First ever Sabah Day to be celebrated on Aug 31

 

Sabahans will celebrate their first Sabah Day on Aug 31 to mark the end of British colonial rule in 1963. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Sabah will hold its inaugural Sabah Day celebrations on Aug 31 to commemorate the day it was granted self-government in 1963.

Chief minister Hajiji Noor said the state Cabinet decided last week that the first ever Sabah Day celebrations will be held in Tambunan at 3pm, after the National Day celebrations in the state.

Hajiji said the celebrations will be held annually in different districts each year, The Borneo Post reported.

“Let us honour and commemorate the day which marked the end of the British colonial rule in Sabah and signifies our journey of coming together as a people to establish self-rule,” he said.

The crown colony of British North Borneo was granted self-government on Aug 31, 1963, which the state, later renamed Sabah, regards as its day of independence. It went on to become part of Malaysia with Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore, on Sept 16.

The formation of Malaysia was scheduled for Aug 31, 1963, but was delayed while awaiting the results of a United Nations referendum conducted among the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

Sarawak gazetted July 22 as Sarawak Day and its day of independence in 2016, making it a state holiday. - FMT