1967 Sabah state election

The 1967 Sabah state election were held between 8 April to 23 April 1967, with nomination day on 8 March 1967.[1] This was the first state election to take place, after Sabah independence from British and subsequently joining Malaysia in 1963.

1967 Sabah state election
8-23 April 1967
All 32 seats in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly
17 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader Mustapha Harun Donald Stephens Peter Lo Sui Yin
Party USNO UPKO SCA
Alliance Alliance (federal)
Sabah Alliance (state)		 Alliance (federal) Sabah Alliance (state)
Leader's seat Bengkoka-Banggi Not contesting Elopura (lost)
Seats won 14 12 5
Chief Minister before election

Peter Lo Sui Yin
SCA

 Elected Chief Minister

Mustapha Harun
USNO

Sabah Alliance which consists of United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) and Sabah Chinese Association (SCA), won 19 of the 32 seats and gained simple majority to form government.[2] United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Organisation (UPKO), who are in the federal Alliance coalition with USNO and SCA but opposition at state level, won 12 seats, while 1 seat was won by an independent.[3]

Background

After Sabah independence from British rule in 16 September 1963, the state Legislative Assembly was created with appointment of local leaders, called The Legislative Executive, from various communities of Sabah, and representing the Local Council Jurisdiction.[4]

Donald Stephens, from UPKO, was appointed the first Chief Minister of Sabah. UPKO mainly were representing the Kadazandusun community, with Stephens as its Paramount Leader. USNO, the other main party in the Assembly, were representing the Malay-Muslim community, and together with SCA and Sabah Indian Congress (SIC) created the Sabah Alliance coalition. USNO's leader Mustapha Harun was appointed as the state's first Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

Stephens relinquished his post at the end of 1964 to become the state's first federal minister, and were replaced by SCA leader Peter Lo on 1 January 1965. Mustapha meanwhile resigned from his Yang di-Pertua Negeri post on 16 September 1965, to prepare for the upcoming state election scheduled in 1967, in which he will be contesting. Stephens decided not to contest the state election, instead focusing on the federal seat in the next Malaysian general election.[5]

Results
PartySeats
United Sabah National Organisation14
United Pasokmomogun Kadazan Organisation12
Sabah Chinese Association5
Independents1
Total32

Aftermath

Mustapha, the leader of USNO & Sabah Alliance, were sworn in as Chief Minister on 11 May, along with his cabinet ministers from USNO and SCA.[6] He replaces previous CM, Peter Lo who lost in the election.[7] This was the start of the 9-year rule of Sabah Alliance led by USNO's Mustapha in Sabah.

UPKO council led by Stephens decided on December that year to dissolve the party, and the remaining UPKO assemblymen and members to join USNO.[8][9] Stephens himself decided to retire from politics, until forming BERJAYA with several ex-USNO members in 1975.

References
  1. Bill Campbell (9 March 1967). "Alliance vs Alliance vs the Rest in Sabah elections". The Straits Times. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. p. 1. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  2. Bill Campbell (28 April 1967). "A jubilant Tun Mustapha says 'we've won'". The Straits Times. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. p. 20. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  3. "The Sabah verdict". The Straits Times. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 28 April 1967. p. 10. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. "Pengenalan". dun.sabah.gov.my (in Malay). Dewan Undangan Negeri Sabah. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  5. Herman Luping (5 January 2013). "Recalling the first Sabah election in 1967". www.dailyexpress.com.my. Sabah Publishing House Sdn. Bhd. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  6. Bill Campbell (12 May 1967). "Boycott by UPKO as Sabah Cabinet is sworn in". The Straits Times. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. p. 1. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  7. Bill Campbell (10 April 1967). "Three Ministers out". The Straits Times. New Straits Times via Google News. p. 1. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  8. Albert Ramalingam (11 December 1967). "Upko to bow out". The Straits Times. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. p. 1. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  9. Albert Ramalingam (29 December 1967). "16-2: Upko is out". The Straits Times. eresources.nlb.gov.sg. p. 1. Retrieved 3 January 2023.

Further reading
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