Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan has reminded that Sarawakians are fooling themselves if they maintained that Sarawak had been granted independence by the United Kingdom (UK).

He said according to records and declassified documents, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak which were then colonies of UK, were given as a gift to enlarge Malaya on Sept 16, 1963.

“According to records in the United Nations (UN), Malaya then took a new name Malaysia effectively after these colonies were given to Malaya.

“Declassified records also show the part played by Tunku Abdul Rahman in making Malaysia a reality. Tunku had an eye on the vast land of Sarawak and its oil and gas.

“By being in the federation of Malaysia, Sarawak lost much of its marine wealth, oil and gas resources. Malaya controlled these resources,” he said in a statement yesterday, issued in relation to the forthcoming 60th Sarawak Independence celebration.

Voon claimed that according to UK colonial office, colonies could only gain independence by an Independence Act passed by the UK Parliament.

He pointed out that Malaya was granted independence by the British by way of Malaya Independence Act 1957.

He said when Lee Kuan Yew declared Singapore independent on Aug 31, 1963, UK Colonial Office made it very clear that the declaration of independence by Singapore was unlawful and void.

“Singapore had no choice but helped form Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963 after Singapore was part of a gift to Malaya. Malaysia was planned by the British in secret and the handing-over of Sarawak to Malaya was without the consent of the people of Sarawak.

“From declassified documents, the formation of Malaysia was only decided by a few people without any referendum from people of Sarawak and Sabah.

“Records show thousands of people went to the streets to protest against the formation of Malaysia when Cobbold Commission headed by Sir Lord Cobbold came to Sarawak,” he said.

Voon believed that being made as a gift, it was difficult to convince Sabahans and Sarawakians that Sabah and Sarawak were not colonies of Malaya or had not been acquired by Malaya as part of its territories.

“So how could the GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) government say that Sarawak was granted independence on July 22, 1963 by the British? There is no record to show that UK Parliament had passed an Independence Act for Sarawak until now,” he added.

Voon said although Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan was made the first chief minister of Sarawak, GPS-led state government should also not claim that UK had granted Sarawak self-governance on July 22, 1963, because Ningkan and his cabinet were appointed by the British Governor.

He pointed out that being appointed by the British Governor, how could one say that Sarawak was granted independence or selfgovernment? “The last British Governor Sir Alexander Waddell, if I recall what I read, together with the Colonial Attorney General PEH Pike, attended the first Supreme Council meeting chaired by the governor himself.

“The governor voiced out his concern during the meeting (about) who would replace him as governor if he left. Tun Jugah eyed for the governorship but Malaya, a foreign country at that time, objected to or interfered with the proposal.

“Therefore, how could there be self-government when the governor chaired the meeting or was still in control?” he said.

Voon believed that the British were still in Sarawak until the afternoon of Sept 16, 1963.

He questioned that if Sarawak was granted independence then, why should the British bother to have the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) signed for formation of Malaysia.

He pointed out that the signing of MA63 showed that the British government was still in control of Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak until Sept 15, 1963.

“In view of that, Sarawak had never been granted independence, and the GPS government is urged not to proceed with the 60th Sarawak Independence celebration.

“If GPS government thinks of independence, GPS government should negotiate to exit from Malaysia. After all, Malaysia didn’t benefit Sarawak much.

“Moreover, the legality of Malaysia as a properly constituted federation is doubted,” he said.