ALMOST five decades after Malaysia was formed, the people in Sabah and Sarawak were on Monday treated to a surprise they never saw coming.

By lunch time, people were abuzz with news that from next year, Sept 16 will be a national public holiday to mark the day in 1963 when Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore formed Malaysia. Singapore left in 1965.

While sceptics were quick to brush off Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's announcement, saying there were too many holidays, people in the Bornean states were all smiles that there was finally recognition for Sept 16.

Many are keeping their fingers crossed that it is the end of the misconception that Sabah and Sarawak "joined" Malaysia slightly over 46 years ago, and that it'll put a stop to the question: "how long will they be in Malaysia?"

Former Sabah state secretary Tan Sri Simon Sipaun said Sept 16 should have been hailed from day one and that the nation's history and what children learnt in school today was distorted.

"When we say Malaysia celebrated 52 years of nationhood this year, it is not reflective of a true event. Which nation are we talking about?

"This announcement by the prime minister is significant as it is a historical fact that there was no country called Malaysia before Sept 16, 1963.

"Without Sabah and Sarawak, there would have been no Malaysia," Sipaun said in reference to Merdeka Day, which marks Malaya's independence from the British on Aug 31, 1957.

Sabah and Sarawak gained their independence from the British six years later, and prior to that, almost two years were spent on political and constitutional discussions before the country came into being.

Save for calls from Sabah and Sarawak leaders to acknowledge Sept 16, few in the peninsula were aware of the date until the opposition said it would topple Barisan Nasional to form the Federal Government on that day last year, an event that did not take place.

Sipaun, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia vice-chairman, said the recognition came "46 years too late".

"But then again, better late than never. I must congratulate our prime minister for deciding that we must observe Sept 16 as Malaysia Day.

"Now that the matter has beenrectified, it gives meaning to 1Malay-sia."

Sabah is the only state that has had a public holiday on Sept 16 but most calendars list it as the official birthday of the Yang Dipertua Negeri, with some stating that it is also doubles up as Malaysia Day.

The recognition gives people who are physically divided by the South China Sea a sense of belonging.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman described it as a "significant gesture" to people in the state who have long practised Najib's aspirations of unity through 1Malay-sia.

Other leaders described it as a long overdue recognition and one that would allow citizens from diverse geographical locations and ethnic communities to "feel they have a place under the Malaysian sun".

Perhaps "a common destiny based on a spirit of cooperation", as stated by first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman on the day Malaysia was formed, can now get back on track. -New Straits Times