Remembering Stephen Kalong Ningkan: Sarawak’s First Chief Minister

Sarawak's first Chief Minister was an Iban, Stephen Kalong Ningkan.

Iban made up the largest ethnic group in Sarawak. Yet, until today, Stephen Kalong Ningkan is the only Chief Minister (CM) from this ethnic group. This is something that Malays in West Malaysia should think ......majority does not always hold the decisive power should we continue to be disunited.

I bet the same thing goes to Hulu Selangor and Sibu polls.
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Stephen Kalong Ningkan: Borneo’s forgotten hero?

by Marcel Jude Joseph April 12, 2010, Monday-The Borneo Post

When we talk about the formation of Malaysia, a number of names are frequently mentioned — Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Donald Stephens and even Lee Kuan Yew, a Singaporean.

No one outside Sarawak, however, would likely mention the name of Stephen Kalong Ningkan, even though he was the state’s first Chief Minister, in office from 1963 to 1966. Recently, I came across an article which stated, “I’d like to highlight that Stephen Kalong Ningkan was a firm believer that Sarawakians were entitled to have full citizenship rights and to participate in Malaysia’s national development on par with the Malays on the Malaya Peninsula.

“You see, we the younger generations today, could not fully appreciate the true meaning of Sarawak and how our ancestors fought for their independence before because we weren’t there. I believe, if we were to experience it personally, then I think we’d know what Sarawak means. Even I am still in the dark over the whole thing.

“But take note here, that our early leaders fought for our rights and they struggled every day so that we now could have a much better future and to leave our mark in this world.”

Although Ningkan’s name is hardly mentioned outside Sarawak, law students and lawyers will never fail to come across his name, which is part of leading decided cases of Constitutional Law not only in Malaysia but throughout the Commonwealth.

The fainting incident

In Kuching on September 16, 1963, Khir Johari read the Proclamation of Malaysia in the Kuching Central Padang followed by the hoisting of the federal flag and the playing of ‘Negaraku’.

Ningkan then read the Proclamation of the Independence of Sarawak.

“Whereas one of the nine Cardinal Principles of the rule of the English Rajahs was that the goal of self-government shall always be kept in mind and that the people of Sarawak shall be entrusted in due course with the Governance of themselves;

“And whereas this principle accords with the policy which Her Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland have always pursued in the Governance of those territories of the Commonwealth for those affairs Her Majesty’s Government have been responsible.

“And whereas in pursuance of this principle Her Majesty’s Government by an agreement entered into on the 9th day of July, 1963, with the Government of the Federation of Malaya, the Government of the State of Singapore and the Governments of the Colonies of Sarawak and North Borneo it was agreed that the States of Singapore and the Colonies of Sarawak and North Borneo shall be federated with the Federation of Malaya, and that the said Federation shall be known as Malaysia;

“And whereas Constitutions for Malaysia and for the States of Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore have been promulgated: “And whereas by a Proclamation made under Section 2 of the Malaysia Act the 16th day of September, 1963 has been proclaimed as Malaysia Day:

“Now therefore I, Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the Chief Minister of Sarawak, hereby proclaim that Sarawak has this day attained independence as the State of Malaysia.”

After the Proclamation was read, the then Datu Abang Openg was sworn in as the Governor of Sarawak by the Chief Justice Sir Campbell Wylie.

It was a grand occasion and the Chief Justice, dignified by his wig in his scarlet and black robes was in the company of Ningkan and the Commissioner of Police PE Turnbull — who was in full ceremonial uniform — and was also in the company of the Commander of the British Forces in West Sarawak Brigadier FC Barton, in full khaki dress.

The swearing-in was then followed by a second state salute and the Inspection of the Parade.


The ceremony turned into a panic situation when towards the end of the parade, the Governor suddenly fainted and had to be seated.

