Sin Chew Daily, Editorial, 22-09-2014

Scottish independence referendum ended with result of 55.3% vs 44.7% for it to remain in Great Britain. The 307-year-old empire escapes the separation crisis.

The referendum has ended but it is only the beginning for both England and Scotland to face challenges in future. England is forced to provide greater democracy and autonomy to Scotland. This may provoke North Ireland and Wales to take action for greater autonomy. For Scotland, the outcome of 55% vs 44% spells out two camps in the Scottish society. Future challenge lies with mending the split brought by the referendum.

Despite Scotland fails in seeking independence, it has brought “independence awareness”, motivating many groups seeking independence and autonomy throughout the world, from Europe to Asia, to learn from Scotland.

Malaysia, having gone through its 51st Malaysia Day on September 16, also has a separatist group “Sabah and Sarawak leave Malaysia” recently.

This group catches government’s attention. A small group of Sabahans and Sarawakians openly call for Sabah and Sarawak to leave Malaysia, abandon the 1963 Malaysia Agreement on grounds that the two states are being marginalised by the Federal Government. Under the precedent of Scottish referendum, the authorities are not taking the call lightly. Home ministry has identified those involved to take action against them.

Since forming Malaysia with Peninsula Malaya in 1963, Sabah and Sarawak are part of Malaysia in Constitution for sure.

If some groups are requesting for more rights and authority from Federal Government according to agreement, this is actually alright. However, to make the call to leave Malaysia is tantamount to challenging the Federal Constitution.

Both Sabah and Sarawak are rich in natural resources. Nonetheless, judging from political and geographical angle, population is small in both states while basic infrastructures and development are lagging. The states lack proper police and military system with weak conditions to qualify for independence. The states are also facing external threat such as Philippines has yet to give up on its sovereignty claim on Sabah as the Sulu in southern Philippines regards Sabah as part of its Sulu empire. Last year it sent troops to invade Sabah. Sabah and Sarawak may be unable to counter external invasion on their own.

Economic reason is the main cause for the rise of localism. In 2008 financial crisis, some European countries are experiencing wider gap between rich and poor where the rich area and poor zones are in confrontation. Part of the reason for people in Scotland and Catalonia in Spain to support independence is due to dissatisfaction of federal government tightening fiscal policies. In future, our government would have to be serious in listening to demands and unhappiness of people from Sabah and Sarawak to ensure that they are not being marginalised from mainstream development. This prevents the two states from accumulating resentment against the Federal Government and, thus, strengthening the separatists.

Original Source: 從蘇獨警惕沙砂分離主義