KUCHING: The historical chronology of Sarawak Day or Sarawak Independence Day should be included in the History subject.

Sarawak Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil said, the improvement of the curriculum would enable future generations to understand the importance of July 22, which is celebrated in Sarawak.

He mentioned that July 22, 1963, was a significant event as it marked the moment Sarawak was given the authority for self-governance.

"This is something we need to instill in our memory and pass on to future generations so they understand the importance of this date, particularly what happened before and after Sarawak Day," he said during a Juh Randau session organised by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) at the UKAS Studio, on Monday.

Datuk Dr Penguang who is also the Deputy Minister in-charge of the ‘Majlis Kesyukuran Agama-Agama Lain’ in conjunction with the Sarawak Day 2024 celebration added that this approach would also help the younger generation distinguish between three important dates in Malaysia which are the National Day on August 31, 1957, Malaysia Day on September 16, 1963, and Sarawak Day on July 22, 1963.

He explained that National Day marks the independence of the Federation of Malaya, while Malaysia Day is the day of the formation of Malaysia, comprising the Federation of Malaya, the regions of Sarawak and Sabah, and Singapore, while Sarawak was granted self-governance on July 22, 1963, before forming the Federation of Malaysia.

The Marudi Assemblyman added, Malaysia Day should also be remembered as the day where Sarawak did not merge but formed Malaysia.

"That is why we have our own autonomy to protect, which causes many parties to be envious of Sarawak's autonomy.

"Sarawak has many interests in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), where we are granted certain autonomies and some matters that cannot be compromised, regardless of the past, present, or future," he explained.

He further explained that the Sarawak government under the leadership of Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg strives continuously to regain the privileges that Sarawak had 'lost,' whether intentionally or unintentionally.

According to him, the Sarawak government is neither asking for more nor less, but to regain the rights of Sarawak as enshrined in MA63 and the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report. -UKASnews