Stephens dissolves Upko for bumiputra unity
1967: The United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Organisation (Upko) was dissolved at a five-hour Party congress at the Community Centre that was attended by more than 400 representatives throughout Sabah.
Its President Donald Stephens (pic) said the only road to bumiputra unity was to have one bumiputra Party and called on members to follow him in joining Usno.
He also suggested there be only one bumiputra Party for the whole of Malaysia and pledged loyalty to Usno President Tun Datu Mustapha, Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, Deputy Tun Razak and the Alliance leaders.
He hoped the Sabah Indian Congress (SIC) and the Sabah Chinese Association (SCA) will help Upko return to the Sabah Alliance as Usno members.
Dato Ganie Gilong seconded the motion. Secretary-General Peter Mojuntin said he agreed only because he was convinced bumiputra unity was the key to future happiness, peace and prosperity of Sabahans.
Twent
Connected: Preparing for Sabah’s 2020 polls, which were triggered by the change in the Federal Government, underlining the ties between federal and state politics. Filepic/The Star
HOW does a brother defeat his siblings? He calls on his big brother to keroyok (Sabah Malay slang for “gang up on”) their sibling.
“Big brother politics” has been a part of Sabah since the state, together with Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore, formed Malaysia in 1963.
Take the fight between blood brothers: Usno (United Sabah National Organisation) founder Tun Mustapha Harun and Upko (United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Organisation) president Tun Mohd Fuad Stephens.
In 1964, Sabah chief minister Fuad appointed a Kadazan to the post of state secretary. However, Yang di-Pertua Negara Mustapha refused to confirm the appointment, precipitating a serious Constitutional crisis involving the powers of the chief minister and the Yang di-Pertua Negara.