Sarawakians have no problem celebrating National Day
MIRI: There should be no problem for Sarawakians to also celebrate National Day on Aug 31 together with other Malaysians for the celebration touches mainly on promoting national unity and harmony.
Chairman of PBB Piasau branch Mohamad Sardon Zainal said there’s nothing wrong for Sarawakians to share the joy of National Day to further promote national unity and harmony.
“It is also alright for our children at schools to celebrate the occasion provided they know the meaning and how the day came about. It’s the day when Malaya gained its independence from British rule.” he said when contacted for his comment yesterday.
Sardon, who is also Miri City Council ( MCC) councillor, suggested that perhaps the Sarawak government set up its own information department under the Chief Minister’s Office to complement the existing information department in disseminating accurate information to Sarawakians about its peculiarity, especially those related to nationalism.
Another MCC councillor Keith Chin meanwhile said students and the young people in general should know the true history of Malaya and Malaysia, which should be contained in their history text books.
A lawyer by profession and also chairman of UPP Senadin branch, Chin said July 22, which is the date Sarawak was given self- rule was not featured until a few years ago.
“It’s not about more public holidays. What’s important is that we must know that Malaysia was formed on Sept 16, the independence of Malaya on Aug 31, and Sarawak Day on July 22 when Sarawak was granted selfrule by the British. These dates must be set in proper historical record.
DAP national vice women chief Voon Shiak Ni said Sarawakians were now very clear that Aug 31 is independence day for Peninsular Malaysia and July 22 as Sarawak Day.
Voon, who is also a political secretary of Miri MP Dr Michael Teo, said the celebration on Aug 31 would be celebrated mainly to promote patriotism and love for the country.
“It’s a celebration which promotes unity and harmony among all Malaysians. We acknowledge there are voices on the ground which are against the Aug 31 celebration because Sarawak did not gain its independence on that date. It was granted self-rule on July 22.