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In Sarawak, Self-government Day becomes symbol of struggle for autonomy
Anniversary marked for the first time as public holiday · Devolution of further powers from Malaysia being negotiated
Today's celebration marks the 53rd anniversary of Sarawak self-government from the United Kingdom, which was granted 22 July 1963. Two months later, Sarawak together with Sabah, Singapore and the Malayan states agreed to establish the new, sovereign country of Malaysia.
The agreement envisaged broad autonomy both for Sabah and Sarawak, the only two Malaysian territories located in the island of Borneo -the rest of the country is on mainland Asia, after Singapore had left the federation in 1965.
But in practice, Malaysia recognizes limited autonomy to both Borneo's countries.
On the occasion of the Self-government Day, Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said his goal is to retake all the autonomy that Sarawak should have been granted according to the 1963 18-Point Agreement.
That deal detailed the terms under which Sarawak became part of Malaysia. Adenan and the sovereignty movement argue that, subsequently, Malaysia unreasonably cut Sarawak's powers provided for in the 18-Point Agreement, including financial, religious and linguistic powers.
Adenan however also made it clear that his government is in now way seeking independence for Sarawak, but rather the recognition of Sarawak and Sabah as mainland Malaya's equal partners within the Malaysian federation.
Instead, the Constitution of Malaysia only lists Sabah and Sarawak as two of the country's 13 constituent states, at the same level as each one of the mainland 11 states.
The Malaysian government agreed in 2015 to devolve some powers to Sarawak and Sabah.