Kota Kinabalu: The controversial dissolution of Upko (United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Organisation) in 1967 after the first Sabah election was decided by its founder Donald (later Tun Fuad) Stephens alone.
He decided to close it without consultation or heeding protests by the party leaders, according to revelations in a new book based on interviews with Sabah’s first reporter, the late Datuk Mohd Fauzi Patel.
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Upko came about following an understanding reached between Stephens who was heading Unko (United Kadazan National Organisation) and Pasok Momogun headed by GS Sundang to face the first State election that was called following bitter political rivalry between Stephens and Mustapha.
The book “What Sabahans Should Know,” includes extensive exclusive interviews conducted by Daily Express Chief Editor Datuk James Sarda over several months.
Some of the interviews involved Universiti Malaya History Professor, Datuk Dr Danny Wong.
“After the Usno and SCA Alliance won the majority in the 1967 elections and because Upko fought both parties (Usno and SCA), these two parties refused to discuss anything with them (Upko) in the formation (of the state government). Mustapha was sworn in as the Chief Minister. That is all. No Cabinet appointment, I think, for almost two weeks,” Patel recalled.
The situation changed only after Payar Juman crossed over from Upko to Usno in the State’s first political defection or “frogging” after going “missing”. Juman was fielded in Kiulu when Stephens decided not to contest the election in a shock decision, although he headed Upko, at the eleventh hour.
“After the crossing, Mustapha announced ‘now we have a Dusun Assemblyman on our side who will be in our Cabinet’.” Patel said as far as he could remember, the two people who were most outspoken against Upko’s dissolution were Peter Mojuntin and Herman Luping.
“Luping claimed to have been one of Upko’s founders when he was actually in New Zealand studying. He was with the Sabah Students Association in New Zealand and submitted a memo on behalf of the group to the Cobbold Commission opposing the Malaysia proposal.
“Hence, he was not around then. It is only when he returned that he joined Upko, was co-opted into the committee and later elected in 1967, when it was dissolved.
“Luping made it very clear that it was wrong to dissolve the party and was said to have even banged the table.
“Mojuntin was also upset and the meeting was emotionally charged. Stephens was even accused by some of ‘selling out’ because the decision to close shop was by him alone. Nobody else was involved. A fait accompli.
“After the Supreme Council meeting, they called for a general meeting to dissolve it,” Patel said, adding that the KDM grassroots took the closure of Upko very badly.
“They were very unhappy but they had no other way.” It happened when Upko Deputy President Datuk GS Sundang was away in UK for medical treatment for several months.
Patel said the Sabah Times carried the news of the dissolution but only his (Stephens) views and not everything that happened and this can be verified by looking up the Sabah Archives.
“When Stephens reorganised Sabah Times, he gave 50,000 free shares to Luping and made him its Managing Director,” Patel added.
Asked whether there was any Dusun in the Usno-SCA alliance at that time, Patel said, “None”. When pointed out that Upko did win seats in the elections, Patel said, “They won but it was 14-12.”
Asked whether Upko was left out of the first elected State Government because Mustapha did not want, Patel said:
“Not Mustapha alone. SCA also (was angry) because Stephens fielded Chinese candidates against the SCA. That is why (Datuk) Yap Pak Leong defeated (ex-second CM and first Chinese, Tan Sri) Peter Lo. He (Yap) was the only one who managed to win. George Chin and all these fellows did not win.”
Asked whether Stephens broke the gentleman’s understanding with Usno, Patel agreed. “Ya, he (Stephens) actually said he is only representing Kadazans but disappointed the Chinese also.
“It is political games and then after this the Government was formed and only then Stephens started negotiating,” Patel said.
“And do you know who was the main negotiator? Syed Kechik who came before the election and became the adviser to Mustapha and his strategist.
“It was agreed after six to eight months of negotiations that Stephens will retire from politics and dissolve Upko. All the Upko members were to join Usno en bloc. Mojuntin also was asked to retire.
“These two people were asked to retire from politics by Mustapha and Stephens was offered the High Commissionership to Australia.”
Asked if there were any other trade-offs besides the High Commissioner posting, Patel said, “Besides that, nothing.”
Asked about Stephens’ timber licence and newspaper licence, noting that newspaper licences at that time were a State and not Federal matter, Patel clarified;
“Not timber licence. Actually Mustapha threatened only to cancel the (timber) licence but he never did...left it alone.”
When told that the closure of Upko and asking members to join Usno en-masse actually fit Mustapha’s original aim of having only one party for all Sabah bumiputras. Patel said:
“Ya, but by then the whole picture had changed. Originally (at the time of) the proposal (it was) without Syed Kechik and all these people around (Mustapha). It was different. Have one party for everybody.”
Told that having one party for all bumiputras which Stephens was against, may not be a good idea as there would still arise the question of leadership, Patel said:
“No. Mustapha was quite happy to accept Stephens as leader. Mustapha liked the good life. He was quite happy to have a ceremonial position. He accepted the position of Governor. He liked the oomph and all these things, you know.”
When told even if that was the scenario (Stephens as party leader) Mustapha may eventually want to exert a more political role, Patel disagreed.
“No, although he became Governor (when Stephens was first CM), Usno always consulted him. If there was no rivalry, there was only one party, he cannot play anybody against anybody.
“Rivalry came because of the two parties (Upko and Usno). If there was one party from the very beginning, there would not be the split. Ya, there will be rivalry among the leaders but not (among) the ethnic groups.”
