I believe the people of Sarawak, Sabah do not want to be taken for granted: Abang Johari

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg's speech at the Malaysia Day celebration in Sibu on September 16, 2017

PENGIKTIRAFAN 16 SEPTEMBER

8.            Terima kasih kepada saudara dan saudari sekalian yang telah meluangkan masa untuk bersama-sama meraikan 16 September sebagai hari yang penting kepada Negara, khususnya kepada rakyat Sarawak dan Sabah.

Abang Johari:  We believe that Malaysia can be a stronger nation if there is equal economic footing on both sides of the South China Sea. Discontent will only breed discord and disunity among Malaysians. 

 

9.            Bagi pihak rakyat Sarawak saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada YAB Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib kerana telah membuat keputusan pada 2009 supaya 16 September diiktiraf di seluruh Negara sebagai Hari Malaysia. 

10.          Sebelum itu, Hari Malaysia hanya diraikan dan berstatus “cuti umum” di Sarawak dan Sabah sahaja.  Sekarang 16 September adalah cuti umum di seluruh Negara. 

11.          Ini tidak bererti rakyat Sarawak tidak mengiktiraf 31 Ogos sebagai hari yang penting yang kini dinamakan sebagai Hari Kebangsaan dan bukan Hari Kemerdekaan.

12.          Kita menghormati 31 Ogos 1957 sebagai tarikh Persekutuan Tanah Melayu mendapat Kemerdekaan daripada Kerajaan British yang diikuti oleh penubuhan Malaysia 6 tahun kemudian pada 16 September 1963 yang kita raikan sekarang.

WHY DUE RECOGNITION TO 16 SEPTEMBER

13.          Sarawakians or Sabahans feel that it is important to give due recognition to 16 September and not be forgotten as a part of history because Sarawak and Sabah were not annexed as a part of Malaysia.

All the three territories; Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah are parties to the formation of Malaysia.

ECONOMIC DISPARITY & THE IMPLICATION

14.          I believe the bigger implication is that the people in both the eastern part of Malaysia do not want to be taken for granted not only historically but also economically and politically. 

15.          Sarawakians also want to be on equal standing with their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia in as far as economic development is concerned because that was the hope and aspiration of our founding leaders when they signed the Malaysia Agreement in 1963.

It is also the hope of all Sarawakians yesterday, today and tomorrow.

16.          It cannot be denied that Sarawak is behind Semenanjung in infrastructure development. But we are thankful that the Prime Minister is aware of the aspiration of Sarawakians that they should have at least one system of roads that is of highway standard after 54 years as part of Malaysia, therefore the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway is very much welcomed.

17.          The state of our more than 1000 dilapidated rural schools, be they primary or secondary schools, is a case in point that must be rectified as soon as possible to address the perception that Sarawak is not being given due attention by the Federal Government as education is under the purview of the federal government.

18.          We understand that the Federal Government may not have sufficient funds to repair or rebuild these poor rural schools which is estimated to cost about RM1 billion over and above the sum allocated in the 11th Malaysia Plan.

We are willing to assist the Federal Government through our Development Bank. We appreciate that the Prime Minister has agreed to this arrangement. The Deputy Prime Minister has also agreed to the same arrangement in a meeting here last Wednesday (13 September) so that the run-down rural schools can be physically improved without much delay.

19.          We believe that Malaysia can be a stronger nation if there is equal economic footing on both sides of the South China Sea. Discontent will only breed discord and disunity among Malaysians.

MAKE 16TH SEPTEMBER ANOTHER RALLYING POINT

Saudara dan saudari sekalian,

20.          Saya menganggap bahawa 16 September adalah hari yang amat penting dalam sejarah Malaysia kalau dibandingkan dengan tarikh 31 Ogos kerana Malaysia belum wujud pada tarikh tersebut.

21.          Oleh itu, marilah kita bersama menjunjung tarikh ini dengan mengorak langkah ke arah masa hadapan yang lebih bermakna untuk semua rakyat Malaysia.

22.          Pemimpin kita yang berbilang kaum dahulu bersetuju untuk menubuhkan Malaysia bersama Tanah Melayu dan Sabah. Persetujuan itu kita hormati dan pegang sampai bila-bila.

23.          Sekian. Terima kasih. Selamat Hari Malaysia. - September 16, 2017