KUCHING: Sarawak and Sabah need to work closely together to fulfill the vision to become a modern and developed economy.
This was the main takeaway from the ‘Malaysia at 60: The Borneo State Symposium’ organised by The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI) and Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR).
More than 180 participants from Sarawak and Sabah took part in the symposium to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Malaysian federation.
According to SABAR Trustees chairman Datuk Dr Johan Arriffin, this was probably the first combined gathering of Sabahans and Sarawakians (non-political NGOs) in this historic year to voice out aspirations and concerns for the future.
“Sixty years have passed and Sarawak and Sabah have been left behind in terms of national development. Now is the time for us to take stock of our situation and address any shortcomings.
“Some of the issues raised were the Borneo states being left behind on economic development, taking back control of our education system, and West Malaysia’s destructive politics of race and religion affecting peace and harmony,” he said.
Meanwhile, chairman of The Sarawak Initiatives (TSI), Sidi Munan said even though Sarawakians and Sabahans are similar in many respects, it was odd that they don’t speak with one voice when it comes to dealing with West Malaysia.
“This was not the case back in the early 1960s when North Borneo (as Sabah was then called) and Sarawak came together politically. Now is the time for us to unite, more than ever, to stop the sort of toxic politics we see in Malaya coming to our shores”, he said.
The symposium included panel discussions on the political development of the two states for the past sixty years and the future potential of both states in key areas like the economy, social development and sustainability.
