BINTULU (July 23): The date July 22, 1963 is a historic date in which Sarawak was given the authority to govern itself after seven years of being under British rule (1946-1963) following the Second World War, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg

He said despite this historic date, the people of Sarawak, especially the new generation, should understand the position of Sarawak when it merged with three other regions to form Malaysia in 1963.

“With this understanding, I believe that the people of Sarawak are consistently motivated to strengthen this region as an area that has the ability to be on par with other places,” he said at the Sarawak Day 2024 celebration in Bintulu last night.

According to him, Sarawak already had its own Constitution in 1941, following 100 years of being under the rule of the Brooke family.

He said the drafting of this Constitution was in line with the Brooke family’s wish to hand over the government of Sarawak to the people of Sarawak themselves, as expressed in ‘The Nine Cardinal Principles’.

“However, this handover did not become a reality due to the outbreak of the Second World War,” he added.

Abang Johari said after the end of the war, Sarawak’s wish for self-rule did not come true because the Brooke family handed over Sarawak to the British, which was considered safer because Sarawak no longer had enough resources to govern itself as a result of the war that had occurred.

“What I want to state here is the situation was not on the side of Sarawak at that time which should have become an independent and sovereign region earlier than 1963,” he added.

Abang Johari said Bintulu hosted the Sarawak Day 2024 celebration this year as part of an ongoing effort to promote the significance of Sarawak Day, which is celebrated on July 22 every year since 2016.

He also called on the people of Sarawak to remain united to build a Sarawak that is progressive in terms of economy, inclusive in terms of society and sustainable in terms of environmental preservation in line with the pillars of the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030.