Malaysia Day — a Sarawak leader’s view
Malaysia Day is a historical event to be remembered amidst the hardship and conflicts faced in forming a nation as it is today.
“The birth of Malaysia 58 years ago on Sept 16 was a momentous historical event for Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah.
“Malaysia was born amidst the firestorm and conflicts – originated from Indonesia and the Philippines. In 1965, Singapore left the union.
“Particularly in the 1970s, Sarawak was under attack by the communist terrorists,” said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing.
He noted the ‘marriage’ between Malaya and the two Bornean states was never a smooth union.
He pointed out that there were still misunderstandings which crept in again between the two regions.
“Because of this misunderstanding and constant bickering, among others, on the distribution of resources, some Sarawakians and Sabahans feel the only way out is divorce or in political terms secession!
“In the Federal Constitution, there is no provision for secession. However, there is a recourse in international law which allows for referendum. This is easy said than done,” observed Masing.
The Infrastructure and Ports Development Minister said the International Court of Justice (ICJ) would not grant secession if there was lack of proof to show oppression by the federal authority.
“The best approach to keep the union stable is to understand our partners’ characteristics and to live in peace and harmony,” he asserted.
