Sabah Alliance Party is formed
Published on: Wednesday, October 17, 1962
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The decision to form the Alliance was contained in a resolution passed at a meeting which was attended by the President and representatives of the United Sabah National Organisation, the President and representatives of the United National Kadazan Organisation and the Chairmen and representatives of the United Party-Democratic Merger Party.
The meeting also resolved that the Sabah Alliance Party accepts the Constitution of the Alliance Party of the Federation of Malaya as a basis for the drawing up of the Sabah Alliance Party Constitution.
The meeting also resolved that the membership of the Sabah Alliance Party shall be open to such other parties of national character whose membership is confined to Sabah as the parties of the Alliance shall unanimously decide to admit into the party.
A Constitutional Committee headed by Datu Mustapha was appointed to draft the Sabah Alliance Party Constitution and this will be considered by the representatives of the three organisations on October 22.
The meeting on October 22 will also consider the nominations of each party to the National Council and the Executive Committee of the Alliance and will also consider arrangements for the coming Local Government elections.
Representing the Usno at the meeting- were the President Datu Mustapha bin Datu Harun, OBE., Tuan Haji Yusuf Shamsuddin MBE., Tuan Abdul Momen bin Khalakhan, OKK Indan bin Kari, and Pengiran Ahmad Tajuddin.
Representing the Unko were the President, Mr Donald Stephens, Mr Ganie Gilong, Mr Richard E. Yap, Mr Peter J. Mojuntin, Mr Lim Hong Ghee, Mr Sikopit Siganul and Mr Armadeus Leong. Representing the UP-DP were the UP Chairman Mr Khoo Siak Chiew, DP Chairman Mr Lee Yun Hing, Mr Pang Tet Tshung, Mr Shelley Yap, Mr Kwan Yui Ming, and Mr Cheuk Ming-to.
Dr Lim Swee Aun, the Malayan Minister of Commerce and Industry and three members of his delegation, Dato Foo See Moi, Mr Kang Kok Seng and Mr Choong Peng Soon were also present at the meeting.
Dr Lim addressed the meeting and spoke of the reason for his visit to Sabah and Sarawak and urged all pro-Malaysia parties to get together and to form an Alliance which, when Malaysia was established, could team up with the Alliance in Malaya. He also spoke on the Constitution of the Malayan Alliance and said it was the spirit behind the Constitution which was of the utmost importance and not merely the written word.
Mr Stephens, the Chairman of the meeting, then explained that the Usno and the Unko had already agreed on an Alliance and had used the Malayan Alliance Constitution as a model.
He said he had long prayed for the day when the parties could sit together as they were doing to consider an Alliance and he was sure that the Usno and Unko, welcomed the DP-UP merger and would welcome them as partners in a Sabah Affiance.
He explained that there were other parties in the country but that the door of the Alliance would be kept open for other parties of national character with similar objects as the Alliance, to come in later, if they so wish.
Mr Stephens paid warm tribute to the work of Dr Lim and his delegation in bringing the parties together so quickly. He said he himself had arranged for an All Party meeting with the aim of getting the parties to form an Alliance and he was grateful to all present for their attendance.
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