Many in Sarawak and Sabah, including top officials, are calling for the national day celebrations to be held on Sept 16 annually.

They also want history to be set straight in that the Federation of Malaysia is 42, not 48, years old.

In comments and letters published in local newspapers, leaders and readers said the federation comprising the Federation of Malay States, Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore (which withdrew two years later) was formed on Sept 16,1963.

"The prime minister has asked us to tell the truth and this is the truth - we are proud as a nation from1963. It is time to make the necessary correction because to create confidence in the people you must tell the truth based on historical facts," wrote a reader who signed off as Anak Kenyalang (Child of the land of hornbills).

"Come Sept 16, 2005 will our national leaders be brave enough to celebrate Malaysia Day? We can only hope and wait," he added.

Officials have traditionally counted off the years of independence from British colonial rule from Aug 31, 1957.

'Avoid confusion'

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Pairin Kitingan and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Dompok were the first ministers from Sarawak and Sabah to publicly call for the record to be set straight in order not to create confusion.

Joining in today was Sarawak Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation William Mawan, who reportedly said the creation of Malaysia should not be disputed or confused with the independence date of the Federation of Malay States.

Santubong member of Parliament Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was quoted by the Borneo Post daily as saying that the correct facts and dates must be published.

He said Malaysia is not 48 years old, as it was only in1962 that the concept was mooted for Sarawak to gain independence.

DAP Sarawak chairperson Wong Ho Leng told malaysiakini today that, for the sake of getting historical facts right, it must be acknowledged that Malaysia came into being on Sept 16,1963.

"In 1957, Sarawak and Sabah were still British colonies, so how could they have attained independence?" he asked.

He said the best way to mark the actual birth date of Malaysia would be by declaring Sept 16 a public holiday.