The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in Sabah, East Malaysia: An Overview 1990-1994

Abstract

This paper used historical approach to describe the development of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) with a descriptive method, especially for the early stage in Sabah. UMNO was established in Mei 1946 as a coalition of 41 units of the Malays organisations to oppose Malayan Union policy in Malaya. Meanwhile, UMNO in Sabah was only officially established on February 21, 1991, following the dissolution of the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) party. The application to establish UMNO in Sabah was made after Joseph Pairin Kitingan, President of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) decided to withdraw his party from the Barisan Nasional (BN)/National Front coalition to join the Gagasan Rakyat (opposition party) just a few days before the 1990 General Election. Issues such as emotional factors, racism and parochialism had caused organizations such as the Malays Peninsula Scholars Congress and the Association of Teachers of Peninsular Sabah and the Federal Territory (PGSSWP) (Kongres Cendekiawan Melayu Semenanjung dan Persatuan Guru-Guru Semenanjung dan Wilayah Persekutuan) to urge the UMNO leaders to come to Sabah. On October 17, 1990, Ghaffar Baba announced that UMNO would immediately be expanded to Sabah. Consequently, February 21, 1991, the USNO President announced in final assembly that the USNO party should be dissolved and all those members should join UMNO. On April 12, 1991, Harris Salleh and the Secretary-General of BERJAYA party, Ibrahim Kalali also joined UMNO. In Sabah State Elections in February 1994, UMNO (BN) won 23 out of 48 seats. However, the tide turned when some MPs in PBS joined UMNO or the BN parties. Consequently, Pairin was forced to relinquish the Chief Minister post on March 13, 1994.