Some reflections on
16th SEPTEMBER 2011 - A DAY TO CELEBRATE... DAY OF INDEPENDENCE
Preamble:
On August 31st 1957, Malaya was detached and declared as an independent nation from the British Colonial Government. Malaya also became an ‘automatic’ member of British-created international political-economic blog which are territories formerly under British Colonial Rule called “Commonwealth” headed by Britain. Historically four days ago was 31st August 2011 and which was Malaya’s 54th year of independence from the British Colonial Rule.
The days from the date 31st August 1957 were short of 6 years and 16 days to reach the date of Malaysia Agreement dated on 16th September 1963. Thus, for any Malaysian (historian or academician or politician) to say and/or write and accept that August 31st 2011 was Malaysia’s 54th Anniversary of nationhood is deliberate in causing grievous political misnomer and gross distortion of true history.
Formation of Malaysia
On 16th September 1963 Malaysia Agreement was signed between four distinctive territories namely: Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak. When Singapore left in 1966, the Federation of Malaysia was left with three signatory- territories (i.e Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak). Subsequently through the due process of the so called “referendum” and “amended” laws, Sabah and Sarawak somehow were reduced from being equal partners to Malaya in Malaysia. They were made to become states equivalent to Johor and the rest of the constituent-states of Malaya.
For Sarawak and also Sabah, 16th September 1963 was the day when the two terrritories (I beg to differ by not calling them as states in this context) were detached and became independent from British Colonial Rule. The Declaration was full of hopes and joys then for all “Sarawakians” because of: “Sarawak’s Independence (from British Rule) within Malaysia” or “Sarawak Merdeka Dalam Malaysia”. There were records to prove the facts in Sarawak Museum Archives.
In looking backward, for me, the hopes and joys of “Sarawak Merdeka Dalam Malaysia” felt in 1963 ended when Sarawak became state equivalent to Malacca...
Some fond memories
In 1963, I was the 3rd batch of Form One of about 60 students attended Government Secondary School Simanggang which was renamed SMK Simanggang as part and parcel of nation-building programmes termed as “Malaysianization” and “other-nization” of education system and schools, as well as other national social, economic and economic functions aimed at creating ‘new’ (Malaysian) national identity and values in line with RUKUN NEGARA. I still remember very well about many national-building events such as “Berjaya Weeks” or “National Solidarity Weeks” organized regularly (by Jabatan Keselamatan Dalam Negri and Malaysian Information Service –MIS) in various towns throughout the breadth and length of Sarawak, including Pasar Simanggang between 1963 and 1966. The core focus of those public events was to instil Malaysian identity and loyalty in face of Indonesian military aggression along Sarawak-Kalimantan Border.
“Negara Ku” was played randomly (1963 – 1965) on purpose before the start of “tukis” or “wayang” in Simanggang Theatre (now Theatre Inn) to see who stood up indicationing of loyalty to the nation.
“Pentas Rakyat” which proceeded from “Berjaya Weeks” focused on nation-building and fighting internal security threats posed by subversive and militant threats staged by the outlawed Sarawak Communist Organization and North Kalimantan Communist Party (NKCP) following the June 1966 Peace Accord in Bangkok (end of Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation) until after the end of security Operation Sri Aman in 1973. Since then, the potential sources of security threats are internal. They include the elements:(i) Religious extremisms;(ii) Declaration of racial and/or political dominance and supremacy (chauvinisms) ; (iii)Presence of legal and illegal workforce (in millions) (iv) Knowledge-based society, and (v) In-coming influences of globalization.
This forthcoming 16th September 2011 will be the 48th Anniversary Nationhood of Malaysia. Sarawak is blessed on being nominated as national centre of pompous celebration of the historic date. The venue of the anniversary is said to be at the latest majestic landmark - which is the new complex of Dewan Undangan Negri (DUN) Sarawak in Kuching City. Kuchingites from all walks of life and age-groups including visitors from near and far are expected to enjoy watching the historical Sarawak Regatta fare as the highlight of daytime celebration.
Transformations
It is undeniable that much physical than non-physical transformations had already taken placed in many aspects in Sarawak during the last forty-eight (48) years. In considering the 48 years, it is not untimely and also not wrong for us (as loyal Malaysians-of-Sarawak-Origins) to ask ourselves honestly and answer (analyze) one soul-searching question: “Is Sarawak really independent under politics of federalism?” as intended by the founding fathers of the nation in the context of the Malaysian Agreement? Secondly, must we conform to transform and move forward truly in tune with democratic processes and choices to become more peaceful, caring, tolerance, harmonious and prosperous in the literal sense of 1Malaysia National Concept? One most challenging agenda in the task of national democratic transformation is to free ourselves (minds) from clutches or stigmas of all religious, racial and political supremacy.
To my fellow Malaysians
Selamat Hari Malaysia ke-48 Tahun
on 16th September 2011 !!
aonepakkopi
To read some views
(i) www.sapp.org.my/pdf/msia_agreement_1963.pdf; (ii) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_Agreement - Cached;(iii)www.freemalaysiatoday.com/.../jeffrey-wants-malaysia-agreement-r...-Cached(iv) (iv) thebrokenshield.blogspot.com/2009/10/malaysian-agreement.html-Cached;(v) blog.limkitsiang.com/.../merdeka-social-contractmalaysia-agreement... - Cached; (vi) [PDF] No. 10760 UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND...untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/21/36/00041791.pdf;(vii)www.sabah.gov.my/openfora/subjects.asp?group=control.rmgroup - Cached ]
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