Senator warns against misleading narratives on Sarawak’s role in formation of Malaysia

SIBU (Feb 7): Senator Robert Lau has expressed concern over the lack of understanding among some West Malaysia-based political analysts and public figures regarding Sarawak’s historical role in the formation of Malaysia, despite growing attention to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) issue.

He noted that some parties were attempting to stir agitation by portraying an inaccurate narrative, without grasping the roles played by Sarawak, Sabah, and even Singapore in the creation of Malaysia.

“I believe that recently, there has been quite a lot of response to the MA63 issue. This time we start to get responses from West Malaysia-based (political) analysts or those public figures.

“One good thing is that they start to notice. And the other thing, it reveals quite a lot of ignorance by them of what is Sarawak’s role in (the formation of) Malaysia.

“So, some of them are trying to agitate, painting a very incorrect picture without knowing the history of Malaysia and the role of Sarawak and Sabah, and even Singapore in the formation,” Lau told reporters before the earth-breaking ceremony of the YMCA Community Park at Terap Lane here, officiated by Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng.

He was responding to a recent segment on Berita 757 featuring an unidentified political analyst who claimed that Sabah had handled MA63 more prudently than Sarawak and described Sarawak as arrogant, an attempt to create division between the two Borneo territories.

While welcoming the attention, Lau reiterated the need for a proper understanding of history.

“Good thing is they start to take notice. The bad thing is they have not read up the history, understand the issue, and understand the views of Sarawak and Sabah, which is not that good if we want to move on as a united country.

“So they should not make assumptions that Sarawak and even Sabah are being ‘selfish’ or more ‘inward looking’,” he said.

“Listen to the other side, understand, sit with the Sarawakians for three days, you will understand what we are like in Malaysia. That’s how I would say,” he added.

Lau also noted that in many national podcasts and discussions about Malaysia’s history or nation-building, Sarawak and Sabah are often overlooked.

“I listened to quite a few national podcasts and their narratives have always skewed towards the Malaya version of Malaysia. Every time they talk about nation building, or Malaysia history, Sarawak and Sabah seem to be neglected or relegated as an afterthought.

“Why not see Malaysia, where Sarawak is a founding partner, and for 50 to 60 years, we are the main contributor to the financial well-being of the country. For 60 years, we helped the building up predominantly of West Malaysia,” he said.

He explained that Sarawak agreed to join Malaysia on the understanding that it would enjoy faster economic development, autonomy over immigration, the preservation of religious freedom with a secular identity, and the continued use of English as an official language to maintain its racial and religious diversity.

“That part of the narrative is not being highlighted,” he said.

He added that Sarawak is now asking for fairness in honouring the promises made at the time of Malaysia’s formation.

Nation-building, he said, should be based on collective well-being rather than extracting state resources to the detriment of that state.

“Depriving the state of its own resources is not the right way in nation building, especially in our context when Malaysia’s formation was to enrich the less developed states and not from taking their wealth,” said Lau.

Lau expressed hope that West Malaysia-based media, analysts, and public figures would consider the issue from this perspective.

On Friday, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Women’s Wing leaders had stated that any attempt to divide and provoke Sarawak through negative narratives on the MA63 will only strengthen the state’s leadership and unite its people.

Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali had said the state government remained confident under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.