 TUAN
YANG TERUTAMA TUN DATUK SERI PANGLIMA HAJI
MOHAMAD SAID BIN KERUAK, S.M.N., P.M.N.,
S.P.D.K. |
|
 DATUK
SERI PANGLIMA HAJI SALLEH SAID KERUAK |
|
TUAN
YANG TERUTAMA TUN DATUK SERI PANGLIMA HAJI MOHAMAD
SAID BIN KERUAK, S.M.N., P.M.N., S.P.D.K.
Sejarah
Hidup Beliau
26 July 1993: Tun
Mohamad Said Keruak pledges to improve State-Federal
ties
The
State Government will do its best to continue
its efforts towards creating better understanding
and a favourable working relationship with the
Federal Government, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri,
Tun Mohamad Said Keruak, said.
He said the Government would
spare no effort in ensuring that the State continued
to enhance and improve on the peaceful, harmonious
and stable environment, which had been achieved
so far for the good of the people. Sabah, with
the assistance of the Federal Government, would
strive towards achieving Vision 2020, he said
when opening the first meeting of the second
session of the ninth State Legislative Assembly.
Mohamad said the Government
would also not spare any effort to ensure that
poverty would be further reduced, if not eradicated.
He said unity and understanding among the people
was of paramount importance and the Government
could not compromise on this matter. "This
has resulted in a good start towards the creation
of the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and United
Sabah National Organisation (Usno) coalition
Government," he said.
Mohamad said the world recession
had clearly affected the economy of Malaysia
and Sabah but he was confident that with the
recovery of the world economy, the State's economy
would rebound strongly. He said, currently,
Sabah was still dependent on exports of primary
commodities but it was the Government's intention
to encourage downstream activities.
This diversification programme
had been emphasised by the Government ever since
the Sabah Action Blueprint was launched in 1987.
He said the main economic activity, which was
the basis for the export of primary commodities,
was still in the development of agricultural
land. This has provided many employment opportunities.
"My Government will continue
to develop the agricultural sector to its maximum
capacity while the dependence on foreign workers
will be gradually reduced," he stressed.
He said the Agriculture Department
and Rural Development Corporation would work
out necessary strategies and programmes to ensure
that farmers will not only fully participate
in the government programmes but with their
participation will derive improved income from
this.
A similar approach towards
enhancing and improving the livelihood and economy
of fishermen is also being planned. Mohamad
said fishing, as a young industry, would be
given the necessary attention to enable it to
progress and grow with Federal assistance.
14
March 1994: Tun Mohamad Said Keruak saves Sabah
from a political crisis
Sabah
was thrown into political confusion today with
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan
announcing the dissolution of the State Legislative
Assembly and the Yang di-Pertua Negeri denying
he had signed such an order.
On a day when the PBS came
under more pressure with reports that its secretary-general
and Sook assemblyman, Datuk Joseph Kurup, had
left the party to join newly formed Parti Bersatu
Rakyat Sabah, Pairin announced the dissolution
at noon after an audience at 9.15 this morning
with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Mohamad
Said Keruak, at Istana Kota Kinabalu.
Pairin also displayed at the
Press Conference the declaration of the State
Legislative Assembly dated today and purportedly
signed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
But Tun Mohamad Said, in a
statement, denied that he had signed any document.
"My attention has been drawn to a Press
Conference and to a purported statement made
by Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the Chief
Minister of Sabah, to the effect that I have,
in my capacity as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri
of Sabah, consented to the dissolution of the
Legislative Assembly of Sabah.”
"If there was in fact
a Press Conference and if the statement attributed
to Datuk Seri Jospeh Pairin Kitingan accurately
reflects what he is reported to have said, then
the statement is utterly irresponsible, mischievous,
fabricated and an act unbecoming of the office
of the Chief Minister of Sabah.”
"I have not either today
or at any time after the conclusion of the recent
State election consented to the dissolution
of the State legislative Assembly which is convened
to meet in accordance to the Constitution on
March 18," he said.
In a seven-paragraph statement,
the Yang di-Pertua Negeri said he had met Pairin
at 9.15am today where Pairin had requested to
dissolve the State Assembly immediately. He
said in accordance with the discretionary powers
vested under the Article 10 of the State Constitution
and in accordance with established Constitutional
conventions, flatly refused the request.
