It is worth looking back at history to remind ourselves of how Sarawak achieved independence, the birth of our nation and what our forefathers envisioned for this new country called Malaysia.
Interestingly, Sarawak’s path towards self-government was laid out by the last Brooke ruler, Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke, in 1941, two decades before it became rea-lity.
According to Lim Kian Hock, a former administrative officer who now heads the Sarawak Tourism Federation’s heritage development committee, Vyner Brooke instituted a Constitution which incorpo-rated the goal of self-government in due course.
Incidentally, 1941 marked the centenary of Brooke rule in Sarawak, which was celebrated in September.
It was, of course, also the year when the Japanese occupation began as the Second World War raged.
Japanese forces landed in Miri in November, barely two months after the centenary celebration, and arrived in Kuching on Christmas eve.
The occupation would last for about three years and ended when the Japanese surrendered in 1945.
Vyner Brooke returned to Sarawak after the war but decided to cede the state to the British Crown.
Accordingly, Sarawak became a British colony on July 1, 1946 following the passing of the Cession Bill.
Nevertheless, Lim points out, the eventual goal of self-government was kept in view during the colonial period and incorporated into a new Constitution which came into force in 1957.
The concept of Malaysia was then put forward by Tunku Abdul Rahman in a speech in 1961, after which the Cobbold Commission was formed to determine whether the people of Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) supported the proposal and to make recommendations.
It concluded that the formation of Malaysia was in the best interests of Sarawak and Sabah, with all parties entering the Federation as equal partners.
An Inter-Governmental Committee was then established to work out future constitutional arrangements and safeguards for the special interests of Sabah and Sarawak.
“This resulted in the enactment of the Sarawak Constitution 1963 providing, among others, a ministerial or Cabinet system of government. It came into force on July 7, 1963.
“On July 22, 1963, Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan, as the first Chief Minister, and his Cabinet took over the executive function from the Governor Sir Alexander Waddell, ending the colonial era in Sarawak.
“It paved the way for Sarawak as a sovereign state towards the formation of Malaysia, which came into being on Sept 16, 1963,” Lim related.
By the way, I think it is great that this chapter of history was reenacted at the Kuching Waterfront this year, bringing to life the little-known and scarcely-appreciated fact that Sarawak attained self-government on July 22, 50 years ago.
This brings me to a speech made by Ningkan on Aug 31, 1963, the date originally proposed for the formation of Malaysia which had to be delayed to Sept 16 due mainly to opposition from the Philippines and Indonesia.
The speech proclaimed the attainment of democratic self-government without violence or bloodshed and Sarawak’s aspira-tions as a state in the new Federation of Malaysia.
With what looks now like foresight, Ningkan declared, “We must remember that in the whole of Malaysia, Sarawak is the largest state with the largest representation in the Federal Parliament. Our responsibilities, too, therefore, would be proportionately greater.
“It is now our duty to foster the growth of the great democratic traditions we had inherited and do our best to ensure that we are not led astray by the mirages of life.”
He also paid tribute to the British for guiding the state towards independence: “The only way in which we can hope to repay what we owe to those who had taught us to walk in the paths of honesty and integrity, and to achieve what all men strive for — freedom of thought, action and speech — is by proving ourselves worthy of the gift that had been bestowed on us.”
Likewise Tunku Abdul Rahman, in his Malaysia Day speech, spoke of the joy and hope of the new nation’s birth and how it came about through cooperation and a shared desire for a common destiny.
“Now finally the people of Malaysia are celebrating the establishment of Malaysia.
“This is the time to think earnestly and hopefully on the future of Malaysia as the whole country resounds with joy.
“So I pray that God may bless the nation of Malaysia with eternal peace and happiness for our people. ... With trust in Almighty God, unity of purpose and faith in ourselves, we can make Malaysia a land of prosperity and peace.
“In doing so let every Malaysian ... ensure that our Malaysia is truly worthy of the aims and hopes we have shared, the trials and stress we have endured, in working together to achieve our common destiny.”
These are noble sentiments indeed. As we celebrate Malaysia’s 50th year, it is timely to ask ourselves how far we have lived up to these aspirations in our pursuit of nationhood and progress.
Do we still share a common destiny? Are we continuing to work in the same spirit of cooperation and unity to build an inclusive nation that will ensure peace and prosperity for everyone?
Let us not lose sight of our forefathers’ aspirations as we move forward into the future, so that Malaysia will truly stand, in Tunku Abdul Rahman’s words, as “a successful and progressive nation, a true democracy and an example to the world of harmony and tolerance.”
Happy birthday, Malaysia!
By Sharon Ling (Star Online)
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