Record Date

Recorded Duration

Recording Language

Accession No.

Type

Format

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

Synopsis :

In this interview, Dato Donald Stephens, the first Chief Minister of Sabah in East Malaysia speaks about the sensitivities surrounding the crisis in the Sabah Alliance party. He says that the crisis is a result of political rivalry between the predominantly Malay-Muslim party called the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) and the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO), a party that advances the development of the indigenous people in Sabah. The other major party in the Sabah Alliance is the Sabah National Party with predominantly Chinese members. UPKO and USNO are rivals in recruiting natives as members.

The Alliance in Sabah is more of a coalition and has not been able to work as one party. USNO's close links with UMNO in West Malaysia has caused concern in UPKO which feels that it is being treated as a second class party and its people, second class citizens.

Dato Stephens notes that Tun Mustapha, the founder of USNO was also the first President of the Sabah Alliance. When independence came, he took on the job of Yang di Pertuan Negera (governor) of Sabah. His political affiliations and moves were a cause for concern to UPKO which felt that he was using his position to strengthen one political party. This was unconstitutional and dangerous.

Dato Stephens says that in the present crisis, UPKO leaders feel that Tun Mustapha has the support of the leadership in Kuala Lumpur which has proposed that Dato Stephens steps down as Chief Minister and the position be given to Peter Lo, a junior person with very little political experience. Dato Stephens feels that Peter Lo is not suitable for the post. He suggests that the Sabah Alliance should look at ways to solve the present crisis. Otherwise breakaway factions from the Alliance could form the opposition.