Sarawak Day rally a peaceful affair

KUCHING: Several thousand people converged here for a rally to mark the day Sarawak gained independence from Britain.

The rally, which took place at the Song Kheng Hai recreational field in Jalan Padungan, proceeded smoothly yesterday. It was organised by the Sarawak Dayak Iban Association and Sarawak for Sarawakians movement.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had earlier advised the organisers to call off the event over concerns that it could incite secessionist sentiments.

Policemen were directing traffic as the crowd made its way from nearby Jubilee Ground to the field while other personnel were present on security duty.

Sarawak became independent of British colonial rule on July 22, 1963. It then joined Malaya, Sabah and Singapore to form Malaysia on Sept 16 of that year.

Big gathering: A bird’s eye view of the crowd gathering to celebrate the state’s independence from Britain.

 

Addressing the crowd, organising chairman Peter John Jaban said the rally was not about calling for Sarawak to leave Malaysia.

He said they were there to celebrate the historic day when Sarawak gained independence and that the state does not want to secede.

"Sarawakians are here to show a good example to our founding partners of how we live together in peace and harmony," he said.

He called for July 22 to be given official recognition and be declared a public holiday, saying that he would write to Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem to ask for this.

He also asked that the state be given a fair share of its oil and gas royalty, that English be made the medium of instruction in its schools and the reinstatement of Sarawak's status as an equal partner in the nation.

The rally goers, some of whom came from as far away as Miri and Limbang in northern Sarawak, wore black T-shirts featuring the "Sarawak for Sarawakians" slogan and waved colonial-era flags.

Adenan said the state government looked favourably on the request to make July 22 a public holiday.

"We will make a decision before the end of the year,” he said.

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