Stephens speaking at the occasion at St Michael’s secondary school.
NORTH BORNEO NEWS & SABAH TIMES - (Monday, April 15, 1963) - PENAMPANG, Sunday. – The Kadazan Youth Movement made history here this morning when they resolved to form the United Sabah Kadazans Youth Organisation – a national body uniting several Kadazan Youth associations in various parts of the country.
And as their Patron Mr Donald Stephens, Member for Natural Resources and National President of the United National Kadazan Organisation, said it was a great, historical occasion that the young Kadazans were uniting for their common good.
Mr Stephens, opening the delegates conference at St. Michael’s Secondary School here, said many would say that the organisation was a racial one.
He said it was not so and if anyone tried to brand it a racial organisation it was false propaganda.
ADVERTISEMENT
The young Kadazans were uniting so that they could work together, plan together and take their rightful place in the future development of the country, he said.
He urged the young Kadazans to show tolerance, friendship and goodwill towards the other races of the country and asked them to work in cooperation with other races for the good of Sabah.
He asked the young Kadazans to be prepared to take over from the present leaders when the time comes. Mr Stephens said the present leaders were building a jeep track but it was up to the young people to build an all-weather road for the future happiness of the emerging new nation – Malaysia.
He said it was not an easy task to build this jeep track – there were many stumbling blocks and big trees.
The leaders sometimes had to dynamite big rocks on the way. But, he added, it was all for the good and future happiness of the country.
Mr Stephens urged the young Kadazans to keep the association non-political but asked them not to be afraid of politics.
He said without the knowledge of politics, the young Kadazans would not be able to take active part in the running of the country.
The young Kadazans have a huge part to play in the new nation, Mr Stephens said.
“Be proud to be Kadazans” Mr Stephens said.
He also asked them to maintain Kadazan traditions.
ADVERTISEMENT
It is a heritage which the people should preserve, he added.
Mr Stephens also urged the delegates and observers to work harder for the benefit of the Kadazan people and the country. It was the only way, he said to bring up the standard of the Kadazan people.
He said Kadazan people were not lazy as some had made out but they were as good, as any other people living in the country.
They had lagged behind, Mr Stephens said, because they were not given an opportunity.
Now the door of opportunity was opened, and Mr Stephens urged the young Kadazans to prove that they were hard-working and as good as any other people.
Mr Stephens also asked the young Kadazans to respect their respective faiths. He said religion was good for the maintenance of standards and good healthy society.
Earlier, Mr Stephens was welcomed by the organising committee of the Penampang Kadazan Youth Association.
Others present at the conference were Mr Fong Peng Loi, Mr Sikopit Siganul and Fr. Macarthey, Principal of St Michael’s School.
Mr Peter Mojuntin chairman of the conference in his welcome address thanked Mr Donald Stephens and paid tribute to Kadazan leaders who had encouraged, youth movement in various districts.
Mr Mojuntin explained the need for a national body to unite the various Kadazan youth associations of the country.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said the presence of so many delegates and observers was proof that they have gathered here with the national spirit to unite the young Kadazans.
Mr Mojuntin explained the aims and objects of the association which he said were in the draft constitution. Mr Fred Tan, Secretary of the conference also spoke briefly on the need for the national body.
Leaders of the delegations from Sandakan, Tuaran, Keningau, Papar, Inobong, Inanam, Kiulu, Tambunan, Kg Bahru, Putatan, Kudat, Ranau, Limbahau, and Nosoob, stressed the need for a united body which could be a representative body of the various Kadazan Youth Associations in the country.
In the afternoon Mr Sikopit Siganul, a Jesselton Rural District Councillor entertained the delegates and observers to tea.
Mr and Mrs. Donald Stephens were hosts to the delegates and observers tonight at Sabah Cottage, their Likas residence.