Zainnal (second, right) signing a copy of his new book for Dr Sim (third left) while others look on.
KUCHING: Sarawak United people’s Party (SUPP) yesterday launched a book entitled ‘The Grand Design’ in conjunction with the 53rd anniversary of the signing of the Malaysia Agreement (MA63).
MA63, an agreement between Sarawak, North Borneo (Sabah), Singapore and the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia was signed in London on July 9, 1963, and became effective on Sept 16 the same year.
The Grand Design is a compilation of three important documents that created Malaysia namely the Cobbold Commission Report 1962, the Report of the Inter-Governmental Committee 1962 (IGC) and the MA63 itself.
It is written by Zainnal Ajamain, a Sabahan who is no stranger to all issues concerning Sarawak and Sabah’s state autonomy in the MA63.
He spent 15 years researching the negotiations leading up to the formation of Malaysia, the safeguards that were put in place for the interests of the two Borneo states and how the two East Malaysian states were shortchanged for many years.
Zainnal who spoke during the launching ceremony revealed that it is an anthology of important documents relating to the MA63 left by the British colonialists as part of Sarawak’s and Sabah’s legacies.
He opined that Sarawak and Sabah have “a lot of historical nuggets scattered around” but many do not know or are unaware of their existence.
“Unfortunately there are people out there who prefer that these documents never see the light of day as it gives us (Sarawakians and Sabahans) our rights, protection and our safeguard. It is therefore up to us to spread the message that it is important for everyone to know about these documents.
“It is not taught in our schools and universities. Even civil servants are not taught about the documents as part of their formative training before starting work. The problem is most of us don’t know our own history,” he added.
Meanwhile, Local Government minister and SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian who launched the book at a ceremony held at the SUPP headquarters here noted that the book contains crucial documents which led to the signing of the treaty in London and revelation of important facts concerning the rights
of Sarawak as an equal partner in the formation of Malaysia.
Also present during the book’s launch were Assistant Minister for Rural Economy (Interior Areas) and Plantations Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Assistant Minister for Land and Air Transportation and Safety Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang and other members of the SUPP Central Working Committee.