KOTA KINABALU: A non-governmental organisation has urged the federal and state government to recognise Aug 31, 1963 as the date of Sabah’s independence and include it as fact in the national history book.
Sabah People's Education Improvement Organisation (Pipa) president Ardino Diris said such acknowledgement was necessary as many Malaysians still assumed that Sabah's independence from the British was on Aug 31, 1957, similar to the Federation of Malaya.
He said further information on Sabah’s freedom or Sabah Day was available in old newspapers kept in the National and State Archives.
“This year, Sabah has reached 56 years of independence, whereas Peninsula Malaysia celebrates 62 years of independence.
“When National Day is celebrated simultaneously throughout the country on Aug 31, people just assumed Sabah also celebrates the same independence day because it was never mentioned otherwise." he said.
He was commenting on the Sabah Day celebration organised by several non-governmental organisations, including Pipa, at Kampung Kaiduan in Papar district, yesterday.
Based on news reports, Ardino said Sabah was given the rights to self govern by the British on Aug 31, 1963 following the declaration by North Borneo Legislative Council on Aug 8, the same year.
“Sarawak gained its independence earlier, which was on July 22, 1963. The (Sarawak) government has acknowledged the date.
"In the meantime, Sept 16 brings another different meaning, which is the formation of Malaysia based on agreement between Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore, and Federation of Malaya.
“Pipa is hoping that the central and state governments will take heed to the true fact of Sabah’s independence and acknowledge it in the national history book for the sake of the future generation.” he said.