Muhammad Fuad Stephens, (born Donald Aloysius Marmaduke Stephens; 14 September 1920 – 6 June 1976) was a
Malaysian
Malaysian may refer to:
* Something from or related to Malaysia, a country in Southeast Asia
* Malaysian Malay, a dialect of Malay language spoken mainly in Malaysia
* Malaysian people, people who are identified with the country of Malaysia regard ...
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
who served as the 1st and 5th
Chief Minister of Sabah
The Ketua Menteri Sabah or Chief Minister of Sabah is the head of government of the Malaysian state of Sabah. Since September 2020, the position has been held by Hajiji Noor from the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), Perikatan Nasiona ...
from September 1963 to December 1964 and again briefly from April 1976 to his death in June 1976, 3rd
Yang di-Pertua Negara of Sabah from September 1973 to July 1975, 6th
High Commissioner of Malaysia to Australia from 1968 to 1973. In addition, he also served as the 1st ''Huguan Siou'' or Paramount Leader of the
Kadazandusun
Kadazan-Dusun (also written as Kadazandusun or Mamasok Kadazan-Dusun) also less-known as "Mamasok Sabah" are two indigenous peoples of Sabah, Malaysia—the ethnic groups Kadazan and Dusun. The Kadazandusun is the largest native group of Bumip ...
community. He played a role in bringing Sabah into the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. While he was initially against the idea of Sabah joining in the Federation, given British concerns about the stability of the region and their move to relinquish all their colonies in the post WWII era, he was gradually convinced to work towards it. He held the chief minister's post from 16 September 1963 until 31 December 1964 when he was forced to resign; and again in 1976 for 54 days from 15 April.
During his second term as Chief Minister (which began on 15 April 1976) he died in a controversial accident on 6 June 1976 dubbed ''
Double Six Crash
The Double Six Crash, also known as the Double Six Tragedy, was a crash, involving a GAF N-22B Nomad of Sabah Air, which took place on 6 June 1976 at Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, killing several local political leaders.
Background
Tun Fuad Stephen ...
'', in
Kota Kinabalu
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = From top, left to right, bottom:Kota Kinabalu skyline, Wawasan intersection, Tun Mustapha Tower, Kota Kinabalu Coastal Highway, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, the Wism ...
, the state capital of Sabah. He was a passenger in an Australian made
Nomad aircraft which crashed and killed everyone on board, including his son Johari. His body was buried at the State Mausoleum near the
Sabah State Mosque
Sabah State Mosque ( ms, Masjid Negeri Sabah) is the state mosque of Sabah, located at Sembulan roundabout between Jalan Mat Salleh and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
History
Construction began in 1970 and was c ...
,
Kota Kinabalu
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = From top, left to right, bottom:Kota Kinabalu skyline, Wawasan intersection, Tun Mustapha Tower, Kota Kinabalu Coastal Highway, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, the Wism ...
.
Early life
Stephens was born on 14 September 1920 in
Kudat
Kudat ( ms, Pekan Kudat) is the capital of the Kudat District in the Kudat Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 29,025 in 2010. It is located on the Kudat Peninsula, about north of Kota Kinabalu, the state cap ...
. His father, Jules Stephen Pavitt (later known as Jules Pavitt Stephens, Snr.), was of mixed parentage, half-
Kadazan
The Kadazans are an ethnic group indigenous to the state of Sabah in Malaysia. They are found mainly in Penampang on the west coast of Sabah, the surrounding locales, and various locations in the interior.
As a result of integration in culture ...
and half-British. Jules was born and brought up in North Borneo in the district of
Papar
The Papar (; from Latin ''papa'', via Old Irish, meaning "father" or "pope") were, according to early Icelandic sagas, Irish monks who took eremitic residence in parts of what is now Iceland before that island's habitation by the Norsemen of S ...
. Jules' father, Ernest Alfred Pavitt was born in
Akaroa
Akaroa is a small town on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand, situated within a harbour of the same name. The name Akaroa is Kāi Tahu Māori for "Long Harbour", which would be spelled in standard ...
,
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
but had ancestral roots in
Colchester
Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian.
Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colches ...
,
Essex
Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and G ...
