BINTULU: Sarawak had its own constitution in 1941, exactly 100 years after being ruled by the Brookes.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg lamented that many people in the state, especially the younger generation, are unaware of this historical context.
He noted that the drafting of the constitution was in line with the Brookes’ desire to transfer governance of Sarawak to its people, as expressed in the Nine Cardinal Principles of Brooke governance.
“However, this transfer of power did not materialise due to the outbreak of World War II.
“After the war, Sarawak’s aspiration for self-governance was again thwarted when the Brooke family handed over control to the British, who were considered a safer option at the time, as Sarawak lacked sufficient resources for self-administration following the war.
“What I want to emphasise here is that the circumstances were not favourable for Sarawak, which should have achieved independence and sovereignty much earlier than 1963,” he said.
He said this during the Sarawak Day Celebration 2024, held at the Bintulu Old Airport last night (July 22).
Reflecting on the historical events and in conjunction with this year’s Sarawak Day celebrations, he stressed that the effort to commemorate Sarawak Day is not merely to remind the people that Sarawak was granted self-governance on July 22, 1963, by the British.
He highlighted that the self-governance was part of Sarawak’s integration with other territories to form Malaysia as a sovereign political entity through the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which was recognised by the United Nations at that time.
Abang Johari pointed out that July 22, 1963, was a significant date marking Sarawak’s self-governance after seven years under British rule (1946-1963) following World War II.
He urged Sarawakians, particularly the younger generation, to understand Sarawak’s position when it joined three other territories to establish Malaysia in 1963.
“With this understanding, I am confident that the people of Sarawak will always have a strong motivation to empower this region to stand equally with other areas,” he added.
