KOTA KINABALU: Decades have passed, but the memory of Sabah’s first chief minister Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens, who was killed in a plane crash 40 years ago, lives on in his wife’s heart.
Toh Puan Rahimah Stephens, 86, said many fond memories of her late husband flooded back whenever their children visited her at home.
“He was very close to his children and often chatted with them about the philosophy of life.
“He always encouraged them to be independent and useful to society,” she said, adding that her four children were the source of her strength after Fuad and their eldest son, Johari, died in the accident.
Rahimah said this after laying a wreath at the Double Six monument in Sembulan here yesterday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.
The crash also killed then state finance minister Datuk Salleh Sulong, local government and housing minister Datuk Peter Mojuntin, state works and communication minister Datuk Chong Tien Vun, assistant minister to deputy chief minister Datuk Darius Binion, permanent secretary to the state finance ministry Datuk Wahid Peter Andu, state economic planning unit director Dr Syed Hussein Wafa, federal finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Ham-zah’s private secretary Ishak Atan, Fuad’s bodyguard Corporal Said Mohammad and pilot Captain Gandhi J. Nathan.
On June 6, 1976, Stephens boarded the Australian-made GAF Nomad aircraft from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu to attend an official banquet with Tengku Razaleigh at Istana Negeri to sign a deal with Petronas.
However, the aircraft crashed into the sea near Kampung Sembulan as the pilot was trying to land it at Kota Kinabalu airport.
Present at the ceremony were family members of Salleh, Peter, Chong and Darius, as well as Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Kota Kinabalu mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai and district police chief Assistant Commissioner M. Chandra.
Yong said the tragedy, which killed many Sabah leaders, chang-ed the state’s entire political scenario.
“After the incident, Sabah was still able to sail through the past 40 years.
“People are lucky as they can enjoy the political stability that we have now.”