‘Little Miss Patriot’, eight-year-old Aerrieanna Carmella Rose Ong (Cammy), a Chinese-Bidayuh, standing with a self-made Jalur Gemilang while dressed in her traditional Bidayuh attire. Cammy, a Year Two pupil of SJK Chung Hua Batu 10, Kota Padawan near Kuching, drew the Jalur Gemilang as part of her school project. Schools in Sarawak have no issues teaching the events leading to Merdeka. – Pic courtesy of Melanie Melissa Rose Ong, August 29, 2021
By Joseph Masilamany
Aug 30 2021
Dissenting voices largely from youth who want promises made to Sarawak fulfilled
MALAYSIA’S national flag, the Jalur Gemilang, has been fluttering in the wind for the last few weeks in Peninsular Malaysia as Merdeka Day or Hari Kebangsaan (National Day) draws close.
Like the Jalur Gemilang, the flag of any country is more than a representation of the nation-state because the citizenry finds an identity with it. The flag constitutes the hopes, ideals and yearnings of its people and is unique to the land, its diverse communities and geography.
The national flag also stands as the rallying point during good times and bad, where its citizens could come together to celebrate the spirit of patriotism and unity – or rise to defend the nation when its sovereignty is threatened.
But why are Sarawakians who are Malaysian citizens giving Merdeka Day the miss, some even deciding to not hoist the flag at home on the nation’s historic day?
A Sarawak millennial, Anisa Paya Jose, raises a point. Anisa, of Lun Bawang-Kenyah stock, says, August 31, or Merdeka Day, has less significance to Sarawak though it is a ‘big day’ for West Malaysia.
“Malaya got independence from the British on August 31, 1957. Sarawak, however, got its independence on July 22, 1963,” Anisa tells The Vibes.
“The ‘nation of Malaysia’ only came into existence after Malaya, Singapore, Sabah (North Borneo) and Sarawak congealed as a federation on September 16, 1963. So, to ask me to recognise August 31 as Sarawak’s Merdeka Day seems a little disingenuous,” says the Unimas student who is pursuing a degree in English for global communication.
When Anisa says Sarawak “got its independence” on July 22, 1963 – she is referring to the day when Stephen Kalong Ningkan was appointed as the first chief minister of Sarawak and his act of establishing a formal administration for the management of the state.
Undergraduate Anisa Paya Jose like most Sarawakians is bent on the fact that her home state got its independence on July 22, 1963. ‘To ask me to celebrate Merdeka Day on August 31 as if it is also Sarawak’s Independence Day seems deceptive to me,’ she says. – Pic courtesy of Anisa Paya Jose
Politician and book author Lina Soo says Sarawak remained a British colony until September 16, 1963, when Britain directly surrendered Sarawak’s sovereignty (kedaulatan) to the Federation of Malaysia.
In her book ‘Raw Deal’, Soo, narrates the response of Sarawakians to the formation of Malaysia and lends historical and background details surrounding the events leading to the creation of the federation.
Her second book ‘Sarawak Chronicle’ documents the political and constitutional history of Sarawak from its founding in 1841 right up to 1963 – when Sarawak formally merged as part of the Federation of Malaysia.
Soo, who is also president of Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak, says the third and last Governor of Sarawak, Alexander Waddell, left the state on Sept 15 – a day before the federation was formed.
“For us nationalists, we accept July 22 as Sarawak’s Independence Day as announced by the former chief minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, in 2016. It is the day that marks the ‘Declaration of Independence’ even though we still have not gained tangible independence yet.”
Tok Nan did not make a mistake when he declared July 22 as Sarawak’s Independence Day. Soo is also the author of two books ‘Raw Deal’ and ‘Sarawak Chronicle’ which give detailed insight into Sarawak’s history and the Malaysia Agreement 1963. – Pic courtesy of Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak.
Soo rues that some Sarawak politicians in recent years have tried to downgrade the significance and importance of Sarawak Independence Day, to a mere “Sarawak Day” or an obscure public holiday.
