PETALING JAYA, Sept 11 — Malaysia Day, which falls on September 16 every year, signifies the day in which Malaysia was formed with the entry of Sabah and Sarawak.

But after 51 years of the nation’s formation, leaders from Sabah and Sarawak still feel that a lot more needs to be done towards forming a developed nation.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the government had to put in extra effort to develop the two states to be on par with the rest of Peninsula Malaysia.

“Don’t just look at the peninsula as an example of success for the achievement of Vision 2020. Come to Sabah and Sarawak and take a look at our suburban and rural areas, then ask yourselves if we have succeeded in our effort to develop the nation fairly and equally,” said the Sarawakian.

He said there were disparities between those who lived in the urban and rural areas in Sarawak and Sabah.

“Don’t be too proud of the high-income achievements when 40 per cent of the population is not earning that income, such as the urban poor,” he said.

Despite this, Wan Junaidi said, the formation of Malaysia was the right choice and Malaysia was the only nation that he had and would always belong to.

He said if the people of the country remained united while working towards the same purpose of building the nation, Malaysia would definitely see progress in future.

“The goal is not to allow the country to break into pieces by being so engrossed in matters of ideal and utopian concept,” he said.

“Although progress is needed, it has to be done at our own pace and time by letting education be the shining path to the future.”

Another Sarawakian, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, said those from the peninsula should learn from those in Sabah and Sarawak as they practised a “give and take” attitude as opposed to the “my way is the only way” attitude, commonly found in the peninsula when dealing with ethnic and religious relations.

“Moderation is the norm in Sabah and Sarawak and more importantly, they are Malaysians. We all contribute, in our work and businesses, to transform the country’s economy,” he said.

Idris said it was time for Malaysians to look at the bigger picture and celebrate diversity.

“1Malaysia is not just about unity, but about leveraging on each other’s strengths.” 

He said there would always be differences in Malaysia because of its diverse society which required managing.

“We must compromise by moderating extreme views and it is time for the silent majority to speak out loud and have their voices heard,” he said.

Idris said that for the nation to be successful in future, attitude alterations needed to be done in three levels.

“The first level is where ‘we tolerate one another’. At level two, ‘we accept one another’ and level three is to ‘celebrate each other’, which include celebrating differences,” he said.

“This is how we integrate a society and be united as true Malaysians and if all levels are united, we will find a society that is truly valuable.”

Sarawakian Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot believed that the growth of Malaysia was reliant on the people’s unity as a nation.

“Malaysians should put aside petty issues, regardless of its relation to race, culture and religion,” he said.

He was also confident that Malaysia would achieve its target of maturing as a developed nation.

“Ten years from now, we would have achieved our dream of becoming a high income economy and developed nation,” he said.

Riot said he personally took pride in Malaysia Day as it was a reminder to him that he was a Malaysian even though he was a Bidayuh by race.