independence Day on Aug 31, 1957, with Malaysia’s National Day, pointing out that the two are entirely different historical milestones.
He stressed that Malaysia did not exist in 1957, and therefore Aug 31 should not be celebrated as the country’s “Hari Kebangsaan” (National Day).
Instead, he urged Malaysians to respect historical facts and recognise the distinct dates that mark Sarawak’s independence and Malaysia’s formation.
“The truth is clear: Aug 31, 1957, is Malaya’s Independence Day. July 22, 1963, is Sarawak’s Independence Day. And Sept 16, 1963, marks the actual birth of Malaysia,” Peter said in a statement today.
He emphasised that for Sarawakians, the real milestones are July 22 and Sept 16, not Aug 31.
“If Malaysia is truly a partnership of equals, then let us honour both truths,” he asserted.
Peter proposed that Aug 31 continue to be celebrated as Malaya’s Independence Day, July 22 as Sarawak Day and Sept 16 as Malaysia’s true National Day.
He stressed that without Sept 16, 1963, there would have been no Malaysia, as it was the date when Malaya, Sabah (then North Borneo), Sarawak and Singapore united to form the nation.
“Anything else is an insult to history and to the people of Sabah and Sarawak,” he added. – DayakDaily
