SANDAKAN – Plans to gazette August 31 as Sabah Day has drawn mixed reactions from those on the ground, with some proposing September 16 instead.
In green-lighting the proposal, Sandakan Heritage Trail founder Lai Hing Kang said gazetting August 31 as Sabah Day would be a major step in the right direction.
“It is to respect and remember the key role Sabah played in the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963.
“In addition to celebratory events to mark the occasion, it is equally important to find ways to reach out to the current generation that might not know the full importance of this milestone,” he said.
He said to complement Sabah Day, state government departments should be the first in line to promote and provide historical information.
“State libraries, museums, and local authorities could have permanent Sabah history galleries in their premises to educate the public, especially children, on how Sabah moved from British rule to become self-governing, finally forming Malaysia with Malaya, Sarawak, and Singapore,” he said.
Lai’s remarks reflect the call by several Sabah politicians, including Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, who have been actively proposing the gazetting of Sabah Day.
Calls for the proposal to be realised have grown stronger in Sabah as neighbouring Sarawak had gazetted July 22 as Sarawak Day since 2016.
Sabah, formerly known as North Borneo, was granted self-government on August 31, 1963, by the British.
However, some have questioned why Sabah Day should be August 31 instead of September 16.
Averting confusion
Secondary school teacher Sumiyati Ismail said that since August 31 is already marked as Merdeka Day, Sabah should opt for September 16 as Sabah Day, as the state achieved independence through the formation of Malaysia on that day in 1963.
“I think we should highlight that Sabah achieved independence through the formation of Malaysia on September 16 so that people will not be confused,” the history teacher said.
Sumiyati said she has encountered many students who were initially confused by the date of independence, as many assumed the entire country achieved independence simultaneously on August 31, 1957.
Meanwhile, Fresylla Chin, a Sabahan who has been living in West Malaysia for the past 12 years, said that as someone who understands the culture of both West and East Malaysia, she foresees that those in the peninsula would criticise any move to recognise August 31 as Sabah Day, as it would fall on the same day as Malaya’s independence anniversary.
“People are going to ask why Sabah wants to claim August 31 – Malaya’s independence date – when it became independent on September 16,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sandakan MP Vivian Wong said that August 31 should be recognised as a precursor to the formation of Malaysia.
“It is important to understand the context of August 31, 1963, as part of the process of formation of the Federation of Malaysia. The day should be recognised as the final preparation for the formation of a new nation.
“Hence, more crucially, all Malaysians must understand the significance of September 16 in the history of our nation.
“On this day, a new nation called Malaysia was born, when four territories – Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore – came together as one,” she said. – The Vibes, September 8, 2021
