Stop lying about history of Malaysia's Formation- Dr. Jeffrey

By Ezra Haganez
KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government should stop lying about the history of Malaysia and restate correctly the facts of history to stop the confusion.

 

Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, the Chairman of the United Borneo Front (UBF) made this call at a Borneo Tea Party organized by Sikinor Gunu at Kg. Malangang, Kiulu, on 01 September 2011.  “This continuous lying is an affront to the founding fathers of Malaysia and a gross injustice to Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

 

In his speech, Jeffrey went through a list of what he called a deliberate  misinformation by the federal government:

1. That Malaysia’s independence is 31 August 1957 and that Malaysia is now 54 years old.   But the fact is that Malaysia only came into being on 16 September 1963;
2. That Sabah and Sarawak “joined” Malaysia.  The facts of history is that Sabah and Sarawak together with  Singapore and Malaya formed Malaysia.  Without Sabah and Sarawak, there is no Malaysia.
3. That Malaya is the same as Malaysia.  The Federation of Malaya which was formed on 31 August 1957 is not the same as the Federation of Malaysia that was formed on 16 September 1963 and they are separate and distinct entities and different countries;
4. That Malaysia is a Federation of 13 States with Sabah and Sarawak being the 12th and 13th States.  The facts of history is that Sabah and Sarawak are equal partners with Malaya and Singapore to form the new Federation of Malaysia.  Even the late Tengku Abdul Rahman assured the Sabah and Sarawak leaders that Sabah and Sarawak will not become the 12th and 13th States and even said “you (meaning Sabah and Sarawak) are joining as equal partners”.  “Unfortunately, contrary to the Tengku’s assurance, Sabah and Sarawak have today become the 12th and 13th States respectively in a “unitary system under Malaya,” he said.

He expressed UBF’s supports the rising concerns of the citizens of Malaysia in Sabah and Sarawak who now question the distortion of the historical facts. “I am also glad that  the Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak should celebrate in diversity their individual independence but come together in unity to celebrate Malaysia Day on 16 September and its 48th year this year,” he said.

 

Dr. Jeffrey added that if not for the efforts of the opposition, Malaysia Day (September 16) would still have been a normal day in the calendar of Malaysia. “It took the Federal Government 47 years to officially recognize Malaysia Day and make it a public holiday in 2010,” he said.

 

“The Federal Government should stop all the lies on the historical formation of Malaysia and remove all hidden agenda and restate the actual history of Malaysia immediately for the benefit of the whole world, not just for Malaysians,” he added.

 

He said the continued distortion of history only serves to enrage the people of the Borneo States of Sabah and Sarawak and will forever leave a bitter taste in the their mouth and add weight to the observation of Sabah and Sarawak being “neo-colonized” by West Malaysia.

 

He admitted that due to this lengthy period of distortion of the facts of history, it will take a lot of courage for leaders and the people to demand that enough is enough, the real history of Malaysia shall be put in order and corrected in our school history books. 

 

“I believe that the current Prime Minister as the second generation premier should be brave and magnanimous enough to stand up for what is right,” he said. “The old way of propaganda no longer works because people are now more educated and informed. So there is no more point in perpetuating the lies.”