With the excitement on the festive Hari Raya Aidil Fitri going into second day on Wednesday August 31, 2011, in Malaysia, it is also the day where we Malaysians are reminded of the day the British granted independence to Federation of Malaya on August 31, 1957. Our First Prime Minister, His Royal Highness and Honorable Tunku Abdul Rahman made the proclamation of Independence of the Federation of Malaya by proclaiming "Merdeka!" three times at the official ceremony held at the then National Stadium which was known as Stadium Merdeka. "Merdeka" is the Malay word for Independence
It is interesting to note that my country known as Malaysia to the world was only formed under the Malaysia Agreement on September 16, 1963 after the coming together of Malaya (which is the territory on peninsular of Malaya) and three other equal nations consisting of Singapore( formerly a part of the Straits Settlements together with Penang and Malacca. The State of Singapore Act was passed in the United Kingdom Parliament in August 1958 providing for the establishment of the State of Singapore), Sabah (Formerly known as British North Borneo which attained self-government on August 31, 1963) and Sarawak(which were officially granted independence by the British on July 22, 1963). Both Sabah and Sarawak are on the Borneo Island.
According to historical archives, the idea of formation of Malaysia was first mooted by the first Prime Minister of Malaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman in 1961. It was targeted that the date August 31,1963 for Sabah and Sarawak to be independent from British and together with Singapore to join Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia to coincide with Malaya's independence day on August 31st in 1957 then. However, due to the objections and confrontation with Indonesia and the claim on Sabah by the Philippines which were related to its Sultanate of Sulu at the Southern Philippines, the United Nation sent a delegate to confirm with the people of Sabah and Sarawak of their intention to join in the formation of Malaysia. This has caused the delay and resulted in the ultimate formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963 with Sabah and Sarawak and Singapore.
So Malaysia Day is on September 16 of every year. Many Malaysians and generations like Bigfoothill learned the history of Malaysia from books that said that Malaysia achieved independence on August 31, 1957 which is not correct as it was Malaya's independence from the British. As children, me and my friends,we always look forward to the parade and programs lined up by the state government of Perlis. We would also watch the live telecasts of the street procession and celebrations held at the Federal Capital in Kuala Lumpur where the King or Yang Di Pertuan Agong took his salutation and inspections of the throngs of armed forces, navy, air-force and other civil contingents. We get excited and felt proud when we saw the fly pass by the air-force helicopters and jets, the drive through by the arm forces artillery, tanks and combat vehicles.
Now the history of Malaysia gaining independence from British is very much talked about by politicians especially after the last General Election held on March 8, 2008 as the current ruling Government from the National Front Coalition is holding to a slight marginal edge over the Opposition through seats they won comfortably from the states of Sabah and Sarawak. These two States who were formally being independence nations maintained some special privileges under the Malaysia Agreement. It seemed that the politicians from the Peninsular from both the ruling party and opposition are making and offering a lot concessions such as appointing more cabinet ministers,deputies, secretaries and the Parliament Speaker and offers plenty of funding and development projects to the politicians of the two states ruling coalition parties in order to secure their supports and the mandate to form the Federal Government with the seats won especially at the 12th General Election. With the next General Election coming soon, there are more politicking across the South China Seas and the politicians from the Peninsular Malaysia will make more trips to the Borneo Island to woo the voters there.
As a Malaysian, it saddened me to think of my fellow Malaysians especially Sabahans and Sarawakians who do not enjoy the same kind of infrastructures and amenities like us on the Peninsular, such as the basic electricity power supply and clean piped water supply to their homes. They have to travel by rivers using riverboats services that are taking long hours and rides on the bumpy road to get from one point to another point, and especially for the children to take the dangerous paths to schools by walking though jungle treks and crossing rivers on rafts and small boats. On the Peninsular, we have the highways, the electric trains services, the mega structures and the good basic amenities as compare to our fellow Malaysians from Borneo Island.
The two states are rich in natural resources such as timbers, oil and gas and contributed to the wealth and well being of for the Federal Government but majority of its peoples are still living in conditions that are below poverty level especially those from the interiors and the indigenous tribes. They have been neglected for far too long by the leaders of the country and their own states legislative.
