KUCHING: Malaysia Day, National Day and Sarawak Day should be celebrated by all Malaysians as they commemorate important dates in the nation’s history, says Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei.

He said Malaysia Day, which falls on Sept 16, was a day for every Malaysian to remember and celebrate as it marked the nation’s formation in 1963.

“The previous government announced Sept 16 as a public holiday in 2010, but the celebration was concentrated in Sarawak and Sabah.

“I think this is not right. There should be a huge celebration of Malaysia Day in peninsular Malaysia too, not just in Sarawak or Sabah,” Wong said when launching the state-level Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaign at SK Lumba Kuda here yesterday.

Similarly, he said, Sarawak Day on July 22 and National Day on Aug 31 were occasions to be celebrated by Malaysians.

Sarawak Day commemorates the state’s attainment of self-government from the British in 1963 while Aug 31 marks the day Malaya gained independence in 1957.

“We can fly the Jalur Gemilang on all three dates. There is no harm for peninsular Malaysians to celebrate July 22 and there is no harm for Sarawakians to celebrate Aug 31 because that was when our partners in Malaysia became independent.

“It’s something for all of us to celebrate together because we are part of Malaysia,” he said.

He added that the history of Malaysia’s formation must be taught correctly in schools to foster unity and patriotism from a young age.

“During my school days we were only taught about Aug 31 as National Day. This has to be corrected.

“When we know that we are part of Malaysia after going through struggles in the past, we will treasure it and be united.”

Wong also said the Sarawak for Sarawakians sentiment should not be misused to create hostility between Sarawakians and fellow Malaysians in the peninsula.

“We are Sarawakians but at the same time we are Malaysians. We should not pursue the agenda of segregating Sarawakians from peninsular Malaysians,” he said, adding that the new Federal Government aimed to unite Malaysia as a whole through good policies and governance.

This year’s Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaign is themed “Sayangi Malaysiaku”. The state-level campaign is organised by the Information Department.