Malaysia Day: The yardstick for Sabah's development

Haji Awang himself was killed during the Kawang War while fighting the British North Borneo Chartered Company's administration in 1885, which was 15 years earlier to Mat Salleh's uprising and 50 years before Antanom took on the British in Sabah.

Now the warrior's struggle has been inherited by his fifth generation descendent, Baszley Bee Basrah Bee, albeit in a different way through the academic world. He is a senior lecturer for the History Program at Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Social Science School.

As for Baszley Bee, he notes that Sabah's merger with Peninsula and Sarawak under the Malaysian Federation proposal on 16 Sept, 1963 was the cornerstone in setting the state's future course.

And for the last 50 years, each Sept 16 commemoration has served as the yardstick for Sabah's development.

In fact, untill today Sabahans consider their state being the heart of Malaysia, because the efforts to realise the Malaysian Federation was very much concentrated in Sabah.

"This is proven by the existence of many monuments, buildings and landscapes related to the formation of Malaysia compared to anywhere else in the country," he said to Bernama.

"Apart from that, Sabahans and Sarawakians were of the opinion that both states did not participate or join Malaysia but instead merged with Peninsula to create Malaysia.

"Therefore the Malaysia Day officially celebrated since 2011 highlights the fundamental efforts in emphasizing that Malaysia was established as a single sovereign political, social and economic entity to preserve the independence of the states under the Malaysian Federation," he said.

The celebration this year, which is the Federation of Malaysia's golden jubilee, is particularly meaningful since Sabah has seen continuous development during its 50 years as part of the federation.

Baszley noted that other than this, Malaysians have to understand the definition of Malaysia Day to appreciate the spirit of the federation.

"Malaysia Day symbolises the identity of one Malaysian race, one country. The Day also reminds Malaysians that the diversity of origins, religion and culture have been merged into one due to tolerance and sacrifices.

Malaysia Day belongs to all citizens and states within the Malaysian Federation, Baszley noted.

He hoped that effective next year, the federal government would give priority to Malaysia Day celebration. This change is necessary to show greater appreciation for the nation and is in line with the Rukun Negara principles.