Sarawak Political Party: Who are Sarawak nationalist?

Which political party was Sarawak nationalist political party?

Here, i'll discuss the existence of Sarawak nationalist in political party in Sarawak since the beginning of the political party movement in Sarawak. Let's discover which political party was/is the nationalist political party, what happen to them and what exactly transpire in the past, that will guide us to come to the true sense of nationalists movement in Sarawak political parties. This discussion will strictly discuss the political party environment only to make a clear picture for the people to grasp the facts and come to the understanding about such matter easily.

1959 - Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) 

Sarawak United People Party formed in June 1959, was the first political party in Sarawak. The formation of SUPP was initiated by a memorandum from the Chief Secretary, J.H. Ellis, in view of the imminent political and constitutional changes that ensuring in Sarawak at that time. It was intended by the third colonial British Governor (Sir Anthony Foster Abell) to be a multi-racial party to be led by Ong Kee Hui.

*Sir Anthony Foster Abell later become one of the members of the Cobbold Commission.

Conclusion: 

SUPP in 1959, even though is not a Sarawak nationalist political party but can be concluded as political party that laid the foundation for Sarawakians to become politically concious with the importance of political party as a platform to championing their democratic and human rights. 

1959 - Proposal for Parti Islam and Persekutuan Bumiputera Sarawak (Parti Islam)

The proposed Parti Islam (the suggestion which prevailed throughout late 1959) was, in fact, originally the Persekutuan Islam Sibu.

Persekutuan Islam Sibu ---> Parti Islam and Persekutuan Bumiputera Sarawak

The aims of the proposed party;

1. This party aim to assist any Moslem who supports democracy and not autocracy
2. This party will strive to eradicate discrimination between the poor and the rich and between the aristocrats and the common Moslems.
3. This party will support any issue of justice based on Islamic laws and traditional custom.
4. This party will oppose anyone who promotes anti-religious teachings.
5. This party will insist on the rights of Moslems as stated in the Constitution of Sarawak.

Further details of this proposed political party was not known, except it was severely criticized by Malays in Kuching.

Utusan Sarawak, A letter from 'Muslim Kuching', disapproved of the exclusive nature of the organization:

The population of Moslems in Sarawak at present is not more than one third of the total population. With this number we, Moslems, would not be able to achieve our political objectives...We will be easily defeated if the natives of Sarawak are divided into the Moslem and non-Moslem groups since Sarawak is practising democracy. 

Lack of support from the general population and the severe criticism as well as it's viability was in questioned, the proposed Parti islam passed into oblivion.

It can be concluded that Sarawakians at large, are mature enough in politics and well-known and has better understanding of their harmonial society to reject such religious-based political party which will only divided the people unnecessarily into oblivion as well.

The proposed Parti Islam wasn't get any breather in Sarawak politic and regarded as exclusive political party for certain group of people only. Thus, Parti Islam never take off as Sarawak nationalists political party and never will be that any religious-based political party ever make a foothold in Sarawak. Because Sarawakians was mature enough to bring their religious belief for themselves and to wherever they want to without any confinement in politic only. Religion always with the religious people in any political party in Sarawak.

1960 - Persekutuan Bumiputera Sarawak 

A new political party was proposed in Sibu, called Persekutuan Bumiputera and it was in fact registered!

The founder members were all from Sibu; the leaders were Penghulu Maluan as chairman, Penghulu Pengobang as vice-chairman and Suut Tokey as secretary-general.

Aims of Persekutuan Bumiputera Sarawak was;

1. To promote the spirit of unity and solidarity, mutual understanding and co-operation among the natives of Sarawak
2. To think and seek ways with other educational, economic, communal and cultural associations 
3. To preserve and defend our traditional heritage and culture
4. To work closely with any man and woman of whatever race who gives undivided loyalty to Sarawak 

However, Persekutuan Bumiputera Sarawak failed to take off but can be concluded that Sarawak nationalists which was mostly centred in Sibu in 1960 try their best to registered and works with the foundation of political party but get an early demised for reason unclear. Could it be that the First Division leader (pro-cession leaders) play a role here in rebuffing the formation of Persekutuan Bumiputera Sarawak? It was highly so, since there was a stern opposition between pro-cession (mostly from First Division-Kuching) and anti-cession (mostly from Third Division-Sibu) to championed the rights of Sarawak through political party in the early bid for politics.

Persekutuan Bumiputera Sarawak as per it's aims, make it clear that they're loyal to Sarawak and it's member highly comprised of Sarawak nationalist.


1960 - Parti Negara Sarawak (PANAS)

* Before we proceed, let me make it simple to understand about pro-cession and anti-cession leaders.

Pro-cession = Support British cession of Sarawak as British colony

Anti-cession = Sarawak nationalists who fight against Sarawak cession as British colony

Four months after the registration of SUPP, Datu Bandar Abang Haji Mustapha, a pro-cession leaders called a meeting of the unofficial members of the Council Negri where a decision to form a party was unanimously accepted. By Feb 1960, its constitution had been finalized. The registration of PANAS followed in April the same year. The aims of PANAS were namely to;

1. help, protect, support, advance and promote the interest of the bumiputera in particular, and the people of Sarawak in general, in politics, education, religion, economy, social, and culture.
2. demand the implementation of a standard national education policy.
3. promote and encourage basic human rights and freedom for everyone regardless of religion, race and language.
4. protect the right of the bumiputera in particular and the people of Sarawak in general.
5. see that Sarawak achieve self-government and independence through peaceful methods.

As we can dictated from the PANAS aims, it was clear that PANAS was Sarawak nationalists political party in 1960 which proudly fight for the independence of Sarawak fro British colonialism through peaceful methods. 

PANAS was inclined towards co-operation with the colonial regime (British) as was evident in its moderate demands for self-government and independence. Its also staunchly championed the welfare and rights of the indigenous peoples as a whole. 

PANAS was a multi-racial political party. 

Abang Ikhwan Zaini, the former leader of anti-cession movement (Sarawak nationalists) also involve in PANAS but it was noticeable that other anti-cession (Sarawak nationalists) leaders was absent from PANAS.  

Here, it can be concluded that in 1960, PANAS was a political party that was inclined with the objective of Sarawak nationalist but the lack of anti-cession (Sarawak nationalist leader) in PANAS was apparent. 

So, PANAS was a political party with Sarawak nationalism elements in it. 

1961 - Proposal for "The Federation of Malaysia"

In 1961, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaya, made a speech at the Foreign Correspondents Association of Southeast Asia in Singapore, proposing a federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei.

There were only 3 political parties in Sarawak when Tunku Abdul Rahman gave his proposal for the federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei which was

1. SUPP (June 1959)
2. PANAS (April 1960) 
3. SNAP (April 1961) 

SUPP reaction for the proposal of a federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei. Statement from SUPP as SUPP's secretary-General, Stephen Yong, commented that,

'one could not object to Tengku's idea but there were lots of technical difficulties and fear and it would take time to materialise'

PANAS reaction,

1. Advising Malaya should first solve the merger plan with Singapore before pursuing a larger federation with the Borneo Territories.
2. Suggested Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah should first form the federation of British Borneo which has been proposed since 1956.