By James Ritchie
Tokoh Wartawan Sarawak
“September 16 is the most awaited day in the history of Malaysia.”
Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan
First Chief Minister of Sarawak
KUCHING : – On July 23, 1961 Malayan Prime Minister Tengku Abdul Rahman who was in Singapore asked whether it was feasible to form a Federation of five countries–Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo, Sarawak and Brunei–into One Great Nation.
The Tengku was speaking at the common wealth Parliamentary
Association’s Regional Conference in Singapore.
They agreed to study the proposal and form Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee (MSCC).
Responding to the proposal was North Borneo who held the first to hold a MSCC meeting in Jesselton on August 25, 1961.
In January 1962 the British appointed a Commission of Enquiry for North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak to determine if the people supported the proposal to create a Federation of Malaysia.
The five-man team, which comprised two Malayans
and three British representatives,
was headed by Lord Cobbold.
Sarawak was not represented.
Despite the misgivings of a large proportion of the citizens of Sarawak, the British went ahead to form a Malaysia Inter-government Agreement (IGC).
On July 6, 1963, 23 representatives of the governments of Britain, Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak met in London to sign the formal IGC Agreement.
Britain headed by Prime Minister Harold Macmilan was represented by four members,
Malaya by six under Prime Minister Tengku Abdul Rahman,
Singapore by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee,
Sabah by six and Sarawak by five.
Sarawak’s four-member delegation comprised Tan Sri Ling Beng Siew, Sea-Dayak paramount chief Temenggong Tun Jugah Barieng and two prominent Kuching leader
Datuk Abang Mustapha Abang Moasli and Tun Abang Openg
who left for London to sign the historic document.
On their return to Sarawak July 9, the four were given a “heroes” welcome at the old Kuching airport.
On their return Ling suggested
that the pro-Malaysia Council Negri members of Sarawak;
comprising PANAS, PESAKA, SCA, Sarawak National Party (SNAP) and Barisan Rakyat Jati Sarawak (BARJASA) met at his house to decide on a six-member “shadow cabinet”
before the formation of the Federation.
On July 21, Tun Jugah chaired a two-day meeting in at Ling’s residence now called “Rumah Sarawak” where a secret ballot elected Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan as Sarawak’s inaugural Chief Minister.
SNAP’s Ningkan was picked as chief minister while party member Datuk Amar James Wong became his deputy.
Others in the lineup included a third SNAP mrnber Dunstan
Endawie anak Enchana (SNAP) and Awang Hipni Pengiran Anu (BARJASA), Abdul Taib Mahmud (BARJASA) and Teo Kui Seng (SCA).
On July 22 1963, the six inaugural members Sarawak Alliance coalition were sworn in as the State’s first cabinet before
Governor-elect Tun Jugah.
On Aug 31, 1963 Taib was chosen to make a landmark
broadcast over Radio Sarawak.
He said: “Next to Malaysia Day which we look forward
1963 to celebrating on September 16 this day definitely is the most awaited day in the history of our country.”
“The challenge for us now as a self-governing state is to preserve our ways of peace and harmony and to uphold the freedom that does with democracy.
“If we are to keep this country of ours as a paradise of peace that it has always been, we should now unite and work together.”
Over the next two weeks, a grand-send-off was arranged for out-going governor sir alexander Waddell.
Tun Haji Openg Sarawak’s local Governor.
At 12.30 p.m. on Sunday September 16, 1963 the Union Jack was flown for the last time
as thousands bade the last Colonial governor Sir Alexander Waddell farewell to Sarawak
in a resplendent ceremony.
After bidding goodbye to the new Governor and his wife,
Sir Alexander and Lady Waddel boarded the HMS Loch Killisport
which slowly moved down the Sarawak River.
A 17-gun salute boomed from Fort Margherita while the Sarawak Constabulary band played the touching SONG “Auld Lang Syne”.
As the frigate disappeared behind the Fort Margherita
promontory, it heralded the closure of another chapter
in Sarawak’s rich history.
And it ushered in a new one of Independence in the face of greater challenges.
