Sabah Day revives untold stories

Beauties waving from one of the 16 colourful floats, which marked the conclusion of the recent Sabah Day celebration at Padang Merdeka.

JAFDIN Petrus fondly recalls his grandparents sharing stories about the Japanese invasion and British colonisation of North Borneo (now Sabah).

“My grandparents would tell us how they were forced to learn Japanese songs, and under British rule, they were taught English,” said the 43-year-old from Keningau.

As a child, Petrus thought these were merely family tales, as they were absent from school history books.

Decades later, while reading about the Japanese and British eras at the Sabah State Museum booth during the Sabah Day celebration in Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu, he realised his grandparents’ stories were true.

Petrus realised his grandparents were sharing real stories after reading the displays at the Sabah State Museum booth.

“I recognised facts on the (display) boards because I had heard them before from my grandparents.

“Reading about these moments in history felt like walking down memory lane.

“I could picture us, siblings and cousins, gathered in our grandparents’ living room, listening to them in the Dusun dialect.

“Those moments were priceless,” he said.

Petrus was particularly drawn to a display on the three-year Japanese occupation of North Borneo, which began in 1942, and the British military administration that followed on Sept 12, 1945.

Sabah’s second flag, which was introduced in 1982 and used until 1988.

The British ruled North Borneo for 18 years before it gained independence on Aug 31, 1963. Sixteen days later, North Borneo, along with Sarawak and Malaya, formed Malaysia and officially became Sabah.

Sabah has since changed its flag twice.

“I never knew Sabah had a second flag,” said Suharman Nursaid, 34, referring to the blue, white, and red triangle design used until 1988.

Suharman, attending Sabah Day at Padang Merdeka with his wife and two children, described the displays as an educational experience.

“It was great to share this with my children,” he said.

His wife, Masni Amir, 34, said they brought their children to help them learn more about Sabah’s history.

Suharman and his wife Masni Amir and daughters Nuriman and Nurizarah learned something new at the Sabah Day celebration.

“There is so much more information here than what’s in school, and it’s a fun way to learn about Sabah with the re-enactments,” she said.

The evening’s performances featured local artistes, traditional and modern dances, and a special moment where Sabah head of state Tun Juhar Mahiruddin sang My Way and the patriotic anthem Sejahtera Malaysia, joined by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

The celebration concluded with 16 colourful floats, showcasing Sabah’s natural beauty, from its flora and fauna to the underwater world.

The people were drawn to the colourful floats, which concluded the recent celebration at Padang Merdeka.