CANBERRA, 26 September 2026 — The Republic of Sabah North Borneo Government-in-Exile (RSNB-GiE) held a Historic Flag Ceremony at the Authorised Assembly Area, Parliament House, Canberra, as part of a peaceful gathering. The organisation is led by Moses P.A. Ampang, President of the RSNB-GiE Government-in-Exile.
According to an RSNB-GiE statement, the sequence of flags represented several periods associated with North Borneo’s history, including the Brunei era, the administration of the British North Borneo Chartered Company, the Japanese occupation, British administration and the Malaysia period.
The ceremony concluded with the lowering of the Malaysian flag and the raising of the Sabah flag. RSNB-GiE said this symbolic act reflected the organisation’s political aspirations.
Historical narratives relating to the flags were presented by Mr Ray Chalmer Jefferson, RSNB-GiE Minister of Justice and International Law, and Ms Dorothy Richard. The statement said the ceremony was conducted peacefully and respectfully, in remembrance of the generations who lived through different chapters of North Borneo’s history.
RSNB-GiE ministers and deputy ministers participated, with each assigned a role in raising or lowering the flags:
- Brunei flag — raised and lowered by Mr Timothy S. Arambala, Minister of Planning, Development and Infrastructure.
- British North Borneo Chartered Company flag — raised and lowered by Ms Martini Ellen Gumpiling, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
- Japanese flag — raised and lowered by Ms Norry Kopin, Minister of Political Strategy and Advocacy.
- British flag — raised and lowered by Mr Deddy Rumiyu, Minister of Information and Media Communication.
- Malaysian flag — raised and lowered by Mr Rendy Wedi W. Binsol, Minister of International Cooperation and Strategic Partnerships.
- Sabah flag — raised by Ms Jane Lim, Deputy Minister of Internal Administration and Sabahan Affairs.
The flagpole was held and supported by Mr Dominic Reyes, Deputy Minister of Information and Media Communication, together with Mr Lister, Deputy President of Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM).
RSNB-GiE described the ceremony as an opportunity to remember and reflect on history through the symbolism of flags.
By:Borneo Voice News.
