MALAYSIA 47 NOT 53 YEARS?

Dear Editor,

FROM from 1963 to 2010 is 47 years, not 53 years. Malaysia is 47 years not 53 years. Before 1963, there was no Malaysia. Malaysia is not a change of name of Malaya. It's a new federation with a new constitution based on an equal partnership formula while accepting the three-tier power-sharing structure.

People in Sabah and Sarawak have been shouting themselves hoarse on this issue for years, but to no avail. Sabah and Sarawak became independent on August 31, 1963 but Malaya six years earlier on Aug 31, 1957.

On this date, Sabah and Sarawak were not independent but still British colonies. So, there is need for them to hoist the Malaysian flag on August 31. They should only hoist the state flags. Malaya can hoist the Malaysian flag on August 31 if it wants since it claims that it was in Malaysia on that date in 1963 while waiting for Sabah and Sarawak to enter on September 16.

The delay was caused by the UN releasing the results of a referendum only 16 days later. The referendum found that only a third of the people accepted M'sia.

Regards,

JOE FERNANDEZ