KOTA KINABALU – In the leadup to August 31, Sabah STAR has launched a relay ceremony to feature the flag of Sabah to dispel misconceptions of the significance of that date to Sabahans.
August 31 marks the day Sabah attained self-governance and independence from the British in 1963.
Sabah Day Flag Relay event organising chairman Felsie Joy said the event aims to raise awareness of Sabah’s independence, which is separate from Malaya’s independence, also observed on the same day.
Referring to Malaya, she noted that “Tanah Melayu” achieved independence from the British on August 31, 1957.
“Sabah has its own identity and independence, which makes it different from the other states in the peninsula,” she said here today.
Unlike Sarawak, which has officially observed its independence day on July 22 annually since 2016, Sabah has yet to do so.
According to Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, the first official Sabah Day will be celebrated in 2023. He said that the gazettement of the date by the Sabah government could not be completed in time for this year’s celebrations.
Keningau will be the host of this year’s Sabah Day celebrations for Sabah STAR. – The Vibes, August 18, 2022
