By Professor Dr Michael Leigh
SINCE 2016, July 22 has been celebrated as Sarawak Day. Some have gone on to claim that day as the anniversary of Sarawak’s independence.
A prominent Sarawak Tribune writer even asserted that on July 22, 1963, the state had its first Sarawakian Governor and Chief Minister.
Sadly, that myth is quite untrue, as the British Governor remained in absolute control through until August 31, 1963, after which he agreed to accept the advice of Sarawak’s new Chief Minister on all state matters, whilst continuing to exercise authority on federal matters until September 15, when he departed.
The next day, September 16, the Union Jack no longer flew over the Astana and was replaced by the Jalur Gemilang, the flag of Malaysia. That morning, Datu Abang Openg was sworn in as the state Governor.
For Sarawak, the actual significance of July 22,1963 is that was the date on which the Sarawak Alliance elected members of the Council Negri unanimously asserted that it was they who would choose who was to be Sarawak’s Chief Minister.
They point blank refused to accept any role whatsoever for the Malayan Prime Minister and National Alliance leadership in determining the choice of the new Chief Minister, as was the case in the states of Malaya.
The British Governor, Sir Alexander Waddell, telegraphed London that he would immediately resign were they to side with Kuala Lumpur and not recognise Sarawak’s choice of Chief Minister.
Though the first 15 days of September were a period of internal self-government, it is stretching the imagination to declare that Sarawak gained its independence on July 22 or even on August 31.
The victorious Sarawak Alliance, the colonial administration and the Malayan Government were as one in their assertion that Sarawak, Sabah and indeed Singapore would gain their independence through Malaysia and not as separate entities.
For the two years prior to the formation of Malaysia, it was the opposition SUPP that had campaigned for Sarawak first to be granted independence, and then be free to choose whether or not to become a founding part of Malaysia.
Tunku had been most upset when Lee Kuan Yew announced that, on August 31, Singapore was now independent.
Tunku cabled British Prime Minister Macmillan stating that: “Internal self-government seriously undermines the whole basis upon which the territories were to enter Malaysia … my government will consider itself no longer bound by the terms of the Malaysia Agreement unless a satisfactory answer is given repudiating categorically any change in the status of the new States prior to the establishment of Malaysia.”
The British High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur gave the necessary assurance that no order transferring powers had been made since the signing of the Malaysia Agreement in July 1963.
Sarawak is not alone. Every nation has its origin myths. The US proudly speaks of its exceptionalism and it doesn’t mean access to weaponry for all and sundry to use as they wish. Australians of my age were told that the original settlers were decimated by the unknown diseases introduced by British settlers.
Now we know the truth of the violence and killings by white settlers, frequently endorsed by colonial authorities. The ANZAC tradition celebrates Australia’s first major military defeat, not victory, that facilitated the rise to Turkish national leadership of Kamal Ataturk.
The full documentation supporting this myth-busting exercise can be found in my two most recent books: ‘Deals, Datus and Dayaks. Sarawak and Brunei in the Making of Malaysia’, Petaling Jaya, Gerakbudaya, 2018 [esp. pp. 61-64] and ‘Discovering Sarawak’s History’ at the Archives.
A guide to the wealth of new documentation is available in the Archives of the Sarawak State Library. Kuching, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, 2022. 215p. Included is a reference to British plans for the future of Sarawak in the event that Malaysia did not eventuate.
Professor Dr Michael Leigh is a well-known writer/researcher on Sarawak. He is currently engaged by the Dayak Cultural Foundation to do some research projects.
