Datuk R.G. Barrett

The debate as to whether to join the Federation; opt for independence; or remain a British colony was now in the hands of four groups[1] ~ the United National Kadazan Organization (UNKO), led by Donald Stephens[2], who was a mix of Kadazan, Japanese, and British; the United Sabah National Organization (USNO) with a predominantly Muslim membership, led by Tun Mustapha[3]; the United National Pasok Momogun Organisation led by Murut native chieftan of Keningau, Sedomon Gunsanad Kina [4]and his brother, G.S. Sundang; and representing the Chinese, the United Party led by Khoo Siak Chiew.Orang Kaya-kaya Sedomon Gunsanad Kina was opposed to the formation of Malaysia and so, he believed, was UNKO’s Donald Stephens, who had come out against the proposal alongside Sarawak’s United People’s Party, and Partai Rakyat Brunei[5]. Whether it was the addition of Singapore, or the belief that he would be made Deputy Prime Minister under Lee Kwan Yew’s stewardship[6], Stephens reversed his position and set to work persuading others to embrace the idea of being part of the Federation. According to his wife, Cecilia[7], Stephens received a bullet in the mail for his active participation in promoting “the Malaysia plan.”The British, in the meanwhile, set up the Cobbold Commission to find out what the views of the people of North Borneo and Sarawak were ~ arriving in Sandakan in March of 1962. Of the individuals the Commission spoke to, two were of the vocal view that North Borneo should be self-governing: United Party’s Khoo Siak Chiew and my 46-year-old, ‘timber millionaire’, Legislative Councillor Father....ON THE ADVENT of Japan's widening interest in occupying Asia, R.G. Barrett's story begins in 1937 when, at age 21, he boarded the steamship Menelaus bound for Singapore... Read more