Sarawak remains committed to Malaysia, but wants rights back from Putrajaya

Text of speech of Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg when addressing Sarawak Day at the Kuching Waterfront on July 22, 2017.

1.            Address to Tuan Yang Terutama

Tuan Yang Terutama, Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud Yang Amat Berbahagia, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib,

Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud (3rd from right), Datuk Amar Abang Johari Openg (4th from left) and other VVIPs at the Sarawak Day celebration

We are very honoured to have you among us here this morning Tun to celebrate the anniversary of 22nd July, 1963 that is now called Hari Sarawak. It is most appropriate that you are with us today because 54 years ago you were present at the creation, not only as a spectator but as participant who witnessed the formation of self-government, the formation of Malaysia and the setting down of conditions before Sarawak became party to the formation of Malaysia. You are the last living member of that first state cabinet.

Thank you Tun and Toh Puan for being able to be with the rakyat here this morning to celebrate this very special day for all Sarawakians.

Tun, now let me address others present here this morning.

2.            Address to people

(i)            Three Vital Decisions of People in 1963

(a)          To be Free People

Fifty-four years ago, the people of Sarawak made three vital and critical decisions. Our leaders and people of the time decided to be free from colonial rule.

I remember I was only 13 years old when this happened. Back then I quite knew that something very important was going on as I could see a number of people came over to our house to see my father. One of them was Apai Jugah who met my father and called him “menyadi” in Iban or “brother”. Ong Kee Hui also came and he called my father “brother”.

(b)          Self-Government

Apparently, on this day 54 years ago, we have our own governor in the person of my father, Datuk Abang Haji Openg, our own chief minister, Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan, and our own state cabinet entrusted to rule the state in our own way without direction from London. Our Tun Pehin Sri were among the members of that first state cabinet when he was only 27 years old.

Tun, when he was Chief Minister has decided that it’s appropriate that July 22 be accorded its importance as the day when Sarawak were given the power of self-rule by the British colonial government. 

The late Tok Nan took it further and declared July 22 as a public holiday in Sarawak and this auspicious day was called Hari Sarawak.

(c)           Party to Formation of Malaysia and Sarawak’s Special Rights

On 16 September 1963 we became party to the formation of Malaysia after signing the Malaysia Agreement on 9th July 1963 in London. We became party to a bigger federation of Malaysia in the hope and expectation that we will be a free and independent people, safe-guarded from hostile neighbours and internal subversion.

And of course, being party to the Malaysia Agreement we are safeguarded by the recommendations of the Cobbold Commission and United Nations Fact-Finding team.

(ii)           Independence without Bloodshed

Looking back over those 54 years, we cannot but say that we have made a wise decision. After 22nd July, we proved to the world that we can rule by ourselves and we do not need the assistance of people from London to tell us what to do.

Fortunately, we did not gain our independence through war and bloodshed but by negotiating on the conference table. The British knew that their days as a colonial power were numbered and that they must give up their possessions as promised by the Third Rajah Charles Brooke in 1941. There were some resistance at first but in the end they were very accommodative and we parted as friends and not as enemies with the British. And we are good friends with the British until today.

On this day also, we had our first local governor, our first chief minister and first state cabinet under a constitution which places power in the hands of the people instead of some officials in London.

(iii)          Circumstances Requiring Sarawak to be Party to Formation of Malaysia

In 1963, the circumstances were much different from what it is today. We were not only a backwater, undeveloped country but also poor and poverty was rife. We were under the threat of communism, China was trying to expand and Indonesia was dominated by Parti Komunis Indonesia which had territorial claims in this region. The Philippines was also hostile at that time because they lay claim to Sabah.

In the circumstances, knowing that we cannot defend ourselves alone, we look to safety to the Commonwealth and fellow Malaysians from Malaya. But at the same time, we were jealous of our independence.

 That is why after agreeing to be a part of Malaysia in principle we insist on certain terms and conditions which gave us autonomy over many aspects of constitutional life.

(iv)         Relationship with Federal Government and Erosion of State Powers

Over the years, as is inevitable in a federation, there arose friction between the central government and state government. The state was not being too happy about centralisation of power in Kuala Lumpur but we have been able to resolve all these problems by sitting around a table, adopting the policy of give and take.

We have overcome many of our teething problems. They will continue to arise but there’s nothing we cannot solve as fellow citizens. And I am now continuing the work of Datuk Patinggi Adenan in discussing these matters of concern with the federal government.

But in our negotiation with Putrajaya, we must first do our homework to make sure that we are not firing blanks. This is why we sent our team of lawyers to London to study large volume of documents in the British archives and other sources which were only recently declassified in order to be able to determine what really the underlying spirit of Malaysia Agreement was.

Therefore, very much contrary to some suggestions that we are inviting foreign intervention, the terms of reference of the London team has never been to get foreigners to intervene in our domestic affairs.

(v)          No Exit from Malaysia

There’s no need for Sarawak to exit Malaysia but being in Malaysia does not mean that we cannot negotiate with the Federal Government to get back our rights and what belongs to us. We only want what belongs to us. It is simple as that.

I sincerely hope that our fellow Sarawakians will continue to give me the support to discuss with the Federal Government to find amicable solutions to the central issue of the devolution of power back to Sarawak. Apai Jugah called my father “menyadi”, Ong Kee Hui called him “brother” and in that spirit of unity and brotherhood we should pursue our goal to ensure that Sarawak move forward as envisaged by our past leaders.

(vi)         Note of Thanks to PM and TPM

We believe that there’s no problem that we cannot overcome and I must thank the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib and the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid for being always open to discussion with Sarawak in our efforts to bring back our powers according to the Federal Constitution, the Malaysia Agreement, the Malaysia Act, the Inter-Governmental Committee Reports and Recommendations and the Cobbold Commission Reports that have been eroded over the years.

(vii)        Malaysia Success Story

Malaysia had been a success story. We have developed by leaps and bounds over the years where our per capita income and GDP multiplied many times. But still it is not a perfect union but we strive to be a perfect union in the years to come.

As Tok Nan used to say “We were Malaysia Yesterday We are Malaysia Now, We are Malaysia Tomorrow and We are Malaysia Forever”.