NST columnist Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli, in his column “Leaves of the same tree” (NST, Sept 19), got his history on Malaysia all wrong when he wrote “the State (Sabah) is also blessed to have joined Malaysia”.
It is this type of error which causes uneasiness among Sarawakians and Sabahans. Historian purists would say it is a mistake in historical fact, while politicians interpret it as a reflection of the Orang Malaya mindset.
Many a time, Orang Malaya claim in their public utterances that Sarawak and Sabah joined Malaysia. This is wrong! These two entities, along with Malaya and Singapore, formed Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963.
By assuming that Sarawak and Sabah joined Malaya, Malayans then assume the superior role, while the two eastern states take the inferior role. It is analogous to a colonist-colony relationship. Sarawak and Sabah are not colonies, nor is Malaya a colonial master. The faster we correct this mindset, the faster the 1Malaysia concept can be realised.
Tan Sri James Jemut Masing, president, Parti Rakyat Sarawak