By Rizzku
Sabah (known as North Borneo then) gain independence from British Crown colony on 31st August 1963. From 1st September 1963 to 15th September 1963, for 15 days, Sabah was truly independence, truly liberated, truly on its own. On 16th September 1963, Sabah, together with Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak joined to form Malaysia. Little did Sabah knew that on that very day, her independence was gone forever.
Today is 31st August 2010. 47 years since the 'Merdeka Day' given by the British Crown colony. It was right after all, for all Sabahan to celebrate 31st August as their Independence Day (at the same time with our fellow counterpart from Peninsular Malaysia). It is therefore, historically wrong for Sabahan to celebrate their Independence Day on 16 September as some do.
We, Sabahan did gained our independence on 31st August. However, it was not in 1957, but in 1963. That means, we should be only celebrating our 47th year of independence (and not 53rd).
16th September is not the Independence Day for Sabah (or North Borneo). It is the commemoration of the formation of Malaysia. If anything, 16th September should be remembered by Sabahan as the day their nation lost its short lived independence.
Anybody would know and realise that between 1st September 1963 to 15th September 1963, Sabah was a nation on its own. Sure, Sabah did not manage to have its own President or Prime Minister, simply because on that fateful 15 days, Sabah was already being cajoled and readied into the formation of Malaysia.
In that 15 days of independence, there was no time for election to be conducted. It was deemed unnecessary to have even a local but British appointed head of the new nation. Instead, The Cobbold Commission was already there to valiantly proclaim that Sabah will be forming Malaysia with the rest of the other newly formed nations.
In fact, The Cobbold Commission of inquiry (which was tasked to assess whether Sabah (and Sarawak) were willing to form Malaysia) was conducted several years earlier and completed its report on 1st August 1962. In the report, roughly a third of Sabahan agreed to the formation, a third did not agree and another third agreed with conditions (hence the famous 20 points of Sabah).
The third who agreed with conditions must be turning and tossing in their graves now (if they are dead), knowing the most of the 20 points are now no more adhered in the Federation of Malaysia. Among them who are still alive now, they must be wishing they are dead!
Are we better now, after 47 years of independence from the British Crown Colony? I want to believe so. However, looking at how recently liberated Hong Kong (from British in 1997), one cannot help to see the striking difference between it and the immediate neighbourhoods. Hong Kong by any measures is much more developed as compared to other cities in China.
With Sabah endowed with rich resources, there is no reason to believe that British would not be able to develop Sabah to a much more grandiose than Hong Kong. We could easily have our own commuter systems, top class network of asphalt roads, twin towers somewhere, world class oil and gas industries and many more. After all, we have all that in Peninsular Malaysia, where 95% of our oil revenue goes to.
However, who should we blame?
Can we blame the Federal Government for sucking us dry? I do not think so. In this world, the smarter people will always take advantage of the foolish people. Therefore, we only have our own forefathers to blame for not acting smart enough in the interest of Sabah.
Of course, there are people who were allegedly murdered while fighting for the better term for Sabah. The fact that they died only indicates that the victors who lives on were much smarter, after all that is how wars and battles are won. It was due to the foolishness of our forefather that we only have 15 days of independence. It was due to the ignorance of our forefathers that we are continually being colonised until now.
Even now, to this very date, we still have our own present fathers (political leaders) who are still happily handing over what little is left of our treasures to 'others'. I will forever blame them. I will eternally blame my biological forefathers too, for they were only interested in which 'Tajau' to drink from and how many pigs to slaughter for 'Aramaiti' during the time of Cobbold Commission.
However, the most important question is, will my children blame me in another 47 years from now? What I do now (or more aptly, who I vote now) will echo in eternity.
Read more at: http://rizzku.blogspot.com/2010/08/sabahs-15-days-of-independence.html
written by lysa, September 03, 2010 14:03:13
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written by Awang Hitam, September 03, 2010 12:52:49
However, who should we blame?
SABAHANS of all races and Ethnicity lah! WAKE UP ! Look at Singapore, LKY pulled out of Malaysaja and made Singapore the second best country to do business and live in.
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written by a guest, September 02, 2010 16:33:43
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written by a guest, September 02, 2010 16:29:22
Can we talk about fate here? but i agree, smarter people will always got privileged even more if they are pretty and handsome enuf...
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written by a guest, September 02, 2010 16:24:10
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written by sioponthan, September 02, 2010 15:32:04
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written by Surand85, September 02, 2010 11:16:30
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written by popuri, September 02, 2010 10:27:40
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written by Takiaki, September 01, 2010 23:10:07
Our present colonist has planted the seed of hate among us and our children trough the education system. How evil the 'orang putih penjajah' are. BUt the Japs who slaughtered our people, raped our women & tortured our children were never condemned, even respected.
Imagine if we were to be under the British protection like Hong Kong, Brunei (previously). Look at Australia/N Zealand...
The idea of Malaysia was good, but the 'orang malaya' have their wicked goal since the beginning. We were never meant to be part of this nation, but merely a colony/slaves to them who considered themselves to be the master.
Think..
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written by Sabahfan, September 01, 2010 20:40:07
How can i have pride flying a flag that looks like US flag and since negaru ku with Terang bulan tune??
what can i say.. the stupid early leaders were partly corrupted becos they were promised nice house if they join Malaysia...
We could have continued being independent like Brunei with some protection from the British for a while, never mind if we had to pay more tax to Britain until we can raise our own police force and army.... But we had to suck the balls of the Malayans... who until today still look down on the sabahan people
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written by Devoe, September 01, 2010 16:15:34
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written by Nunuk Ragang, September 01, 2010 13:50:18
Even now, to this very date, we still have our own present fathers (political leaders) who are still happily handing over what little is left of our treasures to 'others'. I will forever blame them.
I strongly share your sentiment Rizzku...Our current indigenous political leaders: Pairin, Dompok, Kurup have lost the plot and are only interested in self preservation. Dont we all wonder whether our leaders do not realise that the indigenous have been on the losing end since our so-called independance??
So, it's either they are plain stupid consumed with self preservation OR they are playing dumb by turning both eyes blind for for the sake of "lucrative"(in the words of our Foreign Affairs Minister) governmental or GLC post for themselves and cronies.
What more their kunchu2 and machais acting like 2nd in commands shielding their bosses from genuine assistance seekers.....You kunchu2 know what? you guys are fighting for RM 100 thousands projects among yourselves whilst the UMNO kunchus2 are getting RM100 millions projects...that show how puny you guys actually are....UMNO getting the bread whilst you guys only get crumbs...pathetic!
It is time that we the indigenous show them how a Wakil Rakyat should act, it's time we show them we are the boss..we the rakyat are the boss and you are only our Wakil.....you should be acting in accordance to our demand.
But since you are not protecting our future, your term as our wakil will end soon.....very, very soon.
It's time for us to opt for a better future..not our future but OUR children's....
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written by syd, September 01, 2010 12:29:02
And sarawak was under the sultanate of brunei.
being under brunei rule is much better, as there is no income tax and cars are imported duty free. road tax only B$100 and petrol/diesel is cheap.
having said that, cars in the phillipnes also much cheaper than in Malaysia, but not petrol/diesel.
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