Restoring the special position of Sabah and Sarawak for a sweeter future for the nation

FIFTY-EIGHT years ago on Sept 16, 1963, the Federation of Malaya joined the self-governing territories of North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak and the British colony of Singapore to forge the new and enlarged nation of Malaysia. Even though Singapore exited the Federation two years later, the formation of Malaysia was nevertheless a remarkable feat.

While the late Tunku Abdul Rahman is commonly regarded as the leading architect of Malaysia, this remarkable union would not have been possible without the tireless negotiations between, and the warm cooperation of, key Sarawakian and Sabahan leaders of the time – Tun Fuad Stephens and Tun Datu Mustapha Harun of Sabah and Tun Temenggong Jugah, Stephen Kalong Ningkan and Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui of Sarawak.