Most Malayans ignorant of Malaysia Day's significance

KOTA KINABALU - “There now appears to be 2 red-shirt rallies on Malaysia Day, “Himpunan Maruah Melayu” headed by an Umno Division chief to be held at Petaling Street and Bukit Bintang and “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” led by a former Umno Malacca Mentri Besar to be held at Padang Merbok, both in Kuala Lumpur,” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Sabah Star chief, on the latest revelations.

It is pretty obvious that the Umno leaders and members are ignorant of the significance and importance of September 16, the anniversary of the formation of Malaysia.

While giving his silent consent and support to the red-shirt rallies in Kuala Lumpur, the Prime Minister will be in Kota Kinabalu busy celebrating Malaysia Day with Sabahans and happily signing a commemorative agreement with the Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak to mark the birth of Malaysia.

Does Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak mean nothing to Malaya and the PM and his federal leaders?
Does the PM and his federal leaders respect Sabah and Sarawak?

One cannot help but notice the oddity that the PM and the federal government are only celebrating Malaysia Day with events in Sabah and Sarawak with no significant events happening in Malaya, not even in Putrajaya or Kuala Lumpur.

The events and ceremonies in Sabah and Sarawak by the federal leaders look more like public relations exercises and a show to appease Sabahans and Sarawakians who are more nationalistic towards Malaysia than Malayans.

Most Malayans have been indoctrinated with false and manipulated history of Malaysia as though Malaya is Malaysia that achieved independence on 31 August 1957 and that Umno leaders were at the forefront in the struggle for the independence of Malaysia on 31 August 1957. 

At the same time, the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 was nothing more than an insignificant footnote of history and seldom highlighted.

In fact, in previous surveys, it was estimated than more than 75% of Malayans are not aware of the basis of the formation of Malaysia and were under the impression that it was Malaysia that achieved independence on 31 August 1957.

On the other hand, unlike their Malayan counterparts, Sabahans and Sarawakians are now aware of the history of Malaysia and basis of the merger between the Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak (as well as Singapore before its departure in 1965) in the formation of Malaysia.

For better integration and to enlighten fellow Malaysians in Malaya, PM Najib ought to be spending September 16 in Kuala Lumpur to castigate his Umno colleagues and members and other Malays attending the red-shirt rallies that September 16 is a historic day.  

Major events should also be held in Malaya to mark the formation of Malaysia with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners and the old “Persekutuan Tanah Melayu” no longer exists and that it is time to move forward and leave behind racist and racial politicking and help build a multi-racial and progressive Malaysia.