Two doctors in audience, Drs Chong Chung Hian and Daniel Kok, were there to help the Governor and it was later on decided that he be sent to the Sarawak General Hospital for a precautionary check-up, which revealed nothing serious.


Was this incident purely a coincidence or perhaps it was prophetic of things to come for within no less than three years, Ningkan would no longer be Chief Minster and Sarawak would be under a state of emergency. How did it go all so wrong?

The proclamation of emergency in Sarawak

On Sept 14, 1966, a state of emergency was proclaimed in Sarawak and it read as follows:-

“WHEREAS WE are satisfied that a grave Emergency exists whereby the security of a part of the Federation, to wit the State of Sarawak, is threatened:

“AND WHEREAS article 150 of the Constitution provides that in the said circumstances WE may issue a Proclamation of Emergency:


“Now, therefore, we Tuanku Ismail Nasiruddin Shah ibni Al-Marhum Al-Sultan Zainal Abidin, by the Grace of God of the States and territories of Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong in exercise of the powers aforesaid do hereby proclaim that a State of Emergency exists, and that this Proclamation shall extend throughout the territories of the State of Sarawak.”

Events leading to the emergency


Ningkan was appointed Chief Minister on July 22, 1963, and continued to hold that office after Malaysia Day when Sarawak became one of the States of the Federation of Malaysia.

The Constitution of Sarawak, which in its present form came into force just before Malaysia Day, provides by Article 13 that the State Legislature shall consist of the Governor and one House to be known as the Council Negri. The executive authority of the State is vested in the Governor by Article 5.


By Article 6 a Supreme Council, or Cabinet, is set up to advise the Governor.

It consists of the Chief Minister with five other members, all appointed by the Governor from the membership of the Council Negri, and three ex officio members.


Article 7 deals with the tenure of office of members of the Supreme Council. If the Chief Minister ceases to command the confidence of a majority of the Council Negri, he is to tender the resignation of the appointed members of the Supreme Council, unless at his request the Governor dissolves the Council Negri.


An appointed member may resign at any time and his appointment, if he is not the Chief Minister, may be revoked by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister.

Members, other than the Chief Minister and the ex officio members, are to hold office at the Governor’s pleasure. The Constitution of 1963 makes no specific provision for the dismissal of the Chief Minister by the Governor.


To be continued. For more news surf my website at lexborneo.com.

Betulkah UMNO kalah dalam political marketing?

Tun Mahathir bukan sahaja seorang statesman tetapi pemasar terulung Malaysia

Penulis terpanggil untuk menulis topik ini memandangkan ramai yang memberi komen tentang UMNO yang dikatakan slow nak bergerak dan mengenalkan strategi baru, lembabnya macam dinasaur.

Penulis faham, kita semua membesar dengan UMNO, dari situlah negara yang baru merdeka pada 31 Ogos bertatih, UMNO lah parti yang memperkenalkan affirmative action selepas peristiwa berdarah 13 Mei 1969 dengan Dasar Ekonomi Baru. Jadi jatuh bangun UMNO adalah jatuh bangun Malaysia. Kawan-kawan blogger kita tegur sebab semua orang sayangkan UMNO!

Waktu itu Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak dikecam hebat di London, tapi waktu telah menentukan affirmative action melalui DEB telah berjaya mengurangkan kemiskinan tegar di kalangan penduduk termiskin terbanyak di Malaysia, iaitu Melayu dan Bumiputera. Malah tanpa affirmative action dan DEB, Malaysia mungkin terjerumus dalam satu lagi kancah kegawatan sosial seperti yang pernah berlaku semasa krisis kewangan tahun 1997-1998 yang membawa kepada race riot di Indonesia dan jatuhnya Presiden Suharto dari tampuk pemerintahan negara akibat agihan ekonomi negara yang tak seimbang antara kaum!

