Commemorating July 22

THERE are 18 days to go before Sarawak Day comes around once again. Will there be enough time, though, for those who wish to organise the various events to mark the 58th anniversary of ‘The Day’?

Normally, it is the job of the state government to make the necessary preparations for the celebration.

These would require the necessary funding and only the government could provide such funds.

Despite any constraint, celebrate its anniversaries we must.

Assuming that coronavirus pandemic is still on by then, we don’t expect there would be big gatherings or state banquet or parades. In such circumstances, however, such activities like webinars, virtual singing competitions, virtual food preparations – to name a few – may be organised by the people themselves, with or without government funding.

Virtual speeches and press statements from all the state’s political leaders, apolitical community leaders, and the nationalists would be good enough, just so that we do not forget about the significance of that ‘date’ in July of each year.

Preparing for next year

At the same time, we should think in terms of what we can do about the celebrations for next year and the years after. By that time, we hope the war against the dreadful virus would have been completely won, and many visitors from overseas would join us in the celebrations.

Fun for them, funds for us!

An enigma

I have been hearing from some Sarawak nationalists that July 22 is the ‘Independence Day of Sarawak’. That puzzled me, and I hadn’t been able to get it solved, mentally even, in order to put the record straight once and for all, in terms of its proper place in the history of Sarawak, and indeed, of Malaysia.

For this, the other day, I referred to the Sarawak Almanac 2021 as one of the sources of information. True, the 22nd day of July is written in red as the Sarawak Day, meaning a gazetted public holiday.

However, when I studied the chronology of events as recorded in the Almanac from 15.8.1839 to 31.10.2020 (latest entry), I did not find any mention of the ‘Independence Day’ referred to.

Instead, there is an entry for the 22nd of July 1963 as follows: “Mr Stephen Kalong Ningkan appointed first Chief Minister or Sarawak.”

That’s all.

It’s self-government

I know how the Sarawak nationalists feel. You may, in the recess of your heart, deem July 22 as ‘Sarawakian Independence Day’, but technically, between you and me, it’s something else.

True, before July 1, 1946, going back to September 1842, Sarawak was ruled by three English Rajahs for the entire period, and was indeed an independent country.

The Raj was recognised as such by the United States of America, while the United Kingdom itself had established a consulate in Kuching. Mr Ricketts was the resident Consul of Britain in Kuching.

But those were the days before the creation of the United Nations Organization (UNO) in 1945.

This was the world body that would normally accede recognition to any newly-independent nation. Since 1842, Sarawak has undergone through the process of metamorphosis – from an English Raj to the Japanese Occupied Territory to British Military Administered to British colony, and to a state within the Federation of Malaysia.

Between us – the history enthusiasts – it is my humble opinion that in terms of its place in the history of Malaysia, with effect on July 22, 1963, Sarawak was granted by Great Britain the status of self-government or self-rule only. That status was given in recognition of the successfully-held local government elections in 1963.

A ministerial form of government was introduced to Sarawak.

The grant of self-rule was indeed a very important political development, quite in line with the wishes of the last Rajah of Sarawak as enshrined in the Nine Cardinal Principles of Government of 1941.

Succeeding future governments of Sarawak would do well to adhere to these fundamental principles.

I, for one, would be very happy indeed if the right to hold local government elections were restored to Sarawak. And I hope and pray that the present and future leaders of Sarawak would work out a plan to restore this state right to its rightful owner: Sarawak.

Having said all this, I am still waiting for a copy of the Act of Parliament enacted by the United Kingdom Government giving the colony of Sarawak the status of an independent country in the Commonwealth of Nations. That legislation, if it ever existed, would solve our puzzle once and for all. The school students would give the right answer to the right question set by the History teacher. The tourist guide would feel confident in answering the question from the tourists about why we celebrate July 22.

Until then, let’s stop haggling over this matter for a while.

Celebrate the occasion in any way you fancy, quietly believing in the spirit of ‘merdeka’ (independence), but it would be odd to shout from the roof-top, hailing ‘227’ as ‘Sarawak Independence Day’ — because it is not.

It is something else, equally meaningful, equally precious: self-governing state.

Keep safe from Covid-19, by avoiding any big crowd, by wearing your face masks correctly, by observing proper physical distancing, and by washing hands with the right sanitiser.

In case you haven’t registered to be vaccinated, do so as soon as possible; if you have had the first shot, do not forget about the second.

Celebrating the 227 involving participation by large crowds would be the lowest of all the priorities for this month.