The ‘father of Malaysia from Sabah’, through his son’s eyes

Asgari Stephens, the son of Malaysia’s “father of Malaysia from Sabah,” recalls his father Fuad as a loving parent and a devoted statesman. Despite the demands of his political career, Fuad always made time for his family, insisting on being home for dinner and ensuring his children were present. As a doting father, he valued education and instilled values such as honesty and giving back in his children.

Fluent in multiple languages, Fuad used his linguistic skills to help others communicate with authorities in English. Born in Kudat, Sabah in 1920, Fuad would have turned 106 just two days before Malaysia Day this year. As a key figure in negotiations leading to Malaysia's formation, he served as Sabah's first chief minister. However, Asgari remembers his father's initial reservations about the idea of Malaysia, fearing it would leave Sabah overly dependent on colonial structures.

Singapore's eventual departure in 1965 deeply affected Fuad, who wrote a heartbroken letter to Lee Kuan Yew for Asgari to discover later. Tragically, Fuad died in a plane crash along with his eldest son Johari and nine others on June 6, 1976. Asgari still reflects on his father's legacy, hoping that Sabah's politicians would work for the betterment of all Sabahans, believing his father would be disappointed with the current state of affairs.