Sarawak marks July 22 anniversary
Hardi Effendi Yaacob and Goh Pei Pei
New Straits Times22 July 2018
FIFTY-FIVE years ago, the Sarawak flag was hoisted onto the pole at the Kuching Waterfront as the state was granted independence from Britain. The date was July 22, 1963, and the last British colonial governor, Sir Alexander Waddell, boarded a white sampan from the Astana and crossed Sungai Sarawak to hand over the administration to the people. Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan was appointed the first chief minister, marking the beginning of Sarawak as a sovereign state. Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg said, “It was a historic moment as we could finally take care of our state and people.
View photos
Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya, Kuching, recently. PIC BY NADIM BOKHARI
“However, we realised that we were facing tensions due to the Cold War (after World War 2).” China was trying to expand and Indonesia was dominated by Parti Komunis Indonesia, which staked territorial claims in the region. There was another territorial
dispute between the Philippines and Sabah. “As security and safety were important, we got the army’s support from the Commonwealth and Malaya,” he said.
View photos
First Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan declaring the forming of the Federation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963. FILE PIX
Sarawak was self-governed for a short period of time before entering into the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) on Sept 16 that year, which formed the Federation of Malaysia with Sabah, Malaya and Singapore. Abang Johari said under the agreement, Sarawak had insisted on certain terms and conditions, which gave the state autonomous rights to several aspects of the constitution. “We insisted on our rights as we did not join Malaysia, but we are part of the formation of the federation. We are an equal partner that formed the country. This is why July 22 and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 are significant to us.
View photos
Sarawak’s traditional costumes represent diverse ethnic communities.
“Initially, we were grateful when we formed Malaysia with other partners (Sabah, Malaya, Singapore) as stabilising and safeguarding our country were our main concerns.
“However, as time went by, some of our rights have been eroded unintentionally,” he said during an interview with the New Straits Times Press at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Petra Jaya here recently. This had prompted the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who was chief minister, to initiate negotiations with the Federal Government to restore the state’s rights under MA63. “That’s what we called devolution of powers. We want to get back what had been taken away, especially the rights to our resources. “We need to increase our income to boost rural development,” said Abang Johari.
View photos
Performers at the full-dress rehearsal for the 55th Sarawak Day in Kuching on Friday. PIC BY JANNAH KHO
This was vital and was in line with the fact that Sarawak was the largest state in Malaysia, occupying 38 per cent of the country’s land. “There’s so much that needs to be done for villagers in remote areas to narrow the gap between urban and rural (development). “We will continue to negotiate as we do not want to have a sweet start but bitter end,” he said, referring to Sarawak’s move to form Malaysia as a sweet start. He was confident that the newly-elected Federal Government would contribute to the negotiation and devolution of powers.
View photos
The late Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who was chief minister, declared July 22 a state public holiday in 2016.
He did not wish to elaborate on items that needed to be agreed upon in the negotiations, which were in their second phase. “Generally, it (phase two) would be on a fairer allocation to the state as we need a bigger allocation for development projects.” The state government’s efforts to officially recognise Sarawak Day bore fruit two years ago, when Adenan declared July 22 as a state public holiday to commemorate Sarawak’s independence from Britain.
View photos
A view of Sungai Sarawak in Kuching. The last British colonial governor, Sir Alexander Waddell, crossed the river in a sampan to hand the administration to the people on July 22, 1963.
The decision was made to recognise and acknowledge the sacrifices and contributions of the state’s forefathers, who had fought for Sarawak’s independence. It has boosted awareness among Sarawakians on the significance of the milestone. © New Straits Times Press
.jpg)
