By Jeyan Marimuttu, Organising Chairman, SABAR
KOTA KINABALU: The birth of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 changed the history of Southeast Asia. It was the period of the decolonisation of the British Empire, and Britain was slowly but surely relinquishing its colonies, starting with India and Pakistan in 1947 and in 1956, Malaya and Singapore.
When in 1963 the British colonial masters of Sabah and Sarawak decided to leave, they found a convenient arrangement to amalgamate Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore with Malaya. Thus giving birth to this beautiful nation we call Malaysia.
The nation of Malaysia was conceived by the embryonic document popularly known as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 or affectionately known as MA 63.
It was in pursuit of the spirit and purpose of MA 63 that some like-minded Sabahans banded together to set up this organisation known as SABAR, or Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights.
SABAR was incorporated on 13.4.2021, with the aims and objectives, among others, as follows:
To create awareness through education on the historical aspect in the formation and development of Malaysia as a federation among the people of Sabah in particular and Malaysia in general.
To undertake study, research, and collate evidence, testimonies, constitutional documents, and other relevant historical aspects in relation to the Malaysia Agreement, the Malaysia Act 1963, and other related constitutional documents in respect to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia and to assess, analyse, and realise to what extent the formation of Malaysia has affected or impacted the people.
To take such affirmative actions as may be necessary and expedient for the realisation of the aspirations, expectations, and hopes of the people of Sabah in keeping with the spirit of the formation of Malaysia.
This evening’s event, Premiere Talk by Tan Sri Tommy Thomas entitled “The Formation of Malaysia Revisited, “ is one of SABAR’s many programs that has been underway with a move to educate the people of Sabah, particularly the younger generation, on the history and background of how this nation of Malaysia came to be.
It is to create awareness of the foundational documents upon which Malaysia was formed.
It is to create an awareness of the rights, guarantees, and safeguards that were provided in these foundational documents to protect the legitimate interests of the people of Sabah.
We have heard so much about MA 63, mainly from people within the state. Many leaders have spoken well on the rights and guarantees of Sabah under MA 63 and the Federal Constitution.
These rights are also being pursued upon by both the Sabah Law Society on the 40% Special Grant entitlement under the Federal Constitution and by SABAR challenging the constitutionality of the Territorial Sea Act. These challenges are now pending before courts.
While these challenges are being pursued, we also need to create awareness among the people.
This evening’s talk by someone outside Sabah, more so by the former Federal Attorney General, is expected to give a different perspective of the whole issue of MA 63.
It is an expected stimulus to thought and possibly better understanding of the vision and hopes of our founding fathers when they set out to conceive this nation.
While the people and the leaders of Sabah are certain of their legitimate rights under MA 63, we also want to hear from across the South China Sea. We are open to having heart-to-heart discourse on the subject so dear to our hearts.
Our rights and safeguards are sacrosanct and as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. It cannot and should not be trampled upon willy-nilly.
It is hoped that with this evening, Talk will create a refreshed impetus among the people of Sabah to be of one voice, one stand, and one purpose for the fulfilment of the promises, guarantees, and safeguards that our forefathers had hoped for.
May their vision for a multicultural, multireligious, and multiracial nation of Malaysia be ultimately realised.
