Tuaran: State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Salleh Tun Said viewed the suggestion to celebrate Independence Day next year without mentioning the number of anniversary years as a good move to avoid polemic in the country."Personally, I fully agree with the proposal because I feel we should not keep debating or disputing over the number of years of independenceÉwhat's important is the independence date, which is Aug 31. "We should emulate Sarawak which has reportedly welcomed the proposal," he said to reporters after attending a forum on 'The Value of Peace in Malaysia', here, Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENT
Salleh was a panellist in the forum involving higher learning institution students, organised jointly by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Ministry's Information Analysis and Management division and the Information Department.He was commenting on a statement by Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek that the proposal had already been submitted to the Cabinet, aimed at preventing the people of Sabah and Sarawak from feeling isolated if the number of independence anniversaries was stated.Based on the suggestion, Ahmad Shabery said the country's celebration next year will only be mentioned as 'Independence Day Aug 31'. He said it also took into consideration the manner the United States celebrated its Independence Day, which only mentioned 'the 4th of July celebration', even though from the historical aspect, the states achieved independence on different dates.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to Salleh who is also Sabah Umno Deputy Chief, Malaysia started to mention the number of anniversary years when celebrating Independence Day in the 1990s as it was not stated in the 1960s and 1970s.Fortunately, Salleh said, he (Shabery) mentioned about the proposal to stop further controversies and disputes that might lead to undesirable consequences.
ADVERTISEMENT
"The most important thing is that we have recognised a declaration that Malaysia was formed on Sept 16, 1963 and we have also accepted that Sabah's Merdeka Day was on Aug 31, 1963 and Sarawak's Independence Day on July 22, 1963."Many people misunderstood that Merdeka would mean independence for a state when actually such independence is a prerequisite to form a federation or a countryÉthis is an important fact that needs to be understood by youths."In 1957, the Federation of Malaya was formed and at that time, there were federated states and unfederated states, but it is a fact that (Malaysia) was formed or born on Sept 16, 1963 (Malaya, North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore," he said.Salleh reiterated that personally, the most important thing was that independence was gained and freedom was enjoyed although there are some quarters and people who are unhappy which is a common situation in a democratic country."It is a common situation for people to claim for their rights (in Sabah)Éwhich also happens in Kelantan and Terengganu that are also claiming for higher oil royalties and Penang which is also making claims. These are very common processes in a political competition."To me, it is only wrong when you say that our rights have been taken awayÉwhich is subjective. I am also of the opinion that any political party has the right to claim certain matters for their interests and their people."However, it is wrong to call for secession of Sabah from Malaysia as it is a seditious act and should be stopped at any cost," he said.On whether the Internal Security Act (ISA) should be revived or whether the Security Offences (Special Measure) Act 2012 should be improved, Salleh said he believed the name of the Act is not important as long as the concerned Act can protect the people and maintain peace in the country.He believed that a thorough study must be carried out first on why the ISA was formulated and later repealed.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