“Tok Nan (Adenan) did not make a mistake when he declared July 22 as Sarawak Independence Day. This day was gazetted as the Sarawak Independence Day’s public holiday on May 20, 2016.
“It was signed by Adenan Satem and assented to by the Sarawak Governor. This declaration of Sarawak’s independence was achieved constitutionally, lawfully and peacefully, so what is wrong with that?” she asks.
Soo says under the Laws of Sarawak Chapter 8 (1958 Edition) Public Holidays Ordinance, the governor may, by notification in the Gazette, at any time appoint a special day to be observed as a public holiday.
Soo reiterated that the Sarawak Independence Day’s public holiday was passed by a democratically elected Sarawak government, signed by the chief minister, approved by the Sarawak governor, and gazetted accordingly.
“July 22 or Sarawak Independence Day is our license and passport to achieve real independence. It is Adenan’s legacy for us, to persist in our initiatives to realise our burning aspiration as the state was granted nominal self-government and autonomy.
Sarawak was hived off to Malaya which was renamed Malaysia on September 16, 1963, says Soo, but the journey to gain full independence is still ongoing, she adds.
Voice of the millennials
“With Sarawak gazetting July 22 as its Independence Day and with a public holiday declared in 2016, the spirit of nationalism sparked up among Sarawak’s millennials,” says Undi Sarawak researcher David Bakit.
He says August 31, 1957, is the day when Malaya got independence. Sarawak and Sabah were technically still under British rule on that day.
“So, to ask the people of the Borneo states to celebrate Independence or Merdeka Day on August 31 does not seem quite right,” says the third-year law student from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
David Bakit … There is no Sarawakian narrative in the celebration of Merdeka. Even the Merdeka Day promotional montage on television shows is a fleeting glimpse of the Iban ngajat dance and nothing more. – Pic courtesy of David Bakit
According to him, each year when the “Bulan Merdeka” campaign begins, it seems like a peninsula-centric crusade with hardly any Sarawakian narrative incorporated in it. Except for the fleeting glimpse of the Iban ngajat dance in the promotional montage on television.
“Our spontaneous sentiments are naturally towards celebrating July 22 as our Merdeka Day. We Sarawakians do not feel any patriotic vibe to celebrate Merdeka Day on August 31. It never meant anything to us all these years anyway,” says David, an Iban hailing from Bintulu.
Another Sarawakian teen, Grace Chang of Kuching, echoes similar sentiments.
“As a Sarawakian, Merdeka Day means nothing to me. Merdeka Day is excessively Malaya-centric and includes very little of the characteristic spirit of the Sarawakian community, our culture, our history, and our aspirations. For Sarawakians, July 22 is the rallying day and the springboard for our aspirations to progress to becoming a fully ‘independent’ state.”
According to Chang, people in Borneo states “it feels absurd” to celebrate August 31, 1957, as their independence day because Malaysia only “came to be” on September 16, 1963.
“There was no ‘Malaysia’ before that. Perhaps, it would be more pertinent for Sarawakians to celebrate Malaysia Day on September 16 because Sarawak became a part of Malaysia on this day. We can celebrate both, perhaps, Malaysia Day and July 22, but certainly not Merdeka Day as it is in no way connected to Sarawakians,” explains the A-level student.
Sarawak became a part of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963, so we should celebrate Malaysia Day together with W Malaysia and Sabah. This would be more appropriate. – Pic courtesy of Grace Chang
‘You dari mana? Lain, muka?’
It was in 2017 that an Iban teenager, Reily Anak Maringai, arrived at UiTM, Shah Alam to pursue a course in quantity surveying. It was his first day at the campus and he was asked by his Malaysian coursemates: “You dari mana? Lain, muka? (Where are you from, you look different?).
“I was taken aback, but I was not upset by their questions,” Reily tells The Vibes:
Then came the next query: “You datang sini pakai apa? (How did you get here?).
Reily felt the second question simply meant his course mates in the peninsular had little knowledge of the present-day Sarawak – that it is not a backwater territory but internationally connected to popular flight routes.
