Don: Independence Day for Sabah, Sarawak should be Aug 15, 1945

KUCHING (Aug 29): Sabah and Sarawak’s independence day should technically have been Aug 15, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered their occupation in the region, said Datuk Prof Jayum Jawan.

The Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) adjunct professor of the Institute of Borneo Studies said this when sharing his National Day message titled ‘Independence Day and National Day?’

“If North Borneo or Sarawak were to gain independence, it was from the Japanese and not from the British, whom both states had invited to oversee both regions after Japanese surrender in 1945.

“Hence, if there is to be an ‘independence day’ for Sabah and Sarawak, the right date would be the day of the Japanese surrender on Aug 15, 1945 as announced by Japanese Emperor Hirohito.

“Thus, Aug 31 that Sabah celebrates as Sabah Day and July 22 that Sarawak celebrates were not properly placed. Both dates refer to ‘self-government’.

“Is it self-government as in a new native government or a return to former government before Japanese occupation,” he argued.

Jayum insisted that the governments of both Sabah and Sarawak before the Japanese Occupation were local governments and not colonial governments as the Malayan government was.

“Neither North Borneo nor Sarawak was ever conquered with guns and battleships prior to the Japanese occupation. North Borneo and Sarawak were invaded by the Japanese during World War II or during the Pacific War in 1941,” he said.

Jayum said Malaysians must be clear on two important historical dates that have been entered into the history of the country.

The two dates are the Independence Day and the National Day.

He said with easily available information across the worldwide web, one only needs to surf and get the facts correct.

“The date that falls on every Aug 31 refers to the independence of the Federation of Malaya from Britain on Aug 31, 1957. That is the fact based on history already recorded and taught in textbooks in Malaysian history.

“The states that are involved in this independence were the nine Malay states and two strait settlements of Pulau Pinang and Melaka, and all states are in the peninsula.”

Jayum said there was nothing wrong for Malaysians to celebrate Independence Day but it must be clear that the celebration is to remind Malaysians and especially Malayans on the importance of Aug 31 when the 11 states in the peninsula obtained their independence from Britain after years of being colonised.

“To be precise, the peninsula states were colonised in 1824 and that was 200 years ago this year.

“National Day that falls on Sept 16 every year marks the day the Federation of Malaysia was officially formed by the coming together of four regions, namely Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak.

“National Day cannot, as a matter of fact, refer to Aug 31 but legitimately Sept 16, and National Day must refer and relate to Malaysia. Referring National Day to Aug 31 merely serves to confuse post-Malaysia generations whose history does not go back before 1963,” he said.

Jayum said sentiment aside, these are the facts regarding Independence Day for the former Malaya and National Day for the celebration of the birth of the Federation of Malaysia.

“Therefore, the ignorance of post-Malaysia non-Sabahans and non-Sarawakians on the issue should be addressed through revisiting the facts. A sound academic and historians would not dispute this.

“Also, teachers of history at all levels need to be re-schooled in case they forget this fact of history. It is shameful when a small bunch of teachers seeking short-term fame distorts history. By doing so, they have disgraced themselves and their profession.”

He also said Sabahans and Sarawakians need not apologise for their lack of enthusiasm to appreciate Independence Day or the Aug 31 celebration.

“After all is said, Sabahans and Sarawakians join their Malayan compatriots in remembering Malayan Independence Day on Aug 31. But let’s focus on Malaysia, a nation that Malayans, Sabahans and Sarawakians came together to form on Sept 16, 1963.

“Let’s show our true patriotism and undivided loyalty to the King and Country of the Federation of Malaysia.”

Jayum is also a fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, and member of the National Advisory Council on National Unity.