Declare July 22 a public holiday, government urged

5

CHAMPIONING A CAUSE: Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF) president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (third left) and supporters waving Sarawak flags before the start of their Independence Walk in Kuching yesterday. The walk’s organising chairman Jalumin Bayogoh is at fourth left and event coordinator Peter John Jaban at second left, partially hidden by the flag.

KUCHING: The Borneo Heritage Foundation (BHF) is calling for July 22 to be declared a public holiday to mark Sarawak’s Independence Day.

This was among the demands made by BHF yesterday. It was read out at Padang Merdeka during its Independence Walk, which was organised to commemorate the day Sarawak gained independence from British colonial rule on July 22, 1963.

BHF member and the walk’s organising chairman Jalumin Bayogoh said the demand for a public holiday might be realised sooner than expected because the state government had taken steps to recognise the date by re-enacting the historical event at a special ceremony at the Kuching Waterfront today (July 22).

“We see this (the move by the state government) as a positive move. If it happened that July 22 is declared a public holiday, it will be a historic feat.

“This is not just about recognition (of the historical significance of July 22), but is also about telling the fact to everyone that Sarawak’s independence is actually on July 22, not on August 31,” he told reporters here.

He said if the government failed to declare July 22 a public holiday, BHF would continue to press for it because “recognising the day without making it a public holiday is not really recognition”.

Meanwhile, event coordinator Peter John Jaban commended the government for re-enacting the historical event, but he wondered why it was done only after 50 years of independence through Malaysia. Asked if the government had done it due to political pleasure to please the people, the activist, known for his work with Radio Free Sarawak (RFS), opined it was because most politicians did not know much about history.

“In my opinion, it is because our politicians and ministers are busy fighting among themselves. I am sorry to say, a lot of YBs (elected representatives) do not even know the law, constitution and history. They just want to become YBs. They don’t have time to take care of us, the welfare of the people.”

Jalumin and Peter John also hoped Sabah and Sarawak would be regarded as nations within the Federation of Malaysia.

“We (Sabah and Sarawak) are of the same level as Malaya,” said Jalumin.

The walk was flagged off by BHF president Datuk Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan and two Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) holders: Corporal (Rtd) Paul Nyopis Noyeat and Major (Rtd) Michael Liman Bugat.

The 100 odd participants, wearing T-shirts that bore Sarawak flags since 1841, walked from the starting point at Telang Usan Hotel to Jalan Ban Hock, Jalan Song Thian Cheok, old Courthouse and Padang Merdeka before returning to the hotel for a forum.

They waved banners and Sarawak flags along the way under the watchful eyes of the police.

Among the speakers at the forum were Kitingan, former diplomat Datuk John Tenewi Nuek, researcher Dr Awang Hasmadi Awang Mois, Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) president Dr Dusit Jaul, lawyer Paul Raja and Peter John.