BEAUFORT: Star (Parti Solidarity Tanah Air) has decided to distribute the Sabah flag instead of the national flag, Jalur Gemilang, on the occasion of Merdeka on Aug. 31, which marks Peninsular Malaysia’s 65th year of independence from colonial rule.
Star Beaufort division chairman Aliapa Osman said this was in support of Star President Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffery Kitingan’s stand to celebrate Sabah Day on August 31.
“Thus, we are distributing the Sabah flag instead of the Malaysian flag,” he said.
“We gave away 500 Sabah flags to motorists at the Beaufort roundabout and its surrounding areas.”
He, however, stressed that although the party is celebrating Sabah Day, it must be remembered that Sabah is part of Malaysia.
Sabah, the former British North Borneo, was granted self-rule or self government by the departing British colonial government on Aug. 31 1963 before forming Malaysia together with Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya.
Malaysia was initially supposed to have been formed on Aug. 31 in 1963 to coincide with Malaya’s independence.
However, protests by Indonesia and Philippines forced then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman to defer the date to Sept. 16 to comply with a fact-finding mission by the United Nations at the last minute, and which compiled its report before Sept. 16, that year.
In the meantime, the colonial government stuck to Aug. 31 as the date of ending its administrative rule, while ensuring security in the run-up to Sept. 16.
Present were Star headquarters’ representative Andrian Lakim; Star Kuala Penyu divisional chairman Jonas Sungim; and Lumadan chairman Pg Ismail Pg Sarudin.
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