Mustapha Harun

Datu Mustapha bin Datu Harun, or Tun Mustapha for short (31 July 1918 – 2 January 1995), was a Malaysian politician who served as the 3rd Chief Minister of Sabah from May 1967 to November 1975 and the 1st Yang Di-Pertua Negara from September 1963 to September 1965 and President of the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO). He is considered by some to be one of the founding leaders of Sabah and was an important party in the negotiations leading to the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. He is sometimes known as the "Father of Independence of Sabah" (Bapa Kemerdekaan Sabah) and also the "Father of Development of Sabah" (Bapa Pembangunan Sabah). Personal life Datu Mustapha was born in Kampung Limau-limauan, Kudat. He is of mixed Suluk-Bajau origins (Bajau Bannaran/Bajau Kudat and not Bajau Ubian). World War II During World War II, he was wanted by the Japanese forces because of the rebellions he led against them, mainly in Kudat during the Japanese occupation. But when they could not find him, they caught his younger brother and eventually killed him because his brother would not reveal where he was hiding. Albert Kwok invited Mustapha to join in the Jesselton Revolt but he advised Kwok to wait and prepare, saying the time wasn't right for insurrection. However, Kwok was forced to launch the revolt ahead of schedule because the Chinese were going to be subjected to conscription by the Japanese. Kwok was joined in the revolt along with Suluks and Bajaus under Panglima Ali. The revolt failed and the Japanese engaged in large scale massacres of indigenous civilians, including women and children especially from the Suluks community. Political career Mustapha founded the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO). Mustapha ruled USNO with an iron fist, together with two other ineffective partners in Sabah Alliance. It can be described that "Mustapha was USNO and USNO was Mustapha".