September 16, 1963 was a memorable occasion for Sarawakians after Khir Johari read the Proclamation of Malaysia in the Kuching Central Padang followed by the hoisting of the Federal flag and the playing of “Negara Ku”, the YAB Chief Minister, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, then read the Proclamation of the Independence of Sarawak.
“Whereas one of the nine Cardinal Principles of the rule of the English Rajahs was that the goal of self-government shall always be kept in mind and that the people of Sarawak shall be entrusted in due course with the Governance of themselves:
And whereas this principle accords with the policy which Her Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland have always pursued in the Governance of those territories of the Commonwealth for those affairs Her Majesty’s Government have been responsible.
And whereas in pursuance of this principle Her Majesty’s Government by an agreement entered into on the 9th day of July, 1963, with the Government of the Federation of Malaya, the Government of the State of Singapore and the Governments of the Colonies of Sarawak and North Borneo it was agreed that the States of Singapore and the Colonies of Sarawak and North Borneo shall be federated with the Federation of Malaya, and that the said Federation shall be known as Malaysia:
And whereas Constitutions for Malaysia and for the States of Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore have been promulgated:
And whereas by a Proclamation made under Section 2 of the Malaysia Act the 16th day of September, 1963 has been proclaimed as Malaysia Day:
Now therefore I, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the Chief Minister of Sarawak, hereby proclaim that Sarawak has this day attained independence as the State of Malaysia.”
After the Proclamation was read, this was then followed by the swearing-in of Datu Abang Haji Openg as the Governor of Sarawak by the Chief Justice, Sir Campbell Wylie. It was a grand occasion and the Chief Justice, dignified by his wig in his scarlet and black robes was in the company of the Chief Minister, Stephen Kalong Ningkan and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. P.E Turnbull who was in full ceremonial uniform and was also in the company of the Commander of the British Forces in West Sarawak, Brigadier F.C Barton, in full khaki dress.
After the swearing in, this was then followed by a second State salute and the Inspection of the Parade, the ceremony turned into a panic situation when towards the end of the parade, the Governor suddenly fainted and had to be seated. Two doctors in audience, Drs. Chong Chung Hian and Daniel Kok, were there to help the Governor and it was later on decided that the Governor be sent to the Sarawak General Hospital for a precautionary check up which revealed nothing serious.
“Whereas one of the nine Cardinal Principles of the rule of the English Rajahs was that the goal of self-government shall always be kept in mind and that the people of Sarawak shall be entrusted in due course with the Governance of themselves:
And whereas this principle accords with the policy which Her Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland have always pursued in the Governance of those territories of the Commonwealth for those affairs Her Majesty’s Government have been responsible.
And whereas in pursuance of this principle Her Majesty’s Government by an agreement entered into on the 9th day of July, 1963, with the Government of the Federation of Malaya, the Government of the State of Singapore and the Governments of the Colonies of Sarawak and North Borneo it was agreed that the States of Singapore and the Colonies of Sarawak and North Borneo shall be federated with the Federation of Malaya, and that the said Federation shall be known as Malaysia:
And whereas Constitutions for Malaysia and for the States of Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore have been promulgated:
And whereas by a Proclamation made under Section 2 of the Malaysia Act the 16th day of September, 1963 has been proclaimed as Malaysia Day:
Now therefore I, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the Chief Minister of Sarawak, hereby proclaim that Sarawak has this day attained independence as the State of Malaysia.”
After the Proclamation was read, this was then followed by the swearing-in of Datu Abang Haji Openg as the Governor of Sarawak by the Chief Justice, Sir Campbell Wylie. It was a grand occasion and the Chief Justice, dignified by his wig in his scarlet and black robes was in the company of the Chief Minister, Stephen Kalong Ningkan and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. P.E Turnbull who was in full ceremonial uniform and was also in the company of the Commander of the British Forces in West Sarawak, Brigadier F.C Barton, in full khaki dress.
After the swearing in, this was then followed by a second State salute and the Inspection of the Parade, the ceremony turned into a panic situation when towards the end of the parade, the Governor suddenly fainted and had to be seated. Two doctors in audience, Drs. Chong Chung Hian and Daniel Kok, were there to help the Governor and it was later on decided that the Governor be sent to the Sarawak General Hospital for a precautionary check up which revealed nothing serious.
Before independence, Sarawak and Sabah were soverign countries by themselves ruled by the Rajahs and later under the British Colonial Rule, but, now we are states within Malaysia. I could not find any record to record Malaya at that time as a country but with eleven states known as federated states and straits settlements collectively known as Malaya before Malaysia was formed.
Merdeka And Happy Birthday Sarawak, Tanah Air Ku!!
1 comment:
For sure, Independence Day on the 31st August where we independence from the British Colonial Government on 31st August 1957 and Malaysia formed on 16 September, 1963. So it's clear that we cannot have two merdeka celebration...
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