He said he had been informed
that Pairin, during the Press Conference, had
produced a document which is a document purportedly
signifying the Yang di-Pertua Negeri's consent
to the dissolution of the State Assembly. He
said, if this was true, "I would like to
unequivocally and categorically that I did not
(nor did I instruct my private secretary or
anybody else) either today or at any time after
the conclusion of the recent election execute
such a document pertaining to the dissolution.”
"If the statements and
actions as represented above are accurate, it
is a matter that directly impinges on the independence,
dignity, duties, responsibilities and powers
of the office of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of
Sabah and is therefore a very serious matter
and one that should give rise to considerable
concern meriting action by the rightful authorities.”
"Nobody has the right
or authority to usurp my constitutional duties
or purport to use my Office for any nefarious
or partisan purposes whatsoever," he said.
This followed an earlier two-paragraph
statement issued by his confidential secretary,
Sukarti Wakiman, which read: "On the orders
of His Excellency the Yang di-Pertua Negeri
it is hereby announced that the Yang di-Pertua
Negeri did not sign any letters or documents
on the dissolution of the State Assembly as
claimed.”
"Hence reports saying
that the State Assembly had been dissolved for
new elections are not correct. His Excellency
is of the view that there is no need for new
elections as the elections to the State Assembly
had just been held and therefore His Excellency
did not want to burden the people with new elections."
Asked whether Pairin had an
audience with Tun Mohamad, Sukarti said, "Yes,
Pairin came but Yang di-Pertua Negeri did not
sign any document."
Article 10(1) of the State
Constitution says that the Yang di-Pertua Negeri,
in the exercise of his functions, shall act
in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet.
But Article 10(2) states that
the Yang di-Pertua Negeri may act in his discretion
to appoint a Chief Minister and withholding
of consent to a request for the dissolution
of the Assembly.
Article 21(2) gives the Yang
di-Pertua Negeri the discretion to discontinue
a meeting of the House without dissolving the
Assembly.
Pairin, responding to reporters'
questions on the Yang di-Pertua Negeri's comments
last night, said he did not want to make any
further statements on the "issue of dissolution"
until he obtains a clarification from the Head
of State. The Chief Minster said he had sought
another appointment to see the Yang di-Pertua
Negeri on the issue.
The reporters' questions whether
the document to dissolve the State Assembly
was signed this morning, Pairin refused to say
when it was signed except that the document
carried the signature of the Yang di-Pertua
Negeri.
Earlier, at 12.20pm, speaking
at the Press conference at Sri Gaya, the Chief
Minister's official residence, Pairin had said
the Yang di-Pertua Negeri had accepted the State
Government's advice to dissolve the Assembly.
"He agreed with me that what we (the State
Government) were doing (dissolving the Assembly)
was for the good of the people and the State."
Among those present were Tun
Datu Mustapha Datu Harun, PBS deputy presidents
Datuk Ahmad Bahrom Titingan, Datuk Bernard Dompok,
Wanita chief Datuk Ariah Tengku Ahmad and Deputy
Chief Minister Datuk Amirkahar Tun Mustapha.
Assembly secretary Datuk Francis
Yap Tai Nyen, who was present at the Press conference,
said the Election Commission would be officially
informed of the dissolution after the Hari Raya
holidays.
Pairin said the PBS was going
back to the people to get a clearer mandate
and defuse the political confusion. Asked if
the defection of the three PBS assemblymen -
two elected and one nominated - to the Barisan
Nasional yesterday had prompted him to call
for the dissolution of the Assembly, Pairin
said, "That was one of the reasons."
The three who resigned yesterday
were Culture, Youth and Sports Minister and
senior PBS vice-president Datuk Lajim Okin,
Agriculture and Fisheries Assistant Minister
Rubin Balang and nominated assemblyman from
Labuan Datuk Zaini Isa.
Lajim, the assemblyman for
Kuala Penyu, and Zaini announced they were joining
Umno while Balang, the assemblyman for Kemabong,
had applied to join the Sabah Progressive Party.
