Beyond Malaysia’s harmonious melting pot, there were hardships and challenges that ensued during the country’s formation in 1963. During a Hari Raya broadcast in the year Sarawak would gain its independence through a partnership with Malaya, North Borneo and Singapore, its governor, Sir Alexander Waddell, pointed out to the people that gaining independence meant taking on more responsibility.
Waddell said on February 24, 1963, which was broadcasted throughout Sarawak, “Independence is no fairy wand which can solve all problems. On the contrary, it means hard work, heavy responsibilities, self-discipline and a regard for the highest standards of personal, national and international conduct. It is an opportunity to not do less but to do more.”
Bidding farewell to the end of an era of the British colonial government, Waddell welcomed the beginning of a new era that brought with it exciting prospects, wide opportunities, and heavy responsibilities.
“Let there be no doubt about what independence — or freedom — means. No one is ever or has ever been or can ever be absolutely independent, that is able to do, or not to do, exactly as he pleases regardless of others.”
On the eve of the formation of Malaysia, Waddell and his wife left Sarawak as a symbol of Sarawak achieving independence prior to the formation. As the Chief Editor of a Chinese newspaper, veteran reporter Desmond Leong recalled the moment vividly, despite his old age.
The farewell, which began at 12.30pm, included a seventeen-gun salute as a last gesture of respect for Sarawak’s last British governor. Datu Abang Haji Openg, the Chief Minister, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, and Temenggong Jugah Barieng were also present for the farewell. Before leaving, Waddell told Datu Openg, “The Astana is all yours now.”
On the same evening, the Union Jack was hauled down for the last time.
The beginning of a new era
Leong, who was present at the grand function on Malaysia Day for the first time in 1963, described the moments, and compared the big parade to a long-awaited show that passed.
“Most people were not sure what the future would bring. Nonetheless, it was a relief that everything went without bloodshed. That was good, and people just returned to their normal lives.”
Sharing a similar experience, veteran reporter K.C. Jong, added that there were few differences during Malaysia’s early years of formation.
“For several years, the Sarawak government followed the British system of government. But gradually, things changed and we could feel it.”
Jong recalled that education was one of the first noticeable changes in government policies.
“Initially, education was managed by the local council. And it was in the early 1970s, when the federal government implemented changes that we began to witness an influx of teachers from West Malaysia.”
During that period, the Malaysian education system also abolished the primary six entrance exams and the junior Sarawak exam.
Jong also noticed changes when the national language, Bahasa Malaysia, was introduced in Sarawak, especially in schools. By 1980, many people had learnt the language, and Jong, as a reporter working in Malaysia, felt obligated to study it as well.
“As the Youth Chairman of the Sarawak Hakka Community Association, I proposed night classes as I want the members to learn Bahasa Malaysia. Though it wasn’t required, I felt I needed to learn it for the sake of my work, especially when conducting interviews and writing stories about it.”
Around the time Jong took the initiative to learn the national language, Ningkan encouraged the public to use the common language of Malaysians.
“This can foster greater understanding and hence unite and strengthen the nation in its fight against Indonesian confrontation.”
Apart from changes in the education system and national language implementation, Jong said the federal government had built more schools, straightened more roads, and the political situation was stable.
“We were able to live in a peaceful environment. By the 1980s, the confrontation and insurgency had ended, and Sarawak had become more united and harmonious.”
The 82-year-old expressed his wishes for this year’s Malaysia Day, saying that he hopes to see an improvement in the country’s current political stability.
“We can have a lot stronger and more united government, especially for the upcoming generations.”
Storm before the calm
Sidi Munan was studying in New Zealand during the time Malaysia was planned to be formed. Sidi remembered hearing about the formation when he was overseas in the last quarter of 1963.
“As Sarawak students studying abroad, we were met by Lee Kuan Yew, Sardon Jubir, and Goh Keng Swee, who were campaigning for the formation of Malaysia. They had told us that the partnership between states was good because Sarawak and North Borneo were small and underdeveloped. They also assured us that we would be secure from any war.”
When Sidi returned home in 1964, he was offered a job editing the Hansard at the Council Negeri Office. After a few months, he was hired as Temenggong Jugah’s personal assistant.
His first task was to “to do my best to make Malaysia work because there were problems with the communists during those years.”
According to him, the formation of Malaysia resulted in insurgency and confrontation, resulting in security issues throughout the country.
“Every night, we could lie in bed in Kuching and hear the shelling on the border. There were fights and killings everywhere. My job was to use medium such as Chinese newspapers and Radio Sarawak to send messages appealing to the communists to surrender.”
On November 9, 1963, Ningkan and the community leaders welcomed the Malaysian Armed Forces in Kuching. The preparation was to face the two biggest threats in Sarawak, namely the “Indonesian confrontation” and the “Clandestine Communist Organisation”.
And the operation was terrifying to Sidi, who lived day by day in fear. From the news of the rural penghulu’s death to the need to avoid threats, he recalled having to plead to the communists to surrender.
“I told them to do good, to rejoin society, and not to worry. They are, after all, Sarawakians.”
The confrontation ended in 1966 with a peace agreement ratified on August 11, 1966. The communist insurgency ended gradually during the tenure of the third Chief Minister, Abdul Rahman Ya’kub, from 1970 to 1981. With his strategies for gradually convincing the insurgents to lay down their arms, up until 1990, the communists were convinced that policy changes by the government would enable them to achieve their goals.
After much hardships
Sidi had witnessed many happenings concerning Malaysia’s formation and aftermath as the personal assistant for the notable Temenggong Jugah. Though some were not a bed of roses, Sidi highlighted that the coming together of Malaysia had helped certain aspects of Sarawak.
“We have made certain advances and progress with Malaysia. Prior to the formation, there were many poor people. Many homes have improved their economic situation, but extreme poverty persists because they are too far from town.”
According to him, Jugah was all for Malaysia as long as the Dayaks were treated fairly.
“He used to say kitai masuk Malaysia, tang kitai Iban, anang ngachau kitai Iban, anang ngachau adat kitai, kitai Iban sigi Iban.”
This year, it will be 60 years since the formation of Malaysia and through old photographs and movies captured during the decade, the changes can be seen as significant. And, despite many political changes, Sarawak has made remarkable progress in its six decades as a part of a larger nation. With modernity and advancements infiltrating our cities and towns, it is a great day to reflect on how we become who we are today.