Reily Anak Maringai… Merdeka means sharing the spirit of immersing into one another’s cultures. Merdeka Day must be celebrated in a spirit of sincerity and ‘ethos’. – Pic courtesy of Reily Anak Maringai
“Certainly, I could not have taken a sampan from Kuching port to Port Klang en route to Shah Alam by town bus. We too have that thing called ‘pesawat’ which we call ‘belon’ (aeroplane),” sighs Reily.
Reily says he is surprised that after years of celebrating Merdeka, some people do not seem to have embraced the Merdeka-mindset and are clueless about Sarawak’s historical and geographical narratives – as well as its territorial integrity with the peninsular states and the federal territories.
“For me, Merdeka means going beyond the norm of just hoisting a flag or waving it when a VIP’s motorcade passes by.
“Merdeka also means the ‘immersion experience’ of knowing one another as people of a land who have a culture of their own. It also means having the spirit of sincerity and ‘ethos’ that brings people and regions together and for communities to bond in unity and oneness.
“Is it too difficult for us to understand and accept the truth that Malaysia is made up of several ethnic groups who are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Dayaks and Kadazans?
“Why are the East Malaysians always left out in government documents? Throughout the post-Merdeka years until recently, we could not identify ourselves proudly as Dayaks or Kadazans. But we had to declare ourselves as the faceless ‘Lain-Lain’ people when filling up formal documents.
In Semenanjung, the main races declare themselves individually as Malay, Chinese and Indian.
“But we, Sarawakians and Sabahans were clustered together as ‘Lain-Lain’ or ‘Others’ depriving us our right to state our true identity as Iban, Bidayuh, Kenyah, Kayan, Melanau, Penan, or as any of the 26 different Sarawakian ethnic groups in formal documents.”
Reily spells out this unfriendly “divisive detail” as one of many reasons, among others, why Sarawakians and their counterparts in West Malaysia feel so disconnected and thus, the “lain muka” query on his first day at Uitm stung him deeply.
Like Reily, many Sarawakians are thankful to the late Tok Nan for being the driving force that pushed the Malaysian government to remove the “Lain-Lain” option from official documents in 2016.
“As a Sarawakian who grew up within a diverse spectrum, unity is a way of life for us Dayaks. I expect the same in the larger community as Malaysians. We must always find the common denominator within us to celebrate our similarities and respect our differences.
“If we cannot find this mutual premise after 64 years of Merdeka then it is meaningless for me to celebrate Hari Merdeka on August 31 with the rest of the people in Semenanjung,” says Reily.
A resurgent Sarawak
“Ours is a resurgent Sarawak. Sarawak and Sarawakians have become aware of their history and have adopted a newer mindset accordingly. Celebrating Hari Merdeka on August 31 is relevant to West Malaysia but not to Sarawak. Therefore, persuading Sarawakians to accept August 31 as their Merdeka Day is an outdated political view,” says Ivan Alexander Ong.
Ong, a 19-year-old law student says, “Hari Merdeka” is indeed “Hari Kemerdekaan Malaya”. Hence it is not pertinent to Sarawakians in any sense, however, we look at it. He says, “independence” is defined as the fact or state of being independent.
Ivan Alexander Ong … The people of Sarawak are becoming increasingly aware that the Sarawak narratives continue to be unimportant in the nation which Sarawakians helped to form and are a part of it. – Pic courtesy of Ivan Alexander Ong
“With this logic, it is irrational for Malaysia to have an Independence Day, because Malaysia (consisting of the Malay states, Sabah and Sarawak) had never been colonised by any foreign power.
“Therefore, August 31 is simply ‘Hari Kemerdekaan Malaya’ and not ‘Hari Merdeka’ or ‘Hari Kebangsaan’ because ‘National’ (Kebangsaan) is defined as ‘relating to, or characteristic of a nation or common to a whole nation,” says Ong, who is an Undi Sarawak lawsuit applicant and a public relations officer with the group.
Ong says many people may feel that this is a minor point and that the name has no bearing on the celebration’s content. But Sarawakians, on the other hand, are increasingly seeing the uncompromising emphasis that the Sarawak narrative continues to be unimportant in the nation that Sarawakians formed.
