While we salute and rejoice for our West Malaysian brothers and sisters on this 31st August Independence Day of the Federation of Malaya, the Sarawak State Government should stop spending tax-payers' money to continue celebrating 31st August in Sarawak which has no historical significance to Sarawak.
Since 2015, Sarawak State Government has started celebrating 22nd July as the "Sarawak Day" which was also declared a public holiday for Sarawak this year.
As such, there is no justification and reason for Sarawak Government to waste public fund to continue celebrating 31st August which was the day the Federation of Malaya gained independence.
Stemming from these historical facts, it is clear that Sarawak State Government should just hold official celebrations for 22nd July and 16th September.
However, at present, the State Government is still directed by the Federal Government and it is still compulsory for the State Government to spend millions of Ringgit every year to hold an official celebration on every 31st August.
So much has been said by Adenan about Sarawak's autonomy, why is the State Government still allowing itself to be compelled by the Federal Government to spend millions of Ringgit every year to celebrate 31st August? This money can be better spent for the poor in the rural area of Sarawak.
If the Sarawak State Government cannot even have its autonomy to decide on its official government celebration calendar, what autonomy can the State Government fight for the State? It also shows the subordination of the Sarawak State Government to the Federal Government.
Furthermore, the continued 31st August celebration by the Sarawak State Government in Sarawak will only further confuse our younger generation about the true history of Sarawak and Malaysia.
As such, I urge Adenan to stand up against his UMNO counterparts in PUTRAJAYA and to stop the 31st August celebration in Sarawak. Let us confine our official State celebrations to 22nd July and 16th September.
At the same time, DAP Sarawak wishes our West Malaysian brothers and sisters Happy Independence Day.
31-8-2016
Chong Chieng Jen
MP for Bandar Kuching/ADUN for Kota Sentosa
DAP Sarawak Chairman