By Remy Majangkim
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia Day extends beyond its legal origins, embodying significant meaning, responsibility, and trust.
While it is often regarded as a routine holiday by many, for Sabahans, it formerly marked the official birthday of the Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT).
On this day, families gather in Kota Kinabalu’s town square to participate in communal celebrations and observe the parade.
Tunku Abdul Rahman once envisioned Malaysia Day shining on 31 August 1963, echoing the spirit of Malaya’s independence in 1957. Yet destiny charted a different course, one that shielded the Borneo States from deeper misunderstandings.
In early August 1963, the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Indonesia voiced their objections to the United Nations. In response, the Federation of Malaya and the two states signed the Manila Accord (UN Treaty 8029) , proposing the Maphilindo concept and recognizing two pressing issues.
The Republic of the Philippines claims North Borneo (Sabah) as part of its territory under the Sulu Sultanate.
The Republic of Indonesia rejects the unification of the Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, and Sarawak as Malaysia, arguing it is a new colonial outreach by Western powers. This later led to a short war in Borneo between Indonesian and Malaysian forces called the “Konfrontasi”.
The United Nations scrambled a team led by Laurence Michealmore, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, U Thant, to Borneo in the middle of August to ascertain the people of Borneo’s desire to join the Federation of Malaysia or to achieve independence. The committee is also tasked to audit the Malaysia Agreement documents. So between 31 August and 14 September 1963, the North Borneo and Sarawak governments were still under a caretaker Government.
The commencement date for Malaysia Day was pushed to 16 September 1963, after the United Nations report was complete, and the satisfaction that the formation of Malaysia, declared under a new UN approach under the 1541 Principle 9. It says quoted.
“Principle IX of this resolution deals with the concept of integration as a form of decolonization. It states that integration of a non-self-governing territory with an independent state must only happen under specific circumstances:”
The integrating territory must have an advanced stage of self-government with free political institutions. This ensures that the people have the capacity to make a responsible and informed choice.
The integration must be the result of the freely expressed wishes of the territory’s people. These wishes must be expressed through informed and democratic processes, impartially conducted and based on universal adult suffrage. The United Nations can, if it deems it necessary, supervise these processes.
So, what does this mean? It says clearly that the formation of Malaysia in 1963 is a decolonization process, and the Federation of Malaya was tasked to ensure our endgame was achieved through our Independence.
Singapore has tested it and achieved the endgame by obtaining its independence bill from the British Parliament under the “Singapore Act 1966”. Malaysia Day is not only a significant day but a reminder and obligation to the Federal Government not to delay, trifle with, and ignore the people of Borneo.
After 62 years of integration with Malaysia, the Borneo States, notably Sabah, have fallen victim to their natural resources being plundered and broken promises. Can we move forward together, build this country together? Our hands extended.
Stay safe and Happy Malaysia Day to us all.