“Every year that goes by without a shift in this debate tells us that Sarawak’s contributions and very existence are unimportant in the national narrative. How can we think like Malaysians if our representation is diminished in the country’s history,” he asked.
Siti Nurul Adillah Mohd Zaki and Arielle Ting Tze Ying concur with Ong that dates and definitions are of paramount importance in the context of understanding Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day and sifting through historical inaccuracies.
Siti says: “When I was in school, Merdeka Day was a joyous school celebration filled with singing patriotic songs and flag-waving. We were also told stories of dedicated pioneers like Tunku Abdul Rahman who negotiated with the British in London to grant independence to Malaya.
Siti Nurul Adillah Mohd Zaki … Merdeka Day is contextually all about the peninsula’s history, the leaders of Malaya and their people but Sarawak stories are largely untold. – Pic courtesy of Siti Nurul Adillah
“I erroneously understood this event (Merdeka Day) to be collectively the independence day for West Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah. Eventually, in secondary school, I came to understand that it is September 16 which is Malaysia Day and that it is this date that binds the people of West Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak under the Federation of Malaysia as one family,” said the bachelor of law student with University of Malaya.
Siti says: “At about this time too, I understood the relevance of Merdeka Day to West Malaysia and the importance of July 22 to Sarawak and Sarawakians.
“I honour Merdeka Day as it is auspicious to my counterparts in West Malaysia but I also realise that contextually it is all about Malaya, Malayan independent heroes, the war years and the Emergency – but the Sarawak stories were largely left untold.
“If you ask me, I have a more patriotic sentiment for July 22 just as the many Sarawakians out there,” adds Siti.
Arielle Ting Tze Ying … I feel one with the people of West Malaysia and Sabah when we collectively celebrate Malaysia Day on September 16, whereas Merdeka Day in August 31 does not strike a chord with me. – Pic courtesy of Arielle Ting Tze Ying
Arielle Ting Sze Ying says Sarawak and old Malaya has very complex histories. To understand the events leading to August 31, 1957, Malaya’s Merdeka Day and Sarawak’s gaining of nominal self-government and autonomy on July 22 – we have to get the details right.
“I was lucky that my class teacher took time off from regular subjects to explain it all. The three dates, August 31, 1957, July 22, 1963, and September 16, 1963, are landmark milestones in the history of Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah and even Singapore. These events brought life-changing experiences to the people in these regions and we are still discussing and debating these events.”
She says Merdeka Day is very “Malayan” and the social landscape in which the day is celebrated is remote and devoid of the essence of Sarawak. “I do not see the Sarawak chapter in the celebrations and feel more like an observer than a patriotic participant,” says Ting.
For Debra Wong Yuan Wei, “Merdeka” means to have the freedom and the strength to be able to choose our paths forward for a better future and collectively as a nation.
“Despite the different histories that we had, before the formation of Malaysia, this small part of me hopes that someday, the divide between the Peninsular, Sarawak and Sabah may be bridged, where people are eager to learn more about each other and accept their differences.
“As we progress collectively as a nation, maybe it is time that we take initiatives to learn about each other instead of relying on stereotypes or harmful narratives.
Debra Wong Yuan Wei … It will be good if we can make an effort to know each other better. We must not cater to narratives that are harmful and inaccurate stereotypes that do not paint the true history of our nation and its states causing us to have misgivings and misunderstandings. – Pic courtesy of Debra Wong Yuan Wei
“Maybe it is time to honour promises that were made but unfulfilled. Perhaps it is time that we make changes to reconcile with a huge part of the nation that is constantly overlooked,” says Wong who is studying international relations.
However, Wong who is also a research officer with Undi Sarawak says August 31 holds relatively less significance to her as a Sarawakian.
“Actual history tells us more than the main historical narrative that we were taught in schools. Aug 31 is not the actual independence day for Sarawak,” rues Wong.
Peter John Jaban – the angry crusader
Just mention “Merdeka Day”, “Malaysia Day” or “Sarawak Independence Day”, the lanky and lean figure of Peter John Jaban will come in a flash into the minds of Sarawakians.
