Sabah’s date with destiny

Loud and proud: The Sabah Tinagas Tribe Association taking part in the parade in conjunction with National Day and Sabah Day celebrations in Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens in Kota Kinabalu in 2024. — Bernama

HAPPY National Day!

That’s how most of us would greet each other today. But for us Sabahans, we have another special greeting on this day: Happy Sabah Day!

What’s Sabah Day?

On Aug 31, 1963, the Union Jack was lowered in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) and North Borneo (now Sabah) was granted self-governed status. This paved the way for the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, along with Malaya, Sarawak, and Singapore, on Sept 16, 1963.

Yes, the Federation of Malaya was born then; Aug 31, 1957, is the day Malaya gained independence from the British. And yes, Sabah was granted self-rule for two weeks before the formation of Malaysia.

Singapore, as we all know, seceded on Aug 9, 1965, to become an independent nation.

Universiti Malaya history professor Datuk Dr Danny Wong Tze Ken noted that on Aug 31, 1963, all celebrations were arranged for Aug 31 as the original Malaysia Day, instead of Sept 16, took place as planned.

However, the formal parade and the Yang Di-Petua Negara’s reception in Jesselton were postponed to the first official Malaysia Day on Sept 16, 1963.

Prof Wong, who is dean of Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, showed me the July 1, 1963, front page of Sabah newspaper the Daily Express that explained why Malaysia Day could not be on Aug 31, 1963, due to objections from Indonesia and the Philippines.

Prof Wong explained that Indonesia and the Philippines objected to the formation of Malaysia including territories on the Island of Borneo. This led to the Manila summit and the signing of the Manila Accord on July 31, 1963; this was to provide for a United Nations inspection to ascertain the aspirations of the people of Borneo.

Then Malayan Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, accommodated the concerns of the two nations and agreed that the UN should be allowed to ascertain the desires of the inhabitants of North Borneo and Sarawak. And hence the delay and the need to postpone the formation of Malaysia to Sept 16, 1963.

In a historic move on July 6 last year, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-led state government officially gazetted Sabah Day on Aug 31.

“This is a very historic day for Sabah, and the government believes it needs to be celebrated, to be remembered,” said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Hajiji said the gazettement was decided during the weekly Sabah Cabinet meeting. He also said that the celebration would not create confusion in the state despite Sabah Day coinciding with National Day.

“We will celebrate Sabah Day, but of course it should not interfere with the National Day celebration,” he said.

The GRS government is mantap (awesome) for gazetting Sabah Day.

GRS is a coalition comprising Sabah-based parties, including Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), United Sabah National Organisation (USNO), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS), the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS).

SAPP president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee said he felt a deep sense of satisfaction that Sabah Day had finally been gazetted.

Yong, a former Sabah chief minister, waited 12 years for that gazettement after his party first initiated the move with an unofficial celebration at Chong Thien Vun Park in Kota Kinabalu.

The former Gaya MP and Likas assemblyman acknowledged the pivotal role played by Deputy Chief Minister I and Sabah STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan in bringing the proposal to the state Cabinet. Yong also thanked Hajiji for ensuring the official recognition was given.

“This achievement is a testament to the enduring commitment of Sabah’s leaders to safeguard and promote the identity of our state,” Yong said.

Kitingan, one of the Sabahan politicians who pushed hard to gazette Sabah Day, said it is important for Sabahans to remember it, to understand the difference between Sabah Day and National Day, and not become confused.

The Keningau MP and Tambunan assemblyman said it also demonstrated that Malaya, Sabah, and Sarawak are equal partners in the Federation of Malaysia and thus should receive equal treatment from Putrajaya.

“We started celebrating Sabah Day unofficially about 10 years ago, before it was recognised by the state government, so those participating did it without the government’s permission,” he recalled.

“We were once chased away by the police,” Kitingan told news portal Scoop on Aug 31, 2024.

So, do you know when Sabah got its independence in 1963? Aug 31 or Sept 16?

Kitingan said that despite differing opinions, it is a fact that then chief minister designate, Tun Fuad Stephens, and other politicians at the time fought for Aug 31, 1963, to be the independence date for North Borneo.

Historians have asked me to factor in the Aug 8, 1963, decision of Sabah’s legislative council to go ahead and celebrate Sabah Day on Aug 31, 1963.

So ... Happy National Day! Happy Sabah Day!