Merdeka Day-55 years of broken promises

In Malaysia many of its citizens are very confused over 2 public holidays being their Merdeka Day or independence day and Malaysia Day and also their national identity.

Malaysia Day marks the federation of 3 countries Malaya Sabah and Sarawak on 16 September 1963. The confusion has arisen over the last 49 years because each country became independent on different dates before the federation.

Today on 31 August in 1957, the Federation of Malaya gained independence from British colonial rule and at the same time this marks 55 years of unbroken hold on power by the ruling party the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO which leads the Barisan Nasional Government.


The UMNO government is mired in accusations of poor governance, corruption, practising apartheid, nepotism and cronyism and even murder scandals ).

However since 1963 Sabah and Sarawak have been included in the celebration of what was Malayan independence day now called Malaysia National Day by the ruling party.

Citizens' enthusiasm for their Independence day has gradually declined over the years.

It could not be a less cheerful day for many Malaysians as reported by the Malaysia Chroncile which noted that this year, just like the past few years, the atmosphere is muted.

This year’s National Day theme is called ‘Janji Ditepati’ (Promises Fulfilled) by the Najib government. This has given rise to much ridicule and criticisms because it contradicts what critics claim as failure of the gov't to keep promises of improvement in the quality of life for Malaysians.

One news comment on Merdeka Day said that “Five decades later, the people are left wondering just for whom the Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day are meant for. Promises unkept, the plight of the poor and needy dismissed and fundamental rights of the people not respected – this is far from what Merdeka stands for.”

Further critics have called independence day “Barisan Nasional Day” or the National Front Party's Day because this year the government has told the opposition parties and NGO's to stay away from the official celebrations.

Thus national unity is at an all time low.
 
It is also not surprising that the level of patriotic feelings is not very high when even the Deputy PM Muhyiddin Yassin declared that he is "Malay first and Malaysian second" going head-on against PM Najib's "1Malaysia" ideal to promote racial harmony, national unity, and efficient governance.. The unfortunate part was that PM Najib defended what to Muhyiddin's said. This led to another national uproar against the government by many Malaysians who condemned it for failing to uphold such values for 55 years.

Most people are sceptical about the 1Malaysia ideal because it is in direct conflict with the ruling Party's philosophy of Malay supremacy over all other Malaysians as clearly reflected by the DPM's declaration he was a “Malay first and Malaysian second”.

Easterners not in Merdeka mode 

In the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, there is a different take on Merdeka Day.

The mood is one of anger and open rebellion against the failure of promises made in the formation of Malaysia since 1963. The people do not feel happy that they should be compelled to celebrate what is really Malaya's independence day.

In Sabah Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan leader of one the leading opposition parties said “"Stop misleading the people on Independence Day and History of Sabah and Sarawak” He said Malaya (in the name of the Federal Government) should stop imposing its will on the people of Sabah and Sarawak and fooling them to celebrate Malayan independence 55 years ago and calling it Malaysian independence”

“How could these leaders continue to twist history to suit their political interests without consideration of our feelings and the truth?”

“How could they insist us to celebrate Malayan independence which has no relevance to Sabah and Sarawak?” asked Dr. Jeffrey.

The Independence of Sabah and Sarawak 

He said what is important and relevant to Sabah and Sarawak are their own independence, 22nd July 1963 for Sarawak and 31st August 1963 for Sabah, and that of Malaysia Day or the formation of Malaysia on 16th September 1963.

Ms. Chua Soon Bui, the Tawau MP, Sabah said this year’s National Day theme ‘Janji Ditepati’ (Promises Fulfilled) is a “cruel joke” and an insult to Sabah and its people.

She said it was regrettable that the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture has chosen such a “misleading-and-selfglorifying” theme for this year’s National Day’s celebration, when Sabah is currently the poorest state in Malaysia.

“What promises have been fulfilled in Sabah when despite being an equal partner of the Federation of Malaysia, and once the richest state in Malaysia, with rich natural resources including oil and gas, Sabah has been reduced to the poorest state in Malaysia?”

Sarawakians wait 49 years for development
 
 In Sarawak similar views are expressed.
 
 A reporter Joseph Tawie in the website paper Hornbill Unleashed wrote “Perhaps there’s just no reason to rejoice when you still have no clean water and electricity decades after independence” Observers here have pinned the “cool” reception to the Aug 31 Merdeka celebrations on rising awareness of Sarawak real political history and Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and his Barisan Nasional government’s long list of unfulfilled promises in the state.

Oil- and timber-rich Sarawak is among the poorest states in Malaysia. Accusations of land grabs, corruption and power abuse are rife in the state. Asked about the lack of celebrative air, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian said: “Perhaps it is because they have no reason to rejoice when their immediate concerns are their own survival.

“Flying the flag may not be a priority when the state and country have failed to protect their interests and to provide basic amenities such as clean water and electricity, healthcare, education and housing.

“How can we ask them to show patriotism and love of the country by flying the flag when the state is party to land grabs and the country does not speak up against the abuse of power?.

“Honestly, I cannot blame them for their lack of interest…”

“Why is it that the rakyat have to be reminded, urged, prodded and cajoled to fly the flag?

“Patriotism shouldn’t be forced on people. Politicians are eager to advise people to value our independence.

“But many people are confused between anger against certain political leaders and anger against the country”.

Taib gov't shamed into action 


Following the expose on Australia’s SBS TV Dateline programme last week, Taib’s state government has at last agreed to fulfil its own promises of compensation made to the people of Sungai Asap more than ten years ago.

10,000 villagers had been moved away from the Bakun area to build the Bakun Dam. They were not been properly compensated but were forced to pay for houses built by the government for having flooded their land.

The Federal government which had revived the defunct Bakun Dam project, did nothing to intervene or help the displaced villagers although eradicating poverty and uplifting the people's standard of living were promises made 49 years ago.

Keruah Usit a Sarawak human rights activists commented that “Peninsular Malaysia and the states of Sabah and Sarawak are separated, it seems, by a greater gulf than the mere expanse of the South China Sea.”

For Malaya it has been 55 years and Sabah and Sarawak 49 years of unfulfilled promises.