WHAT IS THE TRIPLE SIX TRAGEDY OF SABAH?

People may ask, "What is the Triple Six Tragedy?" and "Why is it so important" to the people of Sabah?

Some people in Sabah and other parts of the Malaysian Federation including some past and present leaders usually refer to the Triple Six Tragedy as "Double Six" tragedy. This is not very accurate! If one omits the year, then the real significance of the event can be lost. Why call the Triple Six Tragedy as Double Six? Is there a hidden agenda by the attempting to omit the year the tragic event happen?

The writer prefers to call this history-changing event as The Triple Six Tragedy. This is because the tragic event occurred on the 6th of June, 1976 (6.6.1976).

This sad event involved the demise of three prominent Kadazan leaders. There were other leaders representing other Sabahan racial groupings whose race experienced similar loss at that time. The older generation of Sabahans know this. Not so the present generation or most of the young people. This is one single event that Sabahans - particularly the Kadazan people (or you may prefer Kadazandusun) - must not and should never forget.

On that fatal day, a plane crash at Sembulan the cause of which remains unexplained to this day, caused the demise of the then Chief Minister of Sabah, Tun Fuad (formerly Donald) Stephens, Datuk Peter Joinod Mojuntin, a Minister, and Datuk Darius Binion, an Assistant Minister. Two other ministers perished in that tragedy, namely, Datuk Salleh Sulong and Datuk Chong Tain Vun. There were others whose lives were cut short.

This 6th of June 2016 is the 40th anniversary of that TRAGEDY!

To be continued...