KUCHING — The formation of Malaysia in 1963 is rooted in constitutional documents and should not be disputed, said Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
These documents which are enshrined in the Federal Constitution include the Memorandum of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee; the Cobbold Commission Report; the Inter-Governmental Committee Report (IGC Report); the Malaysia Act 1963 (UK); the Malaysia Act 1963 (Malaysia); the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63); the Supplementary Agreement to the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and the Constitution of Malaysia 1963.
“In other words, the constitutional documents embody the essence and spirit of MA63,” he said in his message in conjunction with the 61st Malaysia Day celebration today.
Wan Junaidi said the merger of the three regions – Malaya, Sarawak, and Sabah – through MA63 serves as the true cornerstone that has shaped Malaysia into a larger nation with balanced development.
Wan Junaidi added that the system of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, established alongside the Malaysian constitution, has facilitated the unification of the three regions.
After six decades of overcoming numerous challenges and obstacles, Malaysia has thrived and now stands proudly on the world stage, with unity serving as the cornerstone of its ongoing progress, he said.
While it is not easy to unite a society of diverse races, cultures, and beliefs from different regions and backgrounds, Wan Junaidi urged all Malaysians to remain resolute in honouring the nation’s founding history together.
“Let us collectively elevate Malaysia’s aspirations by embracing this historical truth. Let’s not argue or disrupt the harmony that has been nurtured for so long,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the 61st Malaysia Day celebration today should inspire citizens to further strengthen the bonds of unity and foster a collective spirit of togetherness.
The celebration commemorates the agreement between Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore, which laid the foundation for the formation of Malaysia in 1963 through the Malaysia Agreement 1963, before Singapore’s departure in 1965.
“Over the 61 years since joining the Federation of Malaysia, Sarawak has consistently advanced and become competitive in various fields to bolster the economy,” he said in his Malaysia Day message.
For Sarawak, the state government is currently focusing on a sustainable economic development policy, leveraging new resources and the digital economy through a new approach outlined in the Post-Covid Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
He said that PCDS 2030 emphasises three main policies: economic prosperity, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability, with the goal of making Sarawak a high-income developed region by 2030.
“I sincerely hope that economic development will continue to progress rapidly and that harmony among people of various religions and races will endure, guided by the spirit of ‘Segulai Sejalai,’ which is built on mutual respect,” he said. — September 16, 2024