KOTA KINABALU: The significance and importance of Sept 16 must not be taken lightly, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) deputy president Datuk Eric Majimbun.He was therefore disappointed by Tan Sir Lee Lam Thye’s suggestion to have Sept 16 declared as Unity Day.
Malaysia would never have existed without Sabah and Sarawak and the significance of Sept 16 is that it was the day Malaysia was formed, said the Sepanggar member of parliament.
“It was the formation of Malaysia… it was not the union of Malaysia just for unity but for the integrity and nationhood of the people,” he stressed.
Eric added that all along, Sabah leaders have been stressing that Sept 16, 1963 was the day the country was born and the date should be declared ‘Merdeka Day’ instead of Aug 31, 1957, which was the ‘Merdeka Day’ for Malaya. Lee, he said, cannot base the sense of belonging and upholding of the Rukun Negara as the basis for unity when Sarawak, especially the rights of Sabah were being eroded coupled with the imbalance treatment by the federal government.
“Sabahans are solidly united as Malaysians, so perhaps Lee should focus on Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
Lee said his call was in line with the 1Malaysia concept advocated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“It will be a meaningful and significant day for all Malaysians, be they from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah or Sarawak, to commemorate this special day together,” he said.
Unity was a priceless gift, especially in a multiracial society like Malaysia where it was important for every citizen to be fully committed to promoting a culture of peace and harmony, added Lee.
He said the foundation was set up to initiate, facilitate and support programmes to unite Malaysians irrespective of race, religion and socio-economic status.