Sabah DAP to celebrate 51st Sabah Independence Day
Published on: Saturday, August 30, 2014
Penampang: Sabah DAP became the second entity in Sabah after Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF) to state that it will be celebrating the 51st Sabah Independence Day instead of Malaysia's 57th Independence Day.Its Chief, Jimmy Wong, said DAP Sabah will be celebrating it on Aug 31 at the Pusat Pelancong Food Court in Keningau. North Borneo, he said, gained its independence from the British on Aug 31, 1963. North Borneo, then, together with Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak formally formed the Federation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963. North Borneo which was renamed Sabah was an independent sovereign country for 16 days from Aug 31-Sept 16, 1963. ADVERTISEMENT
"So, on August 31, 2014 we will be celebrating 51 years of Sabah's independence," he said. The Federation of Malaya, on the other hand, he said, gained its independence from the British on Aug 31, 1957 and for that reason, Malaya is celebrating her 57 years of independence."Malaysia Day is celebrated on Sept 16 and so this year we will celebrate 51 years of Malaysia," he said.Wong said this historical fact needs to be straightened and history books corrected so that the younger generation will have the right perspective on Sabah, Sarawak, Malaya and Malaysia.
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"Even the geographical map of West and East Malaysia must be properly displayed so that the younger generation is able to appreciate the size of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya," he said.According to him, former State Secretary Tan Sri Simon Sipaun will be one of the speakers at the event.
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On the same day on Aug 31, Sabah DAP will be launching a petition to demand the Federal Government release the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants. He said the nine-month long hearing by a six-member panel ended on Sept 20 last year and that the report of the findings was subsequently handed over to the Agong on May 21 this year and also to the Prime Minister.On other developments, Wong said Sabah DAP would also be launching the Post Malaysian Generation Movement which is a brainchild of DAP Adviser Lim Kit Siang. He said that activist Adrian Lasimbang and former Teluk Intan DAP candidate Dyana Sofya will be sharing their perspective of a 51-year old Malaysia. "We believe that the future of Malaysia is in the hands of the young people and that those who were born after September 16, 1963 must come forward to be responsible followers or leaders," he said.Lately, he said, the nation is witnessing too much religious extremism. "We see racists who are shattering the plural fabric of the society. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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