July 22 has been officially declared Sarawak Independence Day and is a public holiday.

The Administrative Unit in the Chief Minister’s Department said in a statement today that the date had been gazetted as Sarawak Independence Day and was a public holiday.

Chief Minister Adenan Satem had announced on April 23 that July 22 would be made a public holiday to mark Sarawak’s independence from British colonial rule.

He said the declaration was made in appreciation of the struggle for Sarawak by the older generations.

In 1963, Sarawak joined Sabah and the then Malaya (and Singapore) in the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. Singapore left the federation two years later.

- Bernama