1968: Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman called on villagers in Sabah to help the armed forces defend the nation against any possible aggression.
(October 2, 1964)
1968: Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman called on villagers in Sabah to help the armed forces defend the nation against any possible aggression.
The Tunku who was addressing 3,000 people in Sandakan said the Philippines was trying to colonise Sabah but that the people in the State were determined to remain in Malaysia.
He said then Philippines President Marcos had taken a very dangerous position in that country’s Sabah Annexation Bill. He added that aggressors and dictators did not keep their places long and that right would overcome might in the end.
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1964: Tuan Haji Kassim Haji Hashim, the first Sabah-born Speaker of the Sabah Legislative Assembly was sworn in by TYT Datu Mustapha bin Datu Harun.
Haji Kassim, 39, succeeds Sir George Oehlers, who was seconded from Singapore during the transition period following the formation of Malaysia the previous year.
The younger brother of Social Welfare Minister Dato OKK Mohd Yassin, Haji Kassim previously worked as a District Chief. Clerk of the Legislative Council, Clerk of the Executive Council and District Officer, among others. He became a Magistrate in December 1963 and had II children.
Jesselton becomes Kota Kinabalu
1967: Jesselton, which was previously known as “Api Api”, “Singga Mata” and “Dia Suka” officially became known as Kota Kinabalu.
Its development dates back to 1899, when a decision was made to open up the area with setting up of shops and buildings where the present Capitol cinema now stands.
Introduction of railways opened up land for padi and rubber cultivation.
The focus of the colonial government which earlier centred on Sandakan had by now shifted to Jesselton. In 1946, the authorities decided that it be the permanent State capital.
The town was destroyed by the Japanese during the war and was reconstructed later. Its original size was only 30 acres. However, reclamation efforts have resulted in the State capital covering now appox. 7,330 acres.
Top cop retires
1967: Mohamad Natt bin Haji Mohd Yusoff took over as the new Police Commissioner following the retirement of DB Goodsir. Goodsir had previously served in Edinburgh (Scotland), Malaya and Sarawak.
Dedication ceremony for two stone churches
1906: The dedication of the St Michael Church in Penampang and All Angels Church in Sandakan was carried out. St Michael’s and All Angels are famous for being the only churches to have been built of stone in North Borneo. The All Angels cost $47,800 to build. The credit is attributed to Rev. WH Elton, who personally supervised the laying of every stone. . In the case of the St Michael’s church in Penampang, the stone blocks were taken up the hill by buffalo sledges.
1971: Health Minister Tan Sri Sardon Haji Jubir declared open the $1.4 million new Cottage Hospital in Papar.
The 50-bed hospital has a dispensary, X-ray room, operating theatre and other modern facilities.
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SEPTEMBER 29
$12m Safma complex opens
1989: The $12.1 million Safma Fisheries Complex in Kota Kinabalu was opened by Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Paitin Kitingan.
He urged local fishermen to use modern fishing boats and equipment and venture into deep sea fishing. The goals of Safma are to stabilise fish prices in Sabah and and promoting and devel-oping the catching, processing and marketing of fish.
SEPTEMBER 28
Bank Bumi branch opens
1968: Bank Bumiputra opened its Kota Kinabalu branch and took pride in being the only bank in Sabah which accepts native titles as securities for loans or overdraft facilities. Located at Gaya Street, it is manned by two officers and five staff. The bank was incorporated in Kuala Lumpur in 1965, after the first Bumiputra Economic Congress.
Historic sub calls at Jesselton
1962: HMS Andrew, the first submarine to cross the Atlantic called at Jesselton port on a four-day visit. It was also open to visitors.
The HMS Andrew made history in 1953, when it crossed the Atlantic and arrived in England on the eve of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, in time for the achievement to be announced in the same news bulletin as Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing’s conquest of Mount Everest.
St Michael School founded
1888: The St Michael’s School in Sandakan was founded by William Henry Elton, an English missionary. Sandakan as a town was then only nine years old and Elton chose a hill in the centre of town as a suitable spot for a church and school. Rev. Elton was a determined man. Told that it was too difficult to cut away the hill and quite impossible to build in stone, he decided to carry out the work alone.
With the help of one Chinese known as Ah Chee, he removed tonnes of earth and laid the foundations. The church was completed after 25 years, with some of the grey-green stone coming from Buli Sim Sins. Granite was imported from Hong Kong. He retired to England the following year, leaving the accounts free of any debt.
The Church of St Michaels which today towers over Sandakan has withstood damage during the Japanese occupation and the famous school lies at its feet. Both are today a testimony to his determination.
SEPTEMBER 27
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Russian origin bird in Kota Belud
1966: A bird of the Egret species believed to have originated from Russia was found in Kota Belud. On one of its legs was a ring banded in Taiwan.
This process of bird banding to chart the movements of birds also began in Sabah two years earlier by an Assistant Curator of the Sabah Museum, Henry Tsen, with the help of Lord Midway, of the University of Malaya. The bird caught in Kota Belud was released after taking sample of its blood to check for transmission of diseases, etc.
First Sabah Infantry Battalion recruits
1963: The British army’s Chief Recruiting Officer in the Far East, JJ Plain, began interviewing recruits for the first batch of 120 men into Sabah’s Infantry battalion, the Malaysian Rangers.
Ranau junior school opens
1964: Chief Minister Dato Donald Stephens declared open the government Junior Secondary School in Ranau.
The opening of the school came after 10 years of ardous campaigning.
First post-war Tamu
1945: Life began returning to normal following the Japanese surrender.
One of the activities revived was the Tamu (bazaar) and the first was believed to be that in Papar where Col Eimura surrendered 12 days earlier.