MIRI – It is obvious that Sarawak’s leaders have been pressured to remove the word “independence” from “Sarawak Independence Day”, which is listed every year in the state’s calendar of official events, state PKR vice-chairman Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng said today.
The Miri MP claimed that the pressure came from Putrajaya.
“I heard that the Sarawak government had been under pressure from the federal side, as it has continuously harped on its autonomy and tried to muscle its way through showing its independence.
“To drop the term ‘Sarawak Independence Day’ for July 22 from the official state government calendar and replace it with Sarawak Day is a very serious matter,” he said. “It is like denying a historical event that had taken place.
“The significance of that day has been severely diminished by Sarawak’s leaders.
“It is a sign that Sarawak’s leaders from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) are caving in to tremendous pressure from Putrajaya”, he told The Vibes today.
Dr Teo said leaders in GPS, which rules the state, must hold their ground and not buckle under pressure from Putrajaya.
He said the state must be assertive in matters relating to its history.
Dr Teo noted that July 22, 1963 was the day Sarawak became a nation independent from British colonial rule, before it joined hands with Malaya, Sabah and Singapore to form Malaysia on September 16 that year.
“Why deny that fact?” he said.
“If GPS leaders caved to Putrajaya on this matter, they will surely cave also in matters pertaining to securing more autonomy in other aspects of state administration.”
Yesterday, Party Aspirasi Sarawak was the first to question the Sarawak government for replacing the name “Sarawak Independence Day” with “Sarawak Day”.
Party president Lina Soo demanded the reason behind the removal of the crucial word, which she said had diluted the day’s significance.
She noted that “Sarawak Independence Day” is a gazetted term that has been in the state’s official calendar since the tenure of the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem, when he was chief minister in 2016.
“The historical significance of that day has been reduced. This is an act of dishonour to the late Adenan,” she said. “The current state leaders must answer to the rakyat for this.”
Soo also blasted the state authorities for not listing in its calendar the events that had led to Sarawak becoming an independent nation before the formation of Malaysia.
Adenan had declared July 22 as Independence Day for Sarawak during his time as chief minister.
Sarawak helped to form Malaysia on September 16, 1963 with Malaya, Sabah, and Singapore.
Singapore was separated two years later to become an independent country. – The Vibes, July 7, 2022
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