Kota Kinabalu: Three leaders from North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak and Brunei opposed the formation of Malaysia on grounds that each must first achieve independence beforehand.
“Malaysian independence leaders from Sabah GS Sundang together with Ong Kee Hui (Sarawak) and AM Azahari (Brunei) wrote to the United Nations on Sept. 9, 1962 to reject the formation of Malaysia before Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei achieved independence, respectively.
“This means independence was a prerequisite for the formation of Malaysia,” said Jeffrey.
“In fact, on Aug 8, 1963, the North Borneo Legislative Council made a resolution to declare Sabah’s independence on Aug 31, 1963 regardless of whether the formation of Malaysia became a reality or not on that day,” said Jeffrey.
SPONSORED CONTENT Hajiji says young business professionals' inputs needed to develop Sabah Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said he welcomed inputs from young business professionals to assist in policy formulation. Read more “On Aug. 31, 1963, the last colonial Governor of North Borneo, Sir William Goode, before departing from Jesselton Port said ‘Today is a historic day for Sabah. It marks the beginning of Sabah’s rule and independence and the end of colonisation’.
“This means that Aug. 31, 1963 is the day of Sabah’s independence and must be respected every year. This is what is called ‘Sabah Day.”
“This is an important fact that is missing in the history of Malaysia’s formation. In fact, there are some who questioned whether it actually happened,” he said.
He said Sabah Day reinforces Malaysia and marks the end of the Philippines claim to Sabah. This was also a requirement of the Manila Accord during the formation of Malaysia.
He said not all countries achieved independence through the Independence Act, including the United States, which also achieved independence through the Unilateral Declaration of Independence.
“Sabah’s independence was recognised during the proclamation of the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963.
“This means that on September 16, 1963, during the proclamation of Malaysia, Sabah’s independence was recognized and Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore were recognized as a country, respectively. This status was also recognized in their original respective constitution.
“In the proclamation of the formation of Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak were allied with Malaya Federation, a little different from Article 1 of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“This is not surprising because the MA63 was signed on July 9, 1963, before the process of the formation of Malaysia was completed, that is, while Sabah and Sarawak were still colony status and not free from colonisation.
“Therefore, history must be corrected and completed with the steps that have taken place between July 9 and September 16, that is, the liberation of Sabah from colonisation and the independence of Sabah. This is what happened between those two dates,” he said.
Jeffrey said the MA63 should have only been signed after all the processes and requirements for the formation of Malaysia are ready and completed.
“All the processes and requirements, which includes the independence, the abolition of colonisation, the tasks of the UN in Sabah and Sarawak also need to be completed. This is part of our history that went missing. It must be voiced and corrected,” he said.
He said Sarawak has also gone through the same process on July 22. That is why Sarawak has gazetted Sarawak Day or Sarawak Independence Day as a public holiday on July 22 every year.
“Therefore, with the completeness of this history, it is correct to demand equal partner status as one of the three entities (Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya) that formed Malaysia.
“We also need to know that Lord Cobbold, in the Cobbold Report was quoted as saying “It is a necessary condition that from the outset, Malaysia should be regarded by all concerned as an association of partners combining in the common interest to create a new nation by retaining their own individualities.
“If any idea were to take root that Malaysia would involve a takeover of the body of territories by the Federation of Malaya and the submersion of their individualities, that is the individuality of North Borneo and Sarawak, Malaysia would not, in my judgment, be generally acceptable or successful”.
“These are the words of Lord Cobbold. Malaysia can be successful once the history is complete. By recognising Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners and equal status with Malaya can we in Sabah feel relieved,” he said.
He also said former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin was accurate in describing Sabah and Sarawak as Wilayah and not states like other states in Malaya.
“By recognizing this historical fact, the problem we have been facing for years, we hope it will be solved and we can move forward and strengthen the relationship between the three wilayah.
“We do not want to be treated as a colony or to be subjugated, where all our wealth is stripped away, including opportunities for economic and political work. Until now, more than half a century, the Federal Government has still failed to fulfil our rights in the Federal Constitution.”
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