Raja Petra Kamarudin claimed that THE RISING racial and religious tension in the country can only be subdued or put to an end if every non-Malay/non-Muslim citizen accepts that “Malaysia is originally Tanah Melayu, Islam is accorded a high status and it is not a secular state” - see FOCUS MALAYSIA 10/4/2024. This is definitely not correct.
Assessments been made that Sabahans and Sarawakians prefer no official religion in Sabah and Sarawak. It was not the intention of our people to have an official religion before Malaysia was formed. Islam was made the official religion because the Malaya Constitution was adopted or turned into the Malaysian Constitution after Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak were acquired to enlarge Malaya on 16 September 1963 to take a new name Malaysia.
Malaysia is not a new nation although Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak were said helped formed Malaysia.
Malaysia was never formed at all but Malaysia was an enlargement of Malaya taking a new name Malaysia according to the records in the United Nations Secretariat. The taking of a new name by Malaya was officially made known to the United Nations by Dato Ong Yoke Lin, the Representative of Malaya to the United Nations.
It is also for this reason Sabahans and Sarawakians felt uneasy when Raja Petra Kamarudin said there will be better peace in Malaysia if the people of Malaysia that means, including people of Sabah and Sarawak accept Islam be accorded a higher status and also to accept Malaysia as not a secular State.
Sabahans and Sarawakians are also not happy that Malaysia is called Tanah Melayu because before Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak were countries and independent from Malaya, having the same legal status with Malaya although at that time Sabah and Sarawak were still colonies of the United Kingdom.
There are growing sentiments among Sabahans and Sarawakians that they would be happier if Sabah and Sarawak are free and independent from Malaysia.
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) is pursing this dream for the people of Sarawak to set Sarawak independent from the federation of Malaysia by peaceful and legal means.
Singapore existed from the federation of Malaysia in 1965 and Sarawak and Sabah also can do it
VOON LEE SHAN
President Parti Bumi Kenyalang.
Daniel John Jambun President Borneo's Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
KANUL GINDOL
Chairman, Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo