KUCHING: Malaysia Day is important to Sarawakians as a reminder of the need to know the history of the state and how it got federalised into Malaysia.
Sarawakians, especially the new generation, must familiarise themselves with The Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63), which forms the basis of Sarawak’s participation in the formation of Malaysia.
“I like the phrase our Finance Minister (Lim Guan Eng) used in his election speeches leading up to 14th general election (GE14) — without Sabah and Sarawak, there is no Malaysia,” said Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang in his Malaysia Day message.
Lo said after siphoning RM250 million of Sarawak’s oil and gas daily for 56 years, the finance minister turned around to say he could not afford to pay Sarawak more than five per cent oil royalty for now.
“When will the minister of finance and his Pakatan Harapan government ever fulfill their promises to return 20 per cent oil royalty and 50 per cent of all taxes collected? It is only 20 per cent! RM250 million daily amounts to 40 per cent of total oil revenue for the whole of Malaysia.
“This is how important Malaysia Day is. Sept 16, 1963 and MA63 are vital reminders to Sarawakians to remind them of the plundering of Sarawak’s oil and gas resources and the violations of MA63 by Malaya, which must end,” he stressed.
Lo said Sarawakians must know that Aug 31, 1957 was the day the Federated Malay States known as Malaya gained her independence from Britain, therefore Aug 31 is not Malaysia Day.
Lo went on to point out that Sarawak’s Independence Day has been gazetted as July 22, 1963.
“This is also an important day, to remind the children of Sarawak that our forefathers had wanted Sarawak to be independent first before considering forming Malaysia.”
He said the 18 Points Agreement was drafted, “which details the wishes of our forefathers on what they wanted Malaysia to be”.
He said the 18 Points Agreement covers freedom of religion, freedom of language and freedom of worship.
“English shall be the language of instruction in schools. Land and resources are 100 per cent Sarawak’s. All government agencies in Sarawak shall be headed by Sarawakians,” Lo pointed out.
