I was Working on Malaysia Day

To mark Malaysia Day (albeit slightly belatedly), we bring you a deeply-felt piece by our regular contributor, Wilson Wong, on the need for West Malaysians, too, to take responsibility for the ailments of Sabah and Sarawak, and to support their brethren in East Malaysia in their efforts against oppression.

“…if you think that the Penans cannot stand on their own against the logging or plantation companies, then it is incumbent on you to help them…. Likewise, if you wish to see change in Sabah and Sarawak, then it is incumbent on you to help us.”

By Wilson Wong

Tell you what. On 16th September 2009, I woke up early in the morning, to get ready and beat the traffic for the day’s work. I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

I heard not even one mention of the word ‘Malaysia’, ‘Sabah’ or ‘Sarawak’ - and as Yong Teck Lee said, “it’s an annual reminder to us that we are not considered important”.

And this applies throughout the whole spectrum of Malayan life. No one here gives a toss about Sabah or Sarawak or 16th September or 1963. Celebrations come joyous on 31st August every year, but come 16th September, Malaya falls silent and Malaysian Borneo, as loud as they become, expresses silent grief.

There are those here, however, who insist that 16th September be made a public holiday. Whatever the motive, be it a sincere effort to incite feelings of inclusion, mere political gain, or even a desire for an extra public holiday, I do appreciate their efforts.

That said, I hear again and again that the blame falls upon the people of Sabah and Sarawak for engineering their own doom. To make matters worse, blame falls upon the people of Sabah and Sarawak for engineering doom in West Malaysia as well! Presumably because a sizable chunk of seats held by BN come from Sabah and Sarawak.

I’d like to ask this question, “Are you not to blame as well for just sitting around and not doing anything about it?”

To me, it seems that West Malaysians have always been saying to the people of Sabah and Sarawak, “Padan muka”.

In their defence I say this. The people there do not have access to alternative media as people here do. Voices here are easily projected, while voices there are easily drowned. And while concerns here are for empowerment of civil and economic rights, concerns there are merely for survival.

For a change, why don’t West Malaysians try projecting their voices for Sabah and Sarawak instead of focusing only on their own concerns?

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Sabah fought against Federal oppression, but lost the fight in the end. Today, the famed feisty character of Sabahans has disappeared, subdued by the sheer power of the Federal government.

Back then, Sabahans sought support, but no one was there to listen. We have lost our fight for autonomy and justice, with the West Malaysians just stood by the whole while, oblivious to this great fall.

Now, with autonomy lost, and with the Federal government now manipulating demographics in Sabah, there is little chance that Sabahans can muster their lost courage alone without aid.

So, if you think that the Penans cannot stand on their own against the logging or plantation companies, then it is incumbent on you to help them.

Likewise, if you wish to see change in Sabah and Sarawak, then it is incumbent on you to help us.

Remember the maxim, ‘help others who cannot help themselves’?