The Federal Government has only declared Malaysia Day on September 16 every year as a public holiday from last September 16, 2010 onwards so as to win the hearts of the people of Sabah and Sarawak. To the present Prime Minister of Malaysia and his cabinet and anyone who is elected as the future Prime Minister of our country and leaders, please do not discriminate amongst us just for your political gains. We were taught in history books that the former colonial masters divided us and rule. We cannot give the same excuse that we were divided then for we are our own master for the last 54 years. Now the past 54 years of Malaya independence and the 48 years of a nation called Malaysia, we seemed to hurt each other across our political divides but failed to see that we are all a One Malaysia. We channeled funds for developments only to the people and areas who only voted for the elected leaders and ruling government. We can be so loud in championing the civil rights and liberty of foreign lands thousand miles away such as Palestine, Afghanistan, Bosnia and relentlessly supported with financial aids but we failed to recognize the very needs of our very own brothers and sisters in Sabah and Sarawak. Leaders should be Malaysian First and Politics Last.
When we compete in sport events, we cheered for the swimmers and divers from Sarawak and the Athletes from Sabah who helped us win gold in SEA games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World championships. A Sabahan, Aricco Jumitih did us proud by winning the weghtlifting gold medal in Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. Likewise, the Sabahans and Sarawakians cheered for our Penangites like Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Datuk Nicol Davids in Badminton and Squash World championships.
Elected Leaders, especially Parliamentarians, I urge you to look into and study at our many old Enactments, Ordinances and Acts of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s for a start to review it and repeal it where it deemed fit. One such law is the ISA and its relevancy in present day social and political environments. Even the Housing and Local Government Acts are important to safeguard the rights and remedies of the citizen who are purchasing a home for the first time to provide shelter for family. There were just too many incidents where the poor citizens lose their hard earn savings through unscrupulous developers and contractors where the houses were not built or partially completed leaving the purchasers with financial burdens of paying banking loans and litigation fees. Why are we Malaysians still electing leaders who are warming their seats in Parliament to entertain us with their racist and chauvinistic propaganda. Why do we have the Senators appointed even after they were rejected and lost in the elections? Though we can argue that there are some deserving losers to be appointed to tap on their leaderships,talents and skills but there are some who are hopeless. Can our wise leaders of their respective political parties scrutinize their candidates and groom them to be a top class leader with a heart for the people?
There could be more benefits for everyone if the Leaders of Malaysia are truly Malaysians before they sing Malaysia Truly Asia. Before we let the visitors and tourists see the backwardness of our fellow Malaysians, leaders who have the heart of all Malaysians, please see beyond the boat rides to explore the beauty of our National parks, rivers, jungles,caves, flora and fauna in Sabah and Sarawak. Let us build and construct roads more accessible to them so that our young ones who are our future, can go to school and travel safely. Let them have clean water for drinking and washing. Build them houses that they can call home so that they can study quietly and have a resting place. Give them irrespective of race, colors, religions, and political inclinations, the educational supports such as providing them with free books and library besides building more schools in the interiors. Let them have access to the internet and get connected. These simple budget spending are better than spending millions of Ringgit sending our Astronaut "Angkasawan" to space when we cannot even design and build our own rocket to propel us to the moon. It is better to have clinics and health facilities for the people than building iconic buildings and hiring consultants to build the biggest and the largest this and that for the sake of Guinness Book of Records achievements.
Please remember Malaya is going to reach employment retiring age of 55 years next year 2012. To the Leaders of Malaya, you have only one year left to work very hard to contribute to the family of Malayans. You, Leaders of Malaya and the present day Leaders of Malaysia, by virtue of your extended family members in marriage on September 16, 1963, you are given an extension of seven (7) more years to bring up your children to be on par with your first Malayan children before you call it a day at work.
For the next seven (7) years will you toil very hard to retire as a responsible and dedicated Malaysian Leader like the head of a family to look after the welfare of each members of the 1Malaysia family? Come this August 31 and/or September 16, let it not be just another flag raising day to flag you off to hurt, harm, hate our own fellow Malaysians nor squander and waste our visions and rich resources, natural and intellectuals away. There is only one race... and that race is Malaysian GP..(God Provide). There is only One (1) Malaysia and you are the Father of our nation so why there is still the column for race in our birth certificate? Are you not tired of racing against the very little time you are left with to bring our children to a united common race known as Malaysian where we can be Malaysia Truly Asia so that we will be a great nation called Malaysia that leads other nations of the world. Son of Malaya and a citizen of Malaysia.
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