Adenan entertains the crowd with a few songs after his announcement.
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem has declared July 22 a public holiday for Sarawak in honour of past leaders who have sacrificed much for the state’s independence.
He revealed this while addressing the official launch of the grand finale of the Sejiwa Senada programme in Metrocity Matang taking place today (April 23), calling the public holiday ‘Sarawak Day’.
“Today is a historical day for all of us. To honour and remember past leaders who have struggled for Sarawak’s independence, I declare July 22 as a public holiday for the state of Sarawak,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
“It will be ‘Sarawak Day’ for us to remember the sacrifices and contributions of our past leaders,” he added.
Sarawak was given self-government on Aug 31, 1963 and had self-government until Sept 16, 1963, and July 22, 1963 was the day when the Sarawak cabinet or the alliance cabinet was formed.
According to experts, July 22 was when the governor proclaimed the appointment of Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan as the chief minister and new Supreme Council members who formed the first ministerial cabinet in Sarawak.
However, many in the state consider the date Sarawak’s “independence day”.
In February this year, Adenan had announced that the proposal for July 22 to be a public holiday had been submitted to the federal government.
Adenan pressed that he will continue to pursue negotiations for the return of autonomy to the Sarawak government.
“I want those powers back. We also want to claim our rights for oil royalty as five per cent is definitely not enough.
“Because I am your chief minister, not of Kedah or other states. So whatever that involves my land and affect my people, I will fight for you, all the way,” he said, urging the people of Sarawak to do the same for him as well.