,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
,
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. When Ernest Alfred Pavitt left North Borneo to live in New Zealand, Jules dropped the name Pavitt and made his surname Stephens. Fuad Stephens' mother, Edith Cope, was of mixed Japanese, British and Dusun ancestry from
Kinabatangan
Kinabatangan ( ms, Pekan Kinabatangan) is the capital of the Kinabatangan District in the Sandakan Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 10,256 in 2010. Kinabatangan is mostly populated with the Orang Sungai
...
,
Sandakan
Sandakan (, Jawi: , ) formerly known at various times as Elopura, is the capital of the Sandakan District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the second largest city in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu. It is located on the Sandakan Peninsula and east coast of ...
. Stephens had five siblings; two younger sisters and three younger brothers. Two of them, John and Martin, died in infancy. A third, Leo Benedict was born in 1926 and later became the President of the
Dewan Negara
The Dewan Negara (English language, English: Senate; Literal translation, lit. "State Council") is the upper house of the Parliament of Malaysia, consisting of 70 senators of whom 26 are elected by the State legislative assemblies of Malaysia, ...
from 1985 to 1988 amongst other accomplishments. His sisters were Esther (born in 1928) and Agnes (born in 1930).
Political career
Donald Stephens founded the political party
United National Kadazan Organisation
The United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Organisation ( ms, Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Kadazan Bersatu; abbrev: UPKO) was a Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) based political party in North Borneo and later Sabah at the time it became a state of Malaysia in the 1960s. ...
(UNKO) in August 1961. He played a key role in negotiating the independence of Sabah and the formation of Malaysia, together with
Tun Mustapha of
United Sabah National Organisation
The United Sabah National Organisation ( ms, Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Sabah Bersatu; abbrev: USNO) was a political party in North Borneo and later Sabah, Malaysia. The widely known Sabah's Muslim indigenous especially Suluk-Bajau ethnic based pa ...
(USNO), Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore and
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah ( ms, تونكو عبد الرحمن ڤوترا الحاج ابن سلطان عبد الحميد حليم شاه, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; 8 Febru ...
, the then
Prime Minister of Malaya. The formation of Malaysia was finally achieved on 16 September 1963, which is today known as
Malaysia Day
Malaysia Day ( ms, Hari Malaysia) is a public holiday held on 16 September every year to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation on that date in 1963. This event saw Malaya, North Borneo (which was renamed Sabah), Sarawak, ...
. He became Sabah's first Chief Minister as UNKO together with USNO and
Sabah Chinese Association
The Sabah Chinese Association ( ms, Persatuan Cina Sabah, SCA) was a Chinese political party in the North Borneo and the Sabah state of Malaysia.
History
The party was established in October 1962 as Borneo Utara National Party, a merger of the ...
(SCA) formed the Sabah Alliance coalition to rule the new
Government of Sabah
The Sabah State Government is an authority governing Sabah, one of Borneo states of Malaysia, based in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital. The state government adheres to and is created by both the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, the supreme law ...
.
In 1964, Donald Stephens stepped down as Chief Minister to become the first Malaysian federal
cabinet member
This is a list of the offices of heads of state, heads of government, cabinet, and legislature, of sovereign states. Date of Origin refers to most recent fundamental change in form of government, for example independence, change from absolute ...
from Sabah. He was replaced by
Peter Lo Sui Yin
Tan Sri Datuk Peter Lo Su Yin (; 19 May 1923 – 1 January 2020) was a Malaysian politician who served as the 2nd Chief Minister of Sabah from January 1965 to May 1967. He was a member of the Sabah Chinese Association (SCA). ''Malaysia: Who ...
of SCA. Stephens became the minister in charge of Sabah affairs under the Prime Minister's department.
[malaysiana1: What's In A Name?]
/ref>
Stephens saw Malaysia as the federation of four countries - Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore - as equal partners, as opposed to the eleven states making up the Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya ( ms, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu; Jawi script, Jawi: ) was a federation of what previously had been British Malaya comprising eleven states (nine Malay states and two of the British Empire, British Straits Settlements, P ...
, which had less autonomy.
Following Singapore's exit from Malaysia, Stephens sought a review of Sabah's participation in the federation, although he was not seeking secession. However, this was rejected by the federal government, which feared that such a move would endanger the federation as a whole.
