Remembering a key moment in Sabah’s history

Lost potential: Tun Fuad (wearing dark glasses), Conrad Mojuntin (on Tun Fuad’s right) and Peter Mojuntin (seated, on Conrad’s right) on the campaign trail in Matunggong, Sabah, in March 1976. — PETRUS CONRAD

FORTY-FIVE years ago today, a Nomad N-22B aircraft that had entered Kota Kinabalu airport airspace began a one-and-a-half-turn spiral plummet that ended in disaster. The plane, which had departed from Labuan, crashed into shallow waters off the coast of Kampung Sembulan Baru, Kota Kinabalu.

Killed in the tragedy on June 6,1976, was the crème de la crème of Berjaya, which had been led by its president, Tun Fuad Stephens, to victory over Usno just two months before in the Sabah state election. The dead were Tun Fuad (Sabah Chief Minister), Datuk Peter Mojun-tin (Local Government and Housing Minister), Datuk Salleh Sulong (Finance Minister), Chong Thain Vun (Communications and Works Minister) and Darius Binion (assistant to the Chief Minister).