Member of Parliament for Kimanis, Datuk Nurnikman
Abdullah, had also joined the Barisan Nasional.
Pairin said, in view of the
political situation following the February 18-19
elections, the best solution would be to dissolve
the Assembly and give the people of Sabah another
chance to exercise their rights to choose a
Government of their choice.
"We hope and (we are)
confident that the people of Sabah will give
a comfortable mandate to PBS to continue ruling
the State," he said, adding as in the recent
elections, the PBS would be fielding candidates
in all the 48 constituencies.
Pairin said given the short
notice, he hoped the Election Commission could
clear the electoral rolls of what he claimed
were phantom voters as well as reinstate local
voters whose names were missing from the voters'
list. He charged that in last month's elections,
non-Malaysians were allowed to vote using certification
of temporary identity cards.
"Barisan Nasional had
acknowledged the existence of phantom voters
by lodging a police report. Several foreigners
had pleaded guilty in court of using fake identity
cards to vote," he said.
If elections are held, it
will be the fifth within the nine years the
PBS was in power. The PBS was returned to power
in last month's polls with 25 seats to the 23
secured by the Barisan Nasional.
With the State Constitution
allowing the ruling party to nominate six assemblymen,
the PBS had 31 seats at the time it formed the
State Government on February 21. Now, with two
elected assemblymen and a nominated member joining
the Barisan, it has 28 against the Barisan Nasional's
26.
Lawyers for the three assemblymen
who quit the PBS yesterday said the party had
lost its majority now that the Barisan Nasional
had increased its elected members in the State
Assembly to 25.
4
May 1994: Tun Mohamad Said Keruak brings political
stability back to Sabah
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Mohamad Said
Keruak, said the return of the Barisan Nasional
Government in Sabah had brought back political
stability in the State. He said the BN Government
had also restored a cordial working relationship
between the State and Federal Governments, which
was strained for the past few years under the
previous government.
"The new State Government
is stable as it was formed by Barisan Nasional
which comprises several political parties representing
the various communities in Sabah," he said
when opening the State Legislative Assembly
meeting here today.
Delivering the State Government's
policy speech, Mohamad Said said there was no
more confrontation with the Federal Government
and this augured well for the development of
the State. The Government could now focus more
on development for the benefit of the people
of Sabah, he said.
“It is also the aim
of my Government to improve the State's current
4.4 per cent economic growth to be on par with,
if not better than, the national economic growth
of eight per cent," the Yang di-Pertua
Negeri said.
Mohamad Said said one of the
measures to improve the State economy was the
proposed implementation of free economic zones
in various parts of Sabah. "The creation
of free trade zones in Sabah could encourage
investors to invest free economic zones in various
parts of Sabah. The creation of free trade zones
in Sabah could encourage investors to invest
in Sabah and this could contribute to the betterment
of the State economy."
He added the Government would
expedite economic diversification with emphasis
on manufacturing of raw materials locally. Such
a move would reduce the State's dependence on
the depleting timber resources and shift its
economic base to downstream processing.
Immediate steps would be taken
to improve existing basic infrastructures such
as roads and supply of water and electricity.
He said the State Government would participate
in trade missions organised by the Federal Government.
On the privatisation of government
agencies, he said the Government would ensure
active participation of Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
He said priorities would be given to local-based
companies in its privatisation programmes.
He called on leaders of various
State Chambers of Commerce in Sabah to complement
the government's privatisation policy. On tourism,
Mohamad Said said a concerted effort would be
taken to develop the industry. The local traditions
and cultures of the various ethnic groups in
the State would be preserved as tourist attractions.
31
December 1994: Tun Mohamad Said Keruak retires
as the Governor of Sabah
A farewell parade mounted by 105 officers and
men of the Police Field Force Battalion 16 for
outgoing Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohamad
Said Keruak was held at the Istana here this
morning.
Said's term of office expires
tomorrow after serving as Sabah's Head of State
for two terms since 1987. Said is 68 years old.
According to the State Constitution, a Head
of State is only allowed to serve for two terms.
