KUCHING: Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Datuk Idris Buang has urged certain parties to quit making an issue out of the country’s independence dates.
He said there are three important historical dates for Sarawak and Malaysia, of which the people must understand the significance of why those dates are being celebrated.
“On Aug 31, 1957, Malaya gained independence from the British rule; on July 22, 1963, Sarawak was given self-governance by Britain; and Sept 16, 1963 is the date of the formation of Malaysia.
“So when we join Semenanjung Malaysia in celebrating ‘Hari Merdeka’ (independence day), it does not mean we have the same independence date with them.
“We are celebrating it in the spirit of unionhood … to celebrate our friendship in Malaysia, so that we together as ‘Anak Malaysia’ (children of Malaysia) can feel how lucky we are in this country,” he said on Tuesday (Aug 31).
He added that Hawaii, which is the last state to join the United States of America (USA), also saw Hawaiians joining in to celebrate USA independence day every July 4.
“So, is there anything wrong with celebrating Aug 31? The same goes for Sept 16 whereby Sabah and Sarawak together celebrate the day Malaysia was formed, while those in Semenanjung Malaysia celebrate it too but not as grand as us,” he said.
Idris, who is also Muara Tuang assemblyman, therefore said that there is no use to keep arguing about the independence dates.