For years Peter John has been leading pressure groups such as Sarawak for Sarawakians, Saya Anak Sarawak or Solidarity Anak Sarawak and Borneo Indigenous People’s Pact – striding across the streets of Kuching in full Dayak garb – all riled up and shouting himself hoarse on multiple issues he feels strongly about – including the unfulfilled Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The popular activist hailed in Sarawak and Sabah as the maverick “people’s voice” does not mince his words, readily speaking his mind during public rallies and street protests.
Peter John is also well known to the local police. The Special Branch have tagged him in their file as POI, meaning “person of influence”.
“I have good relations with the police. I usually tell them what I am up to beforehand, so they could be at the venue with their task force to keep order,” he quips.
Peter John (right) with then Kuching OCPD Asst Comm Ng Ah Lek (centre) during a July 22 rally in the city in 2018. – Pic courtesy of Peter John Jaban
Only in the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic stilled the activist’s voice and his street flashpoints which usually meteorite during the run-up to Merdeka Day.
Peter John tells The Vibes: “Malaya’s Merdeka Day continues to be highlighted in Sarawak as an independent day event, even worse, as ‘Hari Kebangsaan’. Whose independence is it, and who’s the national day? This should not be, as it is politically incorrect for the Dayaks to participate in Merdeka Day celebrations of Malaya.
“It is also incongruous to celebrate Malaysia’s National Day on August 31, because only on September 16, did Malaya, together with Sabah and Sarawak merge into a federation, giving rise to the nation-state of Malaysia”.
He said it is also for this same reason, the Jalur Gemilang must not be used to celebrate Malaya’s “Merdeka Day”. The national flag must be reserved for the celebration of Malaysia Day on Sept 16 – which is a national public holiday where all three entities – Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya can come together to rally around the Jalur Gemilang.
Peter John says, ever since Sept 16 was declared a public holiday after nearly five decades had passed, the celebrations had always been hosted either in Sabah or Sarawak, but why not in Putrajaya too?
According to him, since Sabah and Malaya (Peninsular) celebrate Independence Day on August 31, Sarawakians will not mind joining in the celebrations provided Sarawak’s Independence Day on July 22 is also recognised and celebrated by Sabah and Malaya.
Peter John Jaban … All riled up, raises an issue at a July 22 rally in Kuching. ‘Sarawak, Sabah and Malaya can come together to rally around the Jalur Gemilang on September 16 but not on August 31. Merdeka Day has no relevance to Sarawak in any way,’ he insists. – Pic courtesy of Peter John Jaban
He says July 22 is the rallying day for Sarawakians to come together to reflect on shared interests, to remember the unique history and culture that made Sarawak what it is – “and to focus ourselves on our common goals.”
“The ongoing struggle to reclaim our rights and position under MA63 is not just a matter of political opinion but a promise made to all Malaysians as to how the state should be formed and how it could be successful.”
He says Sarawak and Sabah are the two poorest states in Malaysia, getting only meagre benefits though they are a part of the federation.
“The MA63 was negotiated to avoid this very outcome but the accord was never fulfilled and it is also a reason today why Dayaks are not excited about celebrating Merdeka Day. You can hardly see any Malaysian flags flying in Sarawak on August 31,” he added.
“We Sarawakians have always been side-lined and seem to be invisible people to the leaders in Malaya ever since Malaysia was formed. This is part of the reason why we Sarawakians are not keen to be part of Malaysia anymore”, he says.
Peter John is concerned for the state’s future generations. Today’s millennial generation in Sarawak will be the future leaders of the state in 36 years when Malaysia welcomes its centenary Merdeka Day celebrations. And that is not a long way off, he says.
“I hope when that time comes, our young leaders will be spared the tortuous long-drawn haggling over the MA63 – and will not find themselves still engaging in polemics, whether it is OK for Sarawakians to celebrate Merdeka Day on August 31, 2057. If that happens, it would mean taking the joke too far and too long in time.” – The Vibes, August 29, 2021