Bukan sedikit cerita-cerita kemiskinan berlegar di kalangan generasi yang berumur 35 dan 50 an ke atas, dimana mereka membesar di kala negara pada waktu itu baru nak bertatih dalam ekonomi. Antara kawan-kawan penulis ada yang pernah bercerita pernah duduk atas tin biskut di sekolah pendalaman di Sarawak di tahun-tahun 1980an. Kawan penulis itu sekarang jadi jurutera dengan sebuah syarikat minyak terkenal di Malaysia. Di tahun 1960an pula, waktu negara mula-mula merdeka, ibu penulis menceritakan awal penglibatan beliau sebagai pegawai kerajaan di Pahang, datuk telah menyewa sebuah teksi sewa bagi ibu penulis mendaftar di sekolah yang baru. Ibu terkejut bila teksi berhenti separuh jalan.....dan perjalanan di sambung dengan bot!

Waktu itu, pada zaman 1960an, negara yang paling kaya dan paling berpotensi di Asia Tenggara adalah Filipina dengan President Macapagal (bapa presiden Gloria Macapagal Aroyyo).

Penulis juga masih ingat bila "balik kampung" dan duduk dengan datuk penulis yang kebetulan bekerja sebagai pegawai kastam di Singapura, penulis lihat kemiskinan juga meleret hingga ke Singapura. Waktu itu, Orchard Road yang gah dengan gedung membeli belah ternama sekarang tak ubah macam Chow Kit Street, dan penulis paling suka ikut nenek ke Orchard Road untuk membeli buah laici!

Malah waktu itu, duit syilling Singapura tak laku di Malaysia sebab nilai matawangnya lebih rendah. Alangkah banyak yang dah berubah sekarang di Singapura. Penulis hairan bila datuk pencen pada tahun 1972, kenapa datuk balik dan memilih untuk menetap di Malaysia, sedangkan datuk ada pilihan, sebagai pegawai tinggi pemerintah Singapura, datuk boleh menetap di Singapura. (Sebenarnya usaha mengekang kemasukan lebih banyak pegawai Melayu telah dibuat di mana hanya pegawai Melayu/Mamak yang berpendidikan Inggeris sahaja dibenarkan bekerja di Singapura. Pegawai Melayu yang tidak berpendidikan Inggeris berkhidmat di Johor.)

{Bila penulis pergi melawat Singapura sekali lagi pada tahun 1990an, terlalu banyak yang dah berubah! Pegawai -pegawai jawatan tertinggi dalam kerajaan di Singapura sekarang dah tak nampak muka Melayu. Jika di barisan hadapan seperti polis, kastam dan tentera dah terlalu sedikit yang namanya Melayu..jika ada hanya jadi tukang masak

Fast Forward, 30 tahun kemudian.......

Penulis masih ingat bila Tun Mahathir Mohamad (TDM) mula-mula memegang tampuk pemerintahan sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia keempat...mula-mula yang dibuat adalah mengenalkan slogan BERSIH, CEKAP DAN AMANAH. Bertekat ingin membangunkan Malaysia dari tidur, TDM menyeragamkan masa kepada masa di Sabah dan Sarawak yang cepatnya 30 minit!

Mahu tak mahu, Singapura TERPAKSA AKUR dan ikut masa Malaysia (yang asalnya masa Sabah dan Sarawak!) Dunia dikejutkan dengan adanya satu pemimpin berani yang memberikan positive imej kepada Malaysia. Kesannya adalah keyakinan masyarakat pelabur meningkat, kepesatan pembangunan infrastruktur yang kita lihat sekarang di Malaysia dan pelaburan Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) di kawasan industri Pulau Pinang, Kulim, Selangor dan Johor.

Penulis ingat lagi, waktu melanjutkan pelajaran ke luar negara, classmate penulis asyik bertanya di mana letaknya Malaysia........ah terpaksa di jawab antara Filipina dan Singapura. Malah nama Vietnam lebih gah dan dikenali dari Malaysia di luar negara.

