SIBU: The Ministry of Education (MOE) has been urged to strengthen the teaching of Malaysia’s formation in school textbooks and curricula to ensure future generations understand Sarawak’s constitutional history and role as a founding partner of the nation.
Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said historical facts surrounding the formation of Malaysia should be given their rightful place in the national education system, not only in schools but also in institutions of higher learning.
“The younger generation needs to understand that 22 July 1963 marked the day Sarawak attained self-government, while 16 September 1963 was the day Sarawak, together with North Borneo (now Sabah), the Federation of Malaya and Singapore, formed Malaysia as a founding partner,” he said.
He said this at the Sarawak Day 2026 celebration at Dataran Tuanku Bujang on Wednesday night (July 22).
Lee said a proper understanding of the nation’s history would help Malaysians appreciate how the country was established through the wisdom, sacrifices and spirit of compromise demonstrated by past leaders.
He stressed that preserving and passing on this historical knowledge was a shared responsibility to ensure future generations understood the foundations upon which Malaysia was built.
Lee noted that before the formation of Malaysia, the Cobbold Commission and the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) had outlined the rights and safeguards accorded to Sarawak.
He said these principles later formed the basis of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which remains a key reference in safeguarding Sarawak’s rights.
“Based on the spirit of MA63, the Sarawak Government, under the leadership of the Premier of Sarawak, remains committed to ensuring that Sarawak’s rights are preserved and implemented for the benefit of the people,” he said.
Touching on Sarawak Day, he said it was more than an annual celebration, describing it as a historic milestone marking the beginning of Sarawak’s journey towards self-governance following the attainment of self-government from the British on July 22, 1963, before joining with Sabah, the Federation of Malaya and Singapore to form Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.
