Adenan: July 22 is now Sarawak Day

KUCHING: July 22 will now be known as Sarawak Day, as announced by Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem (pic) Saturday.

Adenan said the day would be declared a public holiday and was to "honour past leaders" and improve historical awareness among locals and Malaysians.

"July 22 will be the day for Sarawak. It will be Sarawak Day," he said, speaking at the 10th and final stop of the Sejiwa Sanada pre-election tour, which was held at a new real estate development near the Kuching city centre.

On July 22, 1963, the British was granted Sarawak self-government on the condition that it joins Malaya, North Borneo and Singapore to form Malaysia. Many in the state consider July 22 as its "independence day".

Sarawak was a British colony between 1946 and 1963.

Adenan's announcement of July 22 as a public holiday was not much of a surprise as he had been saying he would make the proposal to the state Cabinet since early this year.