Tetapi dalam masa yang singkat, TDM telah berjaya merubah Malaysia, satu negara yang dulunya economy backward kepada negara yang menjadi pilihan pelabur melabur ...bukan sedikit waktu itu ibupejabat konglomerat antarabangsa yang menutup operasi di Singapura dan memilih Malaysia menjadi destinasi ibupejabat yang baru kerana mempunyai tahap pekerja mahir yang tinggi, negara yang stabil dari segi fundamental nya iaitu Politik, Ekonomi, Sosial, Teknologi (PEST) ; iklim politik, hubungan sosial antara kaum dan geografi amat stabil, jalinan infrastruktur yang baik, pekerja mahir dan kos operasi yang lebih rendah dari Singapura! Apa yang TDM buat adalah menjadikan Malaysia sangat attractive dari segi marketing ke pesada dunia antarabangsa!

Fast Forward selepas 20 tahun pemerintahan TDM

Sifat TDM yang dominan, iaitu eagle personality, menyebabkan beliau mempunyai 4 orang Timbalan Perdana Menteri, bermula dari Tun Musa Hitam, Tun Ghafar Baba, DSAI dan Tun Abdullah. Agaknya sebab sifat TDM yang dominan macam helang dan kejayaan Malaysia yang menjulang dari segi politik, ekonomi dan sosial sepanjang 20 tahun ini telah menjadikan ahli UMNO complacent dan mengganggap kejayaan UMNO adalah sinonim dengan kejayaan Malaysia dan sebaliknya. Dalam masa tersebut, penulis tidak nampak sebarang usaha bersunguh-sunguh untuk menjenamakan UMNO.....dan mendekatkan UMNO dengan barisan pelapis. (Usaha merekrut lebih banyak pemimpin pelapis UMNO bermula selepas pilihanraya 1998 dengan tertubuhnya Puteri UMNO. Usaha ini dibuat setelah kertas kerja disiapkan oleh Datuk Azalina).

Pemimpin UMNO lebih senang menyerahkan segala penerangan mengenai polisi Malaysia bulat-bulat ke tangan pegawai Malaysian Student Department (MSD). Mungkin di negara Kanada di mana penulis belajar, ianya memadai sebab masa penulis belajar, bilangan seluruh pelajar tajaan JPA tak sampai 300 orang! Jadi video tape Peristiwa Memali, kenapa ianya terjadi, apa yang terjadi, Kertas Putih Tun Musa Hitam dapat diterangkan kepada pelajar yang masih hijau mengenai politik. Tetapi bilangan pegawai MSD yang sedikit berbanding pelajar yang ramai dan sifat pelajar-pelajar Malaysia yang suka "berkampung" di perantauan menyebabkan usaha penerangan polisi kerajaan kurang berkesan di negara yang bilangan pelajar Malaysia banyak seperti USA dan UK.

Usaha PAS tarik pelajar university selama 20 tahun!

Berbanding dengan UMNO, pemimpin PAS tersangat agresif memasarkan ideologi PAS di kalangan penuntut Malaysia di luar negara. Bukan rahsia lagi, pemimpin PAS sekarang adalah direkrut dari peringkat university! Caranya cukup senang, bila pemimpin PAS ke luar negara, mereka memilih untuk duduk dengan penuntut Malaysia...nak save expenditure cost sewaktu di perantauan. Di samping itu ideologi PAS dipasarkan semasa sesi usrah dan Konvensyen Malaysia Student Islamic Group (MISG). Hasilnya, cuba kita lihat barisan pemimpin PAS sekarang seperti Dr. Lo' Lo (university tempatan) dan Nizar Jamaluddin (University luar Negara) direkrut di peringkat university....pemasaran ideologi PAS telah bermula di university! Nampaknya hanya UMNO/BN yang menghormati AUKU selama ini!

Bersambung..................

Adakah harapan untuk UMNO? Bagaimana UMNO boleh leap frog untuk mengimbangi pemasaran ideologi PAS?