Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar

AS Malaysia ushers in its 57th celebration of its formation as an enlarged entity today, Sabahans, unlike other Malaysians elsewhere in the federation, find themselves this time around bracing for their state election that falls on September 26.

In other words, the celebratory mood of Sabahans towards the day Sabah jointly formed the new federation as an equal partner, may be somewhat dampened by their anxiety of who will form the next government amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the first place, Sabahans were caught by surprise when the state assembly was dissolved before it could complete its full term.

The state election was prompted by the chaos and political uncertainty caused by certain assemblymen who changed political allegiance by hopping from one party to another, destabilising the government of the day led by then chief minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.

To be clear, Malaysia Day marks the coming together of separate territories of Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah (formerly North Borneo) and Singapore (left the union in 1965) to form a federation that is driven by the collective desire and aim to achieve development, progress, peace, harmony and prosperity.

Fast forward to today, progress achieved by these components of the federation over the years has been anything but equal. Sabah, in particular, has been lagging behind others in terms of its socioeconomic development.

Although blessed with natural resources, Sabah is categorised as one of the poorer states, if not the poorest, in the federation after gaining independence in 1963.

Critics and experts attribute poverty in the state to several reasons, among which are political neglect at the state and federal levels, poor infrastructure, and financial mismanagement.

The case of Veveonah Mosibin who had to climb to a treetop in her remote village in order to get internet connectivity so she could sit for her online examination, is a manifestation of poor infrastructure and neglect.

Accusing her of lying by certain government leaders is an example of how far removed some political leaders are from their own people and social reality.

The poverty and economic disparities that exist within Sabah should concern not only Sabahans but also other Malaysians, particularly residents in the peninsula.

Such economic injustice should tug at the heartstrings of peninsular Malaysians just as they should be disturbed by the poverty in, say, Kelantan as well as Sarawak. To have empathy, concern and compassion for these vulnerable people is to be Malaysian.

Similarly, peninsular Malaysians should be as concerned about the plight of Orang Asli as they are for the Orang Asal in Sarawak and Sabah.

And we expect our East Malaysian brothers and sisters are also on the same page on this and other matters as one way of concretising the sense of belonging to one larger community called Malaysia.

The ethnic, social and cultural diversity of this enlarged entity should be acknowledged and celebrated by all citizens. Any attempt to thwart the embracing of this diversity, such as pedalling the toxic and divisive politics of race and religion, must be discouraged, if not stopped in its tracks.

In this context, some Malaysians and politicians from the peninsula could learn a thing or two about harmonious inter-mingling among ethnic groups and tribes from Sabah and Sarawak.

This is especially so when you have a rising popularity and activism of the conservatives and ethnonationalists, particularly those in the peninsula.

It is also to be Malaysian for peninsular Malaysians to be curious about and appreciate, for example, the various cultures of the many ethnic groups and tribes found in Sabah and Sarawak. Similar connections should also occur among Sabahans and Sarawakians.

In this regard, our national museum, for example, should reflect this diversity through the historical and cultural artefacts it displays to the public.

It is superficial, if not a mockery, to flash a few photographs of motley Malaysians in their traditional costumes on the front pages of newspapers and on television screens only to celebrate Malaysia Day. To be Malaysian obviously is deeper than that.

As equal partners, Malaysians from the former three territories must join hands in the long march towards social justice, human rights, freedom, peace, unity and prosperity. – September 16, 2020.