Merdeka ‘no relevance’ to Sabah, Sarawak
“How can these leaders continue to twist history to suit their political interests without considering our feelings and the truth?
“How could they [federal government] insist we must celebrate Malayan independence which has no relevance to Sabah and Sarawak?”
asked Kitingan when launching STAR’s Kundasang zone in Pinampadan near here.
He said what was important and relevant to Sabah and Sarawak is their own independence – July 22, 1963 for Sarawak and Aug 31, 1963 for Sabah – and that of Malaysia Day or the formation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.
“This date – Sept 16, 1963 – is the true ‘National Day’ that gives all three territories of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak, a common identity as Malaysians”, said Jeffrey.
He said that by continuing to impose Malaya’s version of history on Sabahans and Sarawakians, “the government is alienating the two territories”.
“By insisting that Malaysia is 55 years old now and not 49, the federal government is sending the wrong message to the people.
“Firstly, what the government is doing is teaching the people how to lie and manipulate the facts of history.
“Secondly, the Peninsula-controlled federal government is now telling Sabahans and Sarawakians [intentionally or not] that Malaysia was nothing more than a ‘takeover’ project for Malaya and that Sabah and Sarawak are now Malayan states/territories so they [Sabah and Sarawak] must now adopt Malayan historical independence,” he said.
Jeffrey, who is expected to take on his elder brother Joseph Pairin, the president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), a Barisan Nasional member, for the Keningau parliamentary seat in the coming general election, also described the BN’s Janji diTepati (Promise Fulfilled) as an empty slogan.
“If this was indeed Malaya’s real intention, then those promises, assurances, undertakings and persuasions by Tunku Abdul Rahman and other Malayan leaders were all lies or Janji Terang Bulan.”
“And if they were mere Janji Terang Bulan, then the slogan Janji diTepati is an empty and hollow slogan as far as Sabah and Sarawak are concerned.
“If we Sabah and Sarawak have been cheated, we have to stop all this nonsense and start putting things right,” added Jeffrey.
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Mari kita sama-sama menyambut hari kemerdekaan Negera kita ini.
BalasPadamSelamat menyambut hari kemerdekaan yang ke 55 tahun kepada Malaysia. Semoga kita menghayati erti kemerdekaan ini.
BalasPadamLet's celebrate the Independence Day with joy.
BalasPadamSelamat menyambut hari kemerdekaan dan semoga kemanan sejagat dapat dicapai.
BalasPadamSabah also achieved its own independence.
BalasPadamTerbaik buat Sabah.
BalasPadamsambutlah kemerdekaan dgn penuh semangat.
BalasPadamjadi, bagi STAR bila tarikh yang sesuai untuk menggambarkan kemerdekaan Malaysia?? 49 tahun?? bagaimana dengan negeri2 yang lebih awal menyambut kemerdekaan??
BalasPadamkadang2 saya ragu2 juga dengan pembangkang ni.. semua dia bangkang hingga nampak sangat kebodohan mereka.. sudah tentulah Malaysia gunakan 55 tahun sebagai tempoh kemerdekaan Malaysia, lain la jika Sabah sudah menjadi negara sendiri..
BalasPadamSabah Deputy Chief Minister Yahya Hussin has urged the opposition, particularly Sabah Progressive Party (Sapp), to cease confusing the people on the nation's independence age, in conjunction with National Day celebrations.
BalasPadamHe said, although Sabah and Sarawak achieved independence six years after the Peninsular states, all states had agreed to a uniform celebration on national level. When it comes to a national event, we agreed to follow the Federal Government's decision.
BalasPadamOn Sept 16, we can celebrate Sabah's independence. There is nothing wrong with that," he told reporters after launching the One Place Mall Education Fund in Putatan.
BalasPadamYahya was asked by reporters to comment on Sapp's action in distributing posters and flyers, which stated Sabah's 49th anniversary as an independent state from the British, instead of the nation's 55th anniversary in conjunction with the upcoming National Day celebration on Aug 31.
BalasPadam