KUCHING: A National Archives’ statement that the Proclamation of Independence of 1957 represents Malaysia’s “birth certificate” is ruffling feathers in Sarawak.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Datuk Lo Khere Chiang said such a claim misrepresents history and diminishes Sarawak and Sabah’s roles as founding partners of the nation.
In a press statement on Sunday (Sept 7), Lo said, while the 1957 proclamation is significant, it marks Malaya’s independence from Britain, not Malaysia’s formation.
“No amount of gold leaf, carvings, or poetic words can change the truth: the Proclamation of Independence 1957 is not Malaysia’s birth certificate. It is Malaya’s,” he said.
Lo argued that associating Malaya’s independence with Malaysia’s birth risks erasing the historical milestones of Sarawak and Sabah.
“August 31, 1957, marked the independence of the Federation of Malaya, while Sarawak attained independence on July 22, 1963, followed by North Borneo (Sabah) on August 31, 1963.
“Hence, the actual birth of Malaysia took place on September 16, 1963, when Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah, and Singapore came together to form a new sovereign nation.
“Malaysia did not even exist in 1957, and to call the proclamation Malaysia’s birth certificate is not only inaccurate, it is misleading,” Lo said.
He contrasted the National Archives’ stance with that of Sarawak’s Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
“Wan Junaidi had correctly pointed out that August 31 commemorates Malaya’s independence, while September 16, 1963, marks the true formation of Malaysia.
“This approach respects the intelligence of Malaysians, especially Sarawakians and Sabahans. It shows that history can be explained honestly while still promoting unity,” Lo added.
According to Lo, misrepresenting Malaysia’s founding year feeds into the perception that Sarawak and Sabah are mere extensions of Malaya, rather than equal partners.
He said this distortion mirrors the unfairness Sarawak continues to face in legal and constitutional matters.
He cited the Petroleum Development Act 1974, which centralised control of Sarawak’s oil and gas resources without the state legislature’s consent, and the Territorial Sea Act 2012, which altered maritime boundaries without Sarawak’s approval.
“Both laws remain constitutionally debatable and contentious in the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“When resources were taken, it was done in a flash. But when it comes to restoring our rights, Sarawak is told to wait endlessly,” Lo said.
Lo stressed that Malaysia’s true birth certificate is the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), an international treaty registered with the United Nations.
“Malaysia’s birthday is 16 September 1963, and Malaysia’s real National Day should rightly be September 16, not August 31.
“Let us write this truth in the hearts of our children. Let no Director of National Archives, and no careless word, erase it,” he said.
National Archives director, Siti Hawiyah Manan, had earlier described the 1957 proclamation as Malaysia’s “official birth certificate,” highlighting its artistic design and historical preservation, which sparked strong responses, particularly from leaders in Sarawak and Sabah, who see the statement as a misrepresentation of the federation’s true history.