In 1973, Fuad Stephens was appointed as the governor of Sabah, known as the Yang di-Pertua Negara (the post was later downgraded after 1976 to Yang di-Pertua Negeri
In Malaysia, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri ( in Malay) is a constitutional title given to the head of state in states without a Ruler, namely: Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak. This is in constrast to a Ruler () which is a constitutional title give ...
). He held this position until 1975. Later that same year, Tun Fuad Stephens together with Harris Salleh
Harris bin Mohd Salleh (born 4 November 1930) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 6th Chief Minister of Sabah from June 1976 to April 1985. During his tenure, he controversially ceded the island of Labuan, which used to be part of stat ...
formed the new political party Sabah People's United Front
Sabah People's United Front or in Malay ''Parti Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sabah'' is more commonly known by its abbreviation BERJAYA, was a political party based in the state of Sabah, Malaysia. BERJAYA was formed by former United Sabah National Orga ...
(BERJAYA). They won the 1976 state election, defeating Tun Mustapha's USNO and becoming the new government of Sabah. Tun Fuad Stephens became Sabah's fifth Chief Minister. Forty-four days later, he died in a plane crash.
Plane crash
On 6 June 1976 ("Double Six"), Tun Fuad Stephens and several cabinet members boarded a flight from Labuan
Labuan (), officially the Federal Territory of Labuan ( ms, Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan), is a Federal Territory of Malaysia. Its territory includes and six smaller islands, off the coast of the state of Sabah in East Malaysia. Labuan's capit ...
heading towards Kota Kinabalu
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = From top, left to right, bottom:Kota Kinabalu skyline, Wawasan intersection, Tun Mustapha Tower, Kota Kinabalu Coastal Highway, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, the Wism ...
. About from Kota Kinabalu International Airport
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is an international airport in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia. It is located approximately southwest of the city centre. In 2017, 8 million passengers passed through the ai ...
, the plane crashed killing everyone on board.
The site of the plane crash is marked by a memorial called Double Six Monument constructed not long after the accident. The site is located in the Sembulan area near the Grace Garden housing complex in Kota Kinabalu across Jalan Coastal Highway from Sutera Harbour resort.
Personal life
Stephens converted to Islam in January 1971, and adopted the name 'Muhammad Fuad', the latter meaning "heart" in Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
. Stephens was also encouraged to renounce his surname at the time of his conversion but declined to do so. From 1968 to 1973, he held the post of High Commissioner of Malaysia to Australia. On 14 March 2022, his widow Toh Puan Rahimah Stephens died of a heart attack at a private hospital where she was admitted after a fall at her house at the age of 92. Rahimah was also State Minister of Welfare of Sabah and Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly
The Sabah State Legislative Assembly ( ms, Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah, Kadazandusun: ''Langga' Tinukuan Pogun Sabah'') is a part of the legislature of Sabah, Malaysia, the other being the governor of Sabah. The assembly meets at the Sabah Sta ...
(MLA) for Kiulu. She was the first woman to be appointed to the state ministerial position. Chief Minister of Sabah Hajiji Noor
Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji bin Noor ( ms, عزيزي بن نور, label= Jawi, script=arab, italic=unset; born 10 May 1956) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the 16th Chief Minister of Sabah and State Minister of Finance since Se ...
also visited her family to pay his last respects and convey his condolences, he was accompanied by state government officials and state assemblymen. She was later laid to rest at the Kampung Likas Muslim Cemetery. The funeral was held in the presence of close family members.
Honours
Honours of Malaysia
* :
**
Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia
The Most Esteemed Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia ( ms, Darjah Yang Mulia Setia Mahkota Malaysia) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country and awarded by the sovereign.
The order was instituted on ...
(PSM) – Tan Sri (1970)
** Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm ( ms, Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara) is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The Order Motto are 'Dipeliharakan Allah-Pangkuan Negara' (By the Grace o ...
(SMN) – Tun (1975)
* :
**
Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu
The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu (Malay: ''Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Kinabalu'') is the only order conferred by the Governor of Sabah, Malaysia.
Background
The Illustrious Order of Kinabalu is established by virtue of Section 3(a) of State Honou ...
(SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (1963)
* :
**
Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak
The ''Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak'' (Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak) is the highest state order in the state of Sarawak. It is conferred to those who rendered excellent service towards the development of the state of S ...
(PNBS) – Dato' (1964)
Awards
* Tun Fuad Stephens was posthumously granted the soubriquet ''Bapa Malaysia Dari Sabah'' (Father of Malaysia From Sabah) and ''Huguan Siou''.
Places named after him
Several places were named after him, including:
* Tun Fuad Stephens Park, a public park in Kota Kinabalu
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = From top, left to right, bottom:Kota Kinabalu skyline, Wawasan intersection, Tun Mustapha Tower, Kota Kinabalu Coastal Highway, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, the Wism ...
.
* SMK Tun Fuad Stephens, a secondary school at Kiulu, Tamparuli
Tamparuli is a small town and a sub-district of Tuaran on the west coast of Sabah, Malaysia. It is populated mainly by native Dusuns, while a sizeable Chinese community (of whom most are Hakkas) runs most of the shops in the town proper. As wi ...
, Tuaran
Tuaran ( ms, Pekan Tuaran) is the capital of the Tuaran District in the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 128,200 in 2019 with half the population consists of ethnic Dusuns, most of the Lotud eth ...
.
* SMK Taman Tun Fuad, a secondary school at Kota Kinabalu.
* Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens
Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens or Kota Kinabalu Coastal Highway is a major highway in Kota Kinabalu city, Sabah, Malaysia. The highway was built at the reclamation land in the year 1990s and it was part of the Kota Kinabalu coastal development project. I ...
a major highway in the Kota Kinabalu metropolitan area.
* Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad a road at Taman Tun Dr Ismail
Taman Tun Dr. Ismail is a nearly half a decade old mid sized township in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Situated on the border of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, it is within the vicinity of relatively newer townships including Bandar Utama Damansara, D ...
, Kuala Lumpur.
* SK Tun Fuad, a primary school at Kunak
Kunak ( ms, Pekan Kunak) is the capital of the Kunak District in the Tawau Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 13,823 in 2010. The population consists mainly of Bajau and Bugis peoples. There is also a sizeable ...
, Tawau Division
Tawau Division ( ms, Bahagian Tawau) is one of the five administrative sub-divisions of Sabah, Malaysia. It occupies a total of 14,905 square kilometres or 20% of Sabah's territory. The main towns include the capital of Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak ...
.
* Dewan Tun Fuad Stephens, the main community hall of the Penampang
Penampang ( ms, Pekan Penampang) is the capital of the Penampang District in the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 93,616 in 2010, with ethnic Kadazan as the majority. It contains, or is synonym ...
district located in Donggongon, Penampang
Penampang ( ms, Pekan Penampang) is the capital of the Penampang District in the West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. Its population was estimated to be around 93,616 in 2010, with ethnic Kadazan as the majority. It contains, or is synonym ...
.
* Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Tun Muhammad Fuad Stephens, a government-owned elite boarding school at Sandakan
Sandakan (, Jawi: , ) formerly known at various times as Elopura, is the capital of the Sandakan District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the second largest city in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu. It is located on the Sandakan Peninsula and east coast of ...
* Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens, state government buildings in Kota Kinabalu.
* Kolej Kediaman Tun Fuad Stephens, student residence in University Malaysia Sabah
References
Bibliography
*
External links
Spotlight: Just a matter of pride
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Tun Fuad
1920 births
Malaysian people of British descent
1976 deaths
People from Sabah
Kadazan-Dusun people
Malaysian people of New Zealand descent
Malaysian people of English descent
Malaysian politicians of Japanese descent
Malaysian Muslims
Malaysian former Christians
Converts to Islam from Roman Catholicism
Malaysian expatriates in Australia
High Commissioners of Malaysia to Australia
Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah
Chief Ministers of Sabah
Sabah state ministers
Members of the Dewan Rakyat
Members of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly
Malaysian political party founders
Sabah People's United Front politicians
United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Organisation politicians
Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia
Grand Commanders of the Order of the Defender of the Realm
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Malaysia
20th-century Malaysian politicians
Grand Commanders of the Order of Kinabalu