18
November 1995: Tun Mohamad Said Keruak dies
Former Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohamad
Said Keruak died tonight at the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital here following a short illness. He
leaves a wife, Toh Puan Datin Seri Panglima
Hajjah Bandong Hasbollah, four daughters and
a son, Datuk Salleh, who is the Sabah Chief
Minister.
All his children and some
relatives were at his bedside when he died at
8.30pm.
His body was taken to his
Likas residence at 9.00pm. Tun Mohamad Said,
69, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit
of the hospital on September 25 after he complained
of difficulty in breathing.
A State funeral will be held
tomorrow at the State mosque here.
Tun Mohamad Said assumed the
post of seventh Yang di-Pertua Negeri on 1st
January 1987 and served two terms until 31st
December 1994.
Tun Mohamad Said was born
in Kota Belud in 1926 and had his early education
there. He joined the civil service in 1941 and
was a civil servant for 22 years. He entered
politics in 1961 and was elected a member of
the Legislative Council in 1963. In the same
year, he was appointed State Minister of Agriculture
and Fisheries, a post he held until 1975.
He was elected the State Assemblyman
for Usukan on the Usno ticket in the first State
election in 1967 and was re-elected in 1971.
He was re-elected State Assemblyman for Usukan
in the 1976 and 1981 general elections as well.
He was elected Member of Parliament
for Kota Belud as an Usno candidate in the 1969
general election and was returned unopposed
in the 1974 general election. He was appointed
Deputy Chief Minister in 1970 and Chief Minister
in 1975, but resigned as a result of Usno's
defeat by Berjaya in the 1976 State election.
He took over the presidency of Usno from Tun
Mustapha Datu Harun that same year.
He was Opposition Leader in
the Sabah legislative assembly from 1976 to
1977 but gave up the presidency following Usno's
poor showing in the 1982 polls.
Apart from politics, Mohamad
Said showed a keen interest in voluntary organisations.
19
November 1995: Tun Mohamad Said Keruak laid
to rest
Sabah's seventh Yang di-Pertua Negeri, the late
Tun Mohamad Said Keruak, was laid to rest at
the State Mausoleum in the State Mosque compound
in Sembulan this afternoon. The father of Chief
Minister Datuk Haji Salleh Tun Mohamad Said,
who died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital about
8.30 last night, was given a State funeral.
Tun Mohamad Said is the fourth
Yang di-Pertua Negeri to be buried at the State
Mausoleum. The three others were Tun Mohamad
Fuad Stephens, Tun Hamdan Abdullah and Tun Pengiran
Ahmad Raffae.
Tun Mohamad Said, who had
also served as Chief Minister, was laid in state
at his residence in Likas from 9.15am to 11.30am
for the people to pay their last respects. Among
those who paid their last respects and offered
condolences to Mohd Said's wife, Toh Puan Bandong
Hasbollah, and Salleh, were Yang di-Pertua Negeri
Tan Sri Sakaran Dandai, his wife Toh Puah Rukaiyah
Panglima Abdullah, State Ministers and other
dignitaries.
Representing the Federal Government
at the funeral was Information Minister Datuk
Mohamed Rahmat while Deputy Chief Minister Datuk
Amar Alfred Jabu represented the Sarawak Government.
Former Chief Ministers Tan Sri Peter Lo Sui
Yin, Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh and Datuk Seri
Joseph Pairin Kitingan were also present.
The former Yang di-Pertua
Negeri's remains were brought to the State Mosque
at 11.30am and he was laid to rest after the
Zuhur prayers. Bandong was the first to sprinkle
air mawar on her husband's grave followed by
Salleh, Sakaran and the other leaders.
Meanwhile, State leaders described
the passing of Tun Mohamad Said as a great loss
to the State. Sakaran said Tun Mohamad Said's
contributions to the people and State would
go down in history as one that had brought development.
Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Datuk
Yong Teck Lee said Tun Mohamad Said had felt
totally at home with the people despite the
high position he held.
Pairin, who was Chief
Minister under Tun Mohamad Said's tenure as
Yang di-Pertua Negeri, said his passing was
the loss of an illustrious statesman. He added
that Tun Mohamad Said would be remembered by
the people of Sabah as among those responsible
for bringing progress to the State.
