EXCEPT for a tea reception hosted by Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg in Miri and the waving of Jalur Gemilang flags in schools, “National Day”, as it is known in Sabah and Sarawak, was a largely quiet affair in the state.

This is in line with the state’s stand that August 31 is merely the Independence Day of Malaya, and Sarawak has nothing to do with it.

Deputy Chief Minister James Masing told The Malaysian Insight that ignoring August 31 “as a time of celebration for Sarawakians” is just the first step to wean the people from thinking that the date was special.

“We, including me, were taught in the past 55 years that August 31 was Hari Merdeka, the day of Malaysia’s independence (from British rule). Enough is enough,” he said.

Masing was also dismayed to read news reports of students in Sarawak schools taking part in “Hari Merdeka” events or events marking “Malaysia’s 61st year of independence”.

He said the brainwashing and distortion of history was just “part of Malaya’s effort to colonise and change our children’s mindset”.

Sarawak has steadfastly maintained that Malaysia, formed on September 16, 1963, is only 55 years-old and was never colonised by any other nation as a whole, although Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah were all colonised as separate territories by Britain.

Masing said the second part of the state’s plan was to make Malaysia Day and the date of September 16 an important day in the state’s calendar.

After that, the state will then tackle the distortion of history and the brainwashing in Sarawak schools by “changing our education syllabus on Malaysia’s Independence Day”.

Masing had two weeks ago said Sarawakians should not be celebrating August 31 because “it has nothing to do with us” as it was “Malaya’s Independence Day”.

He also questioned the flying of the Jalur Gemilang and the organisation of events to mark August 31.

The tea reception was also a low-key affair, with the Chief Minister’s Office saying the chief minister would not be making any speeches there.

Abang Johari, however, left a message on the reception’s souvenir booklet, saying he hoped the Pakatan Harapan federal government will take the issue of development in Sarawak seriously.

“We pray that the federal government is serious about reigniting the loyalty of the sons of Sarawak to Malaysia in line with the theme of this year’s national day slogan ‘Sayangi Malaysiaku’”.

The chief minister also reminded Putrajaya to recognise the the “nationhood” of the respective states.

Meanwhile, former PKR assemblyman and activist Dominique Ng also echoed the state government’s stance that Malaysia’s true national day is on September 16, 1963.

“Sarawak’s own Independence Day was on July 22. Malaysia’s true National Day is on September 16. Today, August 31, is only Malaya’s National Day.

“If we Sarawakians continue to celebrate August 31, then it can only be as a colonised state and as a colonised people,” he said.

“Therefore, as Tunku once shouted ‘Merdeka’ three times on this day (61 years ago), we should now be shouting ‘Merdeka for Sarawak!” – August 31, 2018.