There is no doubt in the mind of a senior academic of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak that Malaysians should mark National or Malaysia Day on Sept 16 instead of Aug 31.

Why?

"Because this would acknowledge and recognise the equal efforts of all in forging a new country via the Malaysia Agreement in which three then sovereign political entities (Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak) came together on Sept 16, 1963 to form a new country called the Federation of Malaysia," he said.

The academic, who did not want to be named, said he recalled earlier years when Malaysia Day was observed on Sept 16. However, over time, it was bypassed by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

"Umno (the dominant BN component party) prefers to uphold the memory of Malayan independence instead of the formation of Malaysia," he claimed.

He said this was because Umno/BN had built its hegemonic rule on the basis that it alone led the struggle for independence, with some secondary assistance from other component members of the Alliance, the first ruling coalition.

"This hegemony necessitates that no other political party (or ethnic community) is recognised as having played a primary part in the struggle for independence, and certainly not the Malay National Party or the Communist Party of Malaya, or even the then left-wing Sarawak United People's party (Supp) in Sarawak.

"As well, by celebrating Merdeka instead of Malaysia Day, Umno is deliberately choosing to highlight the supposed ethnic social contract which underlines the political pre-eminence of the indigenous Malays over the other Chinese and Indian immigrant communities."

Set record straight

At the same time, he questioned if Sabahans and Sarawakians are doing enough to put the record straight.

"Let's face it. Aug 31 is an utterly meaningless date for Sabahans and Sarawakians. Certainly I am not aware of any Sarawakian or Sabahan BN politician saying anything about the significance of Sept 16 vis-a-vis Aug 31. All are acting like mice."

However, he acknowledged that the debate should move beyond the issue of the date and delve into the significance of Malaysia Day.

"Has there been any substantive discussion on this, namely what it means to celebrate nationhood as one people - diverse, different but united? Is there any discussion on what vision we have of our future as one nation?

"Is it really enough just to have a parade somewhere, to wave the flag or fly it on my car? Instead of holding mega Merdeka sales, we should initiate broad discussions throughout the country on what it means to be Malaysian.

'What does it really mean to build a country that is truly developed and civilised, one that cares for the well being and welfare of all irrespective of sex, age, ethnicity, religion, class and physical ability?"

Improved lifestyles

A Miri-based private university lecturer Mawi Taip,a former journalist, was cynical about the quibbling over the date marking Independence Day.

"Why not on Sept 12? It's my birthday," he quipped, but gave his vote to Aug 31 nonetheless,

"The more important thing is the feeling of patriotism. How deep is our love for the nation? The younger generation, especially those born after Merdeka, are not all that patriotic.

"They don't know how to sing the national anthem and Sarawak anthem. It is indeed very sad to see all this. This is the only country for all of us whether we are of Chinese, Malay, Indian and any bumiputera origin."

Mawi also said he believes that Sabah and Sarawak have benefited from being part of Malaysia, in terms of physical development - roads, water supply, schools, electricity, universities, medical and health services, and housing.

"Urban dwellers might take all these things for granted, but in kampongs like mine in the interior, it something after years of drinking water from rivers, or depending only on kerosene lamps and gravel roads to get by."

"We see people's lives getting betterthey drive better cars, wear nice and branded clothes, have more money in their pockets, and eat good quality food, and that is something."

"Could Sarawak and Sabah provide the same on their own? I don't think so. If you look at the budget for the Eighth Malaysia Plan, 60 percent of the funds come from federal sources and the balance from state."

Historical facts

Pensioner Edward Mansel said he prefers National Day to be celebrated on Aug 31. Now a tourist guide, Mansel said it was the British who mooted an independent Malaya and later an independent Malaysia.

"As colonial powers, they knew they would have to let go of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah, and naturally wanted local leaders with whom they could be comfortable in protecting commercial interests and to be part of the Commonwealth."

A senior citizen, who was only prepared to give his surname as Yu, said he had witness the proclamation of Malaysia at the Central Padang in Kuching on Sept 16, 1963.

"'I am unable to recall whether anyone had ever queried (past prime ministers) the Tunku, Abdul Razak Hussein, Hussein Onn and Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the date.

"Pak Lah seems a reasonable politician in the eyes of many. Maybe he is more sympathetic. Will he be brave enough to put some facts of history right?'

Sunday Tribune columnist Peter Minos, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu assistant secretary-general, recently wrote: "....Now that the federal government has declared Aug 31 as Merdeka Day and we are 48 years old as a nation (if we use the independence of Malaya on Aug 31, 1957 as the starting point), probably we can take it as that without fussing about the issue.

"All it means is that, instead of Sabah and Sarawak being 42 years old, we are 48 years old as part of the big nation Malaysia,.this is all right so long as we are aware of the historical facts."

Minos said throughout history in all nations, dates of the monarch's birthday, Independence day and national events are quite 'artificially' fixed for many reasons and that this is universally acceptable.

The general manager of a state-owned utility company said there is too much fuss about the date for celebration of National/Merdeka Day.

"Malaysians should be more considered about the problems of racial polarisation such as when government departments and agencies seem to be dominated by a certain community and there is a tendency of this being reflected in almost everything else in government whether by design or by accident."

TONY THIEN is malaysiakini's Sarawak-based stringer.