KOTA KINABALU — Sabah and Sarawak NGOs, led by human rights advocate Daniel John Jambun, demand that the Malaysia Parliament emulate Singapore’s exit from Malaysia on 9 August 1965 and grant independence for Sabah and Sarawak.
They were commenting on the first-ever Sabah Day which will be celebrated on 31 August in Tambunan after the Merdeka Day joy in Kota Kinabalu. More on this later.
Sarawak Day has been celebrated on 22 July, every year, since it was gazetted in 2016.
“Malaysia must end the half century and more occupation of Sabah and Sarawak,” reiterated Daniel in a statement endorsed by six NGOs in Sabah and Sarawak viz. Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo, Persatuan Kebudayaan orang darat Sabah, Persatuan pembangunan sosial komunity Sabah (BANGUN), Pertubuhan kebajikan Rumpun Dayak Sabah, Pertubuhan Prihatin Mualaf Sabah and the Sarawak Association for Peoples Aspirations (SAPA).
“The Malaysia Parliament can take leaf from Singapore on 9 Aug 1965,” he added.
In international law, said Daniel, Sabah and Sarawak have the right of self-determination. “The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA’63) wasn’t self-determination.”
In taking leaf from Singapore’s independence on 9 August 1965, he continued, the Parliament of Malaysia must grant independence for Sabah and Sarawak. “That will end Occupation 916.”
Perhaps the Commonwealth, the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly and the ICJ can mediate independence for Sabah and Sarawak, said Daniel. “Self-government would be a non-starter after more than half a century of occupation.”
He thinks that Sabah and Sarawak can still stay in the Malaysian Common Market and Singapore and Brunei be invited as well. “Sabah and Sarawak would be members of the Commonwealth, the UN and ASEAN,” said Daniel.
Apparently, the demand for independence arises from the belated realisation that Malaysia may perhaps never comply with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA’63).
“It’s the unlawful ketuanan Melayu (Malay political dominance and supremacy) mindset at work on non-compliance (MA’63),” alleged Daniel.
Instead, pointed out Daniel, Malaysia has imposed internal colonisation policies on Sabah and Sarawak since 16 Sept 1963 under proxy government.
“Proxy government, under local tyrants and control freaks, facilitate internal colonisation in return for pockets being filled.
“It’s all about bribery and corruption based on abuse of power, conflict of interest and criminal breach of trust,” he said.
Daniel charged that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), MACC, Attorney General (AG) and Bank Negara were all sleeping in Sabah and Sarawak on money laundering activities and the retention of “secret profits”.
“That facilitates non-compliance on MA’63.”
Internal colonisation policies, explained Daniel, transfer wealth from those who have no power — read Sabah and Sarawak — to those with power i.e. Malaya.
“This remains form of corruption based on bribery, money laundering activities, and retention of ‘secret profits’,” said Daniel.
In law, he said, “secret profits” in the former British Borneo belong to the Principal i.e. the people of Sabah and Sarawak and their government as state revenue.
“All the income, revenue and resources taken out from Sabah and Sarawak since 16 Sept 1963 must be returned,” said Daniel.
Otherwise, he cautioned, the Malaysian government may face sanction in court in overseas jurisdictions where Malaysia has assets.
Already, said Daniel, Malaysia isn’t defending Sabah and Sarawak waters from the Chinese Navy. “India’s blue water Navy can assist as in Vietnamese waters since 2011.”
“The Russian Navy was also present in Vietnamese waters.”
India was part of the Trump-initiated global security framework led by the US. China, Russia and Japan are other members. India was also part of the US-led QUAD which covers the Indo-Pacific Theatre. Other members are Japan and Australia.
The celebration of Sabah Day on 31 August and Sarawak Day on 22 July, as independence days, fumed Daniel, mislead the people and the international community on the political history of the former British Borneo territories.
“There must be sense of shame, honour and dignity.
“Sabah and Sarawak Day can only be celebrated as the day the British Governors in both territories sailed for England.
“It’s misleading if Sabah Day and Sarawak Day were celebrated as independence days,” he stressed.
Delving into history, Daniel recalled that Malaya was given the self-government act in 1955 by the British Parliament and Singapore in 1959.
“The British Parliament only passed the Malaysia Act.”
“The British Parliament did not indicate that it recognised MA’63.”
Malaya received independence on 31 August 1957 vide the Federation of Independence Act 1957, Daniel said.
“It reinforced the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948.”
“Singapore obtained independence from the Malaysia Parliament on 9 August 1965.
“There were no similar self-government and independence acts for Sabah and Sarawak,” added Daniel.
Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal declared in 1962 that Manila would not press the Sabah claim, i.e. for the eastern seaboard, if North Borneo had been first given independence.
The Philippines, added Macapagal, would not object if an independent North Borneo participated in Malaysia.
Despite the Philippines’ warning shot across the bow, said Daniel, the British simply handed over the Administration of their Borneo territories on 16 Sept 1963 to another colonial power i.e. Malaya. “British troops marched out, and the Royal Malay Regiment marched in.”
He recalled further that the British wanted their commercial empire in the region under one Administration in Malaya.
“The MA’63 for the Equal Partnership of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya in Malaysia, was the proverbial fig leaf.
“Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya have been non-compliant on MA’63,” he said.
Source: New Media Hit
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