Historic Declaration Marks Peaceful Demonstration at Docklands

 

Peaceful Demonstration at Dockland, Victoria Australia

Melbourne, 13 September 2025 – A significant chapter in the struggle for Sabah’s independence unfolded at the Library at the Dock, Docklands, where a peaceful demonstration was held immediately after the conclusion of the Borneo Rising Summit: Sabah and Sarawak Independence Conference.

The event drew around 50 participants, including community leaders, activists, and supporters of the independence movement. The demonstration was conducted peacefully, with participants carrying the flags of Sabah and Sarawak, chanting calls for justice, and rejecting what they described as the continued neo-colonial domination of Malaya, which the world came to recognise under its rebranded name “Malaysia” on 16 September 1963.

Speakers at the demonstration emphasised that Sabah and Sarawak were never given the opportunity to freely and lawfully express their will through a referendum, despite the requirements outlined in the 1963 Manila Accord and international law. They argued that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) failed to meet the standards of a valid international treaty, highlighting its lack of compliance with the United Nations Charter and the principle of self-determination.

In a historic climax, the gathering witnessed the proclamation of the Republic of Sabah North Borneo Government-in-Exile (RSNB-GiE). The declaration, made in front of those assembled, stated that the Government-in-Exile takes effect retroactively from 16 September 1963, the date when Sabah’s sovereignty was, according to the proclamation, wrongfully annexed and rebranded under Malaysia without genuine consent of its people.

The declaration was described by organisers as a restoration of truth and an assertion of Sabah’s unfinished decolonisation process. They emphasised that the RSNB-GiE will continue its mission through peaceful and diplomatic means until Sabah’s right to self-determination is fully realised and recognised by the international community.

Observers noted that the demonstration was not only peaceful but also symbolic, blending historical grievances with forward-looking aspirations. It marked the first time such a declaration had been made publicly in Australia, underscoring the determination of Sabahans in the diaspora to continue advocating for justice.

The day ended with participants reaffirming their solidarity, pledging to continue raising awareness, and calling upon the United Nations and the wider international community to acknowledge and act on the unfinished decolonisation of the Borneo territories.