logo
Senator calls for fairness, historical clarity in Sarawak Day Message

Senator calls for fairness, historical clarity in Sarawak Day Message

Borneo Post4 days ago
Abun Sui Anyit
KUCHING (July 21): Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Senator Abun Sui Anyit has expressed concern over what he described as persistent imbalances in Sarawak's development and governance in his Sarawak Day message.
Abun said development in the state remains uneven, particularly between the coastal regions and the interior.
'Likewise, government administration—especially at the management and political leadership levels—remains imbalanced, with certain ethnic groups appearing to dominate governance and administration in Sarawak. Is this situation orchestrated or simply coincidental?' he questioned in the message.
Despite these issues, the PKR Hulu Rajang division chief said it is not too late for Sarawakians to address the situation before it worsens.
'I pray that Sarawak continues to prosper within a fair and just Malaysia, and may the spirit of July 22 continue to ignite the patriotism of the sons and daughters of the Land of the Hornbill towards this region (Sarawak) and to our nation, Malaysia,' he said.
He urged the younger generation of Sarawakians to appreciate the state's history and the struggles of their forebears, and to uphold the spirit of independence with pride, warning against forgetting the past amid modern development.
According to him, July 22, 1963 marked a significant historical milestone when Sarawak attained self-rule from British colonial administration, which was a crucial step leading to the formation of Malaysia on September 16 the same year.
'Sarawak is a region rich in culture, natural resources, and a strong spirit of unity. Therefore, Sarawak Day not only celebrates independence but is also a time to reflect on our journey in pursuing justice, autonomy, and the rights enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),' he added.
Abun also highlighted the significance of July 22, 1963, when Sarawak attained self-rule from British colonial administration, which he described as a crucial step toward the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963.
He nonetheless noted there has been confusion and questions as to why July 22 is often referred to as Sarawak Day rather than 'Sarawak Independence Day' as gazetted when it was declared as a public holiday in 2016.
He said the term 'Sarawak Day' is the official phrase used in government documents since its initial declaration in 2016, although from a historical and factual perspective, this day marks Sarawak's independence and freedom from colonialism.
'The choice of terminology may have been made out of political caution and federal sensitivities in the past. Nonetheless, I firmly believe that the people of Sarawak deserve to know and call our history by its proper name. July 22 should be remembered as Sarawak Independence Day—just as Sabah celebrates its Independence Day on August 31, 1963,' he said. Abun Sui Anyit history sarawak day Sarawak development
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists with bounties
Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists with bounties

The Sun

time14 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists with bounties

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's national security police announced arrest warrants for 19 activists based overseas, accusing them of subversion under a stringent national security law, marking the largest such tally yet. They are accused of organizing or participating in the 'Hong Kong Parliament', a group authorities in the Asian financial hub say aimed to subvert state power, under the law Beijing imposed in 2020 following months of pro-democracy protests in 2019. The activists are accused of having launched a referendum or run as candidates in the unofficial 'Hong Kong Parliament' group, which authorities say aims at achieving self-determination and drafting a 'Hong Kong constitution'. Police, who said the organisation sought to overthrow the governments of China and Hong Kong by unlawful means, said they are still investigating and further arrests may follow. Among those named are businessman Elmer Yuen, commentator Victor Ho, and activists Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. Four of them are subject to previous arrest warrants, each carrying a bounty of HK$1 million ($127,000). Among the remaining 15, for each of whom police are offering a bounty of HK$200,000 ($25,480), are those said to have organised or run in the election and sworn in as its councillors. None of the accused could be reached for comment. The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of a high degree of autonomy, including freedom of speech, under a 'one country, two systems' formula. Critics of the national security law say authorities are using it to stifle dissent. Chinese and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said the law was vital to restore stability after the city was rocked for months by sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China protests in 2019. Police reiterated that national security offenses were serious crimes with extraterritorial reach and urged the wanted individuals to return to Hong Kong and surrender. 'If offenders voluntarily give up continuing to violate the crime, turn themselves in, truthfully confess their crimes, or provide key information that helps solve other cases, they may be eligible for reduced punishment,' they said in a statement. Police also warned that aiding, abetting, or funding others to participate in the 'Hong Kong Parliament' could be a criminal offense. ($1=7.8488 Hong Kong dollars) - Reuters

British PM faces pressure to recognise Palestinian state
British PM faces pressure to recognise Palestinian state

Malaysiakini

time44 minutes ago

  • Malaysiakini

British PM faces pressure to recognise Palestinian state

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing pressure to immediately recognise Palestine as a state amid growing calls from members of parliament and following France's stand on the matter, reported PA Media/dpa. Starmer said he will speak to French President Emmanuel Macron, who has confirmed France will recognise Palestinian statehood, making his country the first G7 nation to do so in a move that would be formalised at the UN General Assembly in September.

Trump visits Scotland for golf and talks amid Epstein controversy
Trump visits Scotland for golf and talks amid Epstein controversy

The Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Sun

Trump visits Scotland for golf and talks amid Epstein controversy

EDINBURGH/LONDON: U.S. President Donald Trump, dogged by questions about his ties to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, heads to Scotland on Friday for a trip that will mix golf with politics mostly out of the public view. Trump plans to visit his golf resort in Turnberry on Scotland's east coast, where he will meet on Monday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, before heading to his sprawling golf property 200 miles away near Aberdeen on the west coast. As part of the visit, he will open a second 18-hole course on the Aberdeen property named in honor of his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born and raised on a Scottish island before emigrating to America. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt this week said the trip was intended as a 'working visit that will include a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Starmer to refine the historic U.S.-U.K. trade deal.' The overseas travel comes as Trump faces the biggest domestic political crisis of his second term in office. Allies and opponents alike have criticized his administration's handling of investigative files related to Epstein's criminal charges and the circumstances of his 2019 death in prison. The issue has caused a rare breach with some of Trump's most loyal Make America Great Again supporters, and majorities of Americans and Trump's Republicans say they believe the government is hiding details on the case, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. White House officials, frustrated by the ongoing focus on the Epstein saga, are hoping the controversy dies down while Trump is abroad, one person familiar with the matter said. DEEPEN TIES The trip, initially billed as a private visit, gives Trump and Starmer a chance to deepen their already warm relationship, with key issues on the agenda to include ending Russia's war in Ukraine, UK and U.S. sources said. British officials have been heartened by what they see as a clear shift in Trump's rhetoric on Ukraine and Russia in recent weeks, a UK source said. Since being elected last year, Starmer has prioritized good relations with Trump, stressing the importance of Britain's defense and security alliance with the U.S. and being careful to avoid openly criticizing Trump's tariff policies. That approach helped Britain seal the first tariff-reduction deal with the U.S. in May, which reaffirmed quotas and tariff rates on British automobiles and eliminated tariffs on the U.K. aerospace sector, but left steel tariffs in place. Tariffs will likely come up, but sources close to the matter said it was unclear if any breakthrough could be achieved. Trump also is expected to meet with Scottish leader John Swinney, who publicly backed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, but no details have been released by either side. Trump has described Scotland as a 'very special place' and made a similar trip there in 2016 during his first run for the presidency, but he won't necessarily receive a warm welcome. About 70% of Scots have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, while 18% have a favorable opinion of him, an Ipsos poll in March found. Scottish police are girding for protests on Saturday in both Aberdeen and in Edinburgh, the country's capital. Trump will return to Britain from September 17-19 for a state visit hosted by King Charles. It will make Trump the first world leader in modern times to undertake two state visits to Britain. The late Queen Elizabeth hosted him at Buckingham Palace for a three-day state visit in June 2019. - Reuters

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store