Justice. Love. Respect

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/sabah-sarawak-rights.html

(Please click the link above)

NOT many Sarawakians are well-versed in the 18-points Agreement and only some have heard some aspects if not all of the salient points representatives of Sarawak laid out prior to the formation of Malaysia.

A survey held by The Borneo Post, however, discovered that people are not only unsure of its contents, many did not even know what it was. One answer to the query about their opinion of the 18 points Agreement was this: “18-points?

Is that a hole on the golfing green?”

Contrary to some opinions, ignorance is not bliss. Without any knowledge of our rights as Sarawakians, what do we know of our place within the federation of Malaysia?

The 20/18-points Agreement or memorandum were the conditions laid out by Sabah and Sarawak respectively before agreeing to form the Federation of Malaysia with the Federation of Malaya and Singapore.

The agreements, which can be found in the Proclamation of Malaysia and also the Cobbold Commission reports, stated the conditions and rights that were meant to safeguard the autonomy and the special interest of the people of Sabah and Sarawak, protecting, among others, these regions’ rights on religion, language, education, administration, economy and culture.

Jeswan Kaur | September 16, 2011

Is Aug 31 the independence day of Malaysia or Malaya? Referring to the former, which is what we have for so long been doing, has caused a lot of unhappiness among the people of East Malaysia, that is, Sabah and Sarawak.

As of 2010, the population of the two states stood at six million (3.5 million in Sabah and 2.5 million in Sarawak), representing roughly 20% of the population of Malaysia.

Historically, the term “Malaysia” came into being on Sept 16, 1963. Prior to that, this country was called “Malaya” which in the Philippine national language of Tagalog also means “free” or “freedom”.

Celebrating Malaysia Day on Sept 16 would be meaningless, hollow and empty unless the special rights and autonomy of Sabah and Sarawak as agreed, promised and assured by the Founding Fathers of Malaysia are fulfilled.

The Founding Fathers of Malaysia from the Borneo states took great risks to agree and to be pushed and rushed into the merger with Malaya and Singapore to the extent of denying themselves (the Borneo States) the opportunity to attain political maturity first and to enjoy the freedom and practice of self-rule as what is now enjoyed by Brunei.