Sarawak and her people have not benefitted from the Federation of Malaysia in terms of development, economic activities, education, prosperity, justice, fairness and equality.
 
Instead, the federation has brought more misery, poverty, marginalisation, curbed religious freedom, and caused more suffering due to racial and religious discrimination, said Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian.
 
He said this when addressing a gathering to celebrate Sarawak’s 51st anniversary of independence yesterday.
 
“Fifty-one years on, it is clear that what the Cobbold Commission Report had warned about has come to pass.
 
“This is the reason for the rising resentment and dissatisfaction among our people, for the Federation of Malaysia has turned out to be the partnership that never was,” said Baru, who is the Ba’Kelalan assemblyperson.
 
He said the then paramount chief of the Iban people, Temenggong Jugah, displayed uncanny insight when he uttered his fears for the future using the sugarcane analogy - ‘baka tebu, pun manis, ujong tabar’.
 
“The idea of the Federation of Malaysia was sweet at the start but is becoming unpalatable for many.”
 
Baru bemoaned that Sarawak and Sabah have been relegated to being mere states of Malaysia instead of the equal partners they were meant to be.
 
He said they were lagging behind in every aspect of development and that the state’s wealth was used to fund the progress of West Malaysia.
 
With Sabah, they are languishing as two of the poorest states in Malaysia despite their wealth in natural resources.
 
“We observe with apprehension as our harmony is being threatened by religious extremists and racial bigots in West Malaysia who are allowed by the prime minister and his ministers to spew hatred against people of different races and faiths.
 
“Our holy books are being taken away from us and we are told that the word ‘Allah’ is exclusive to Muslims in this country. Can anyone of you here today tell me that this is what our forefathers would have wanted for us?
 
“Would you not agree that they would be turning in their graves if they knew what Sarawakians are going through now?” he asked the gathering.
 
'Fears being realised'

Baru highlighted passages from the Cobbold Commission Report which read: ‘Although there are no ideological overtones here, we have found that the prospect of Malaysia as viewed by non-Malay natives in certain parts of Sarawak within the framework of their unhappy recollection of Brunei domination in the past, which is regarded as Malay domination, and of their fear of its return with the new federation.  
 
‘The suggested name of Malaysia for the new federation, and of Malay as the national language and Islam as the national religion, has tended to emphasise these misgivings.
 
‘Opposition to Malaysia springs from a genuine fear of discrimination after Malaysia, a feeling among the Chinese that their status would be reduced to that of ‘second-class citizens’ and among the natives that their customary laws and practice would be affected.
 
‘Similarly, there is concern that Malaysia would entail migration from the other territories of the federation, and also that such safeguards as may be given could be removed at a later stage by the central government.’
 
Baru said the fears of their forefathers were not unfounded and the Sarawakians were witnessing the realisation of these fears.

He added that the federal government had presented them  a 10-point solution for the use of ‘Allah’ but when it came to the crux of the matter, the prime minister and his minions would not defend the rights of other Malaysians to practise their religions.

“Even the highest court of the land has turned its back on us with their recent decision on the matter,” he said.
 
Changes in political scene

Baru said that since his speech on Sept 16, 2012, when the Kuching Declaration was signed, there have been some changes in the political scene.
 
“We have a new chief minister who seems to be more amenable to the opposition and who has been echoing the opposition’s stand on certain issues, such as autonomy for Sarawak, and native customary land rights issues.
 
“However, other weighty issues continue to burden the ordinary people. Land encroachments have not abated, and the threat of displacement by dams and plantations continues.
 
“We are continuing to fight battles with the state and its agencies in court. Our people are feeling the pinch as the prices of goods keep on rising. Our youths are still being denied the opportunity to further their studies by the racial policies of our educational institutions and scholarship bodies,” he lamented.
 
In his speech two years ago, Baru said, he laid out his vision for a better Sarawak, where the people would truly flourish and live their best lives, where justice and fairness are available to all regardless of race and religion, where the leaders are competent, accountable and transparent, and free from the evils of corruption.
 
“That was my dream then, and it still is my dream today. This is not an impossible dream, and I know it is a matter of time before this dream is realised.

"This realisation starts with awareness, and your attendance at today’s event reinforces my belief that the awareness among Sarawakians is increasing at a rapid pace,” he said.
 
He said that although Sarawak’s independence was short-lived, at only 56 days, and the Federation of Malaysia was more or less a fait accompli, July 22, 1963 is still a day worthy of commemoration as a turning point in Sarawak’s history.
 
However, Baru added, he was aware of the increasing sentiment among the people in the Borneo states that they would have been better off if they had remained independent.

Pakatan's 7-point proposal for Sabah, Sarawak