THE FIRST HUGUAN SIOU OF SABAH!

Tun Haji Mohammad Fuad Stephens, previously known as, Donald Stephens, was the first Chief Minister of the state of Sabah in Malaysia. He played a fundamental role in bringing the state of Sabah into the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. He held the chief minister post until 1964, and again in 1976. During his second term as Chief Minister he died in a controversial accident on June 6, 1976, in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah. He was a passenger in an Australian made Nomad aircraft which crashed and killed everyone on board. His body was laid to rest at the State Mausoleum near the Sabah State Mosque, Kota Kinabalu. He was also the first Huguan Siou or Paramount Leader of the Kadazandusun community.

Background

Donald Aloysius Marmaduke Stephens was born on September 14, 1920. His father, Jules Stephen Pavitt, was half Kadazan and half British, while his mother was half Japanese and half British. For a number of years Donald Stephens held the post of High Commissioner of Malaysia in Australia.

Political career

Tun Fuad founded the political party United National Kadazan Organization (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 Organization (USNO), and Tunku Abdul Rahman, the then Prime Minister of Malaya. The formation of Malaysia was finally achieved on September 16, 1963, which is today known as Malaysia Day. He became Sabah's first Chief Minister.
In 1964, Tun Fuad stepped down as Chief Minister in order to become the first Malaysian federal cabinet member from Sabah. He was replaced by Peter Lo Sui Yin from the Sabah Chinese Association. Tun Fuad became the minister in charge of Sabah affairs under the Prime Minister's department.
On January 5, 1971 Donald and his entire family converted from Roman Catholicism to Islam, and changed his name to "Mohammad Fuad".


In 1973, he was appointed as the governor of Sabah, known as the Yang di-Pertua Negara (the post was later known as Yang di-Pertua Negeri). He held this position until 1975. Later that same year, Tun Fuad together with Harris Salleh formed the new political party BERJAYA. They would win the 1976 state election, defeating Tun Mustapha's USNO, becoming the new government of Sabah. Tun Fuad became Sabah's fifth Chief Minister. Forty-four days later, he died in a plane crash.

Plane crash

Main article: Double Six Tragedy

Tun Fuad and several cabinet members boarded a flight from Labuan heading towards Kota Kinabalu. About 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, the plane crashed killing everyone on board. Immediately after the accident foul play was suspected. However, it was later revealed that the Nomad aircraft had several design faults. The Australian government knew of this problem but continued to sell it and market it overseas.
The site of the plane crash is marked by a memorial that was constructed not long after the accident. The site is located in the Sembulan area located in Grace Garden housing complex in Kota Kinabalu Sabah across the road from Sutera Harbor resort.