KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah government has extended its condolences to the family of the late former state secretary Tan Sri Richard Lind, who died yesterday just before his 99th birthday.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said Lind, who played a key role in the setting up of Keningau’s Oath Stone, served the state and nation well.
"He was instrumental in the formation of Malaysia. Sabah has lost one of its great sons.
"On behalf of the state government, I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to his family," Hajiji said in a statement today.
Lind, 98, died about noon at his residence in Signal Hill.
He had served as state secretary under the Usno state government, and was the man behind the erection of the Batu Sumpah Keningau, or Keningau Oath Stone, a year after the Federation of Malaysia was formed in 1963.
This was because the first appointed chief minister, Tun Muhammad Fuad Stephens, realised that native people in the interior were still opposed to the formation of Malaysia.
Stephens sent Lind, who was a resident of Keningau, to find out why the locals were unhappy about the merger.
It was found that the interior folk were concerned over freedom of religion, since Islam was made the official religion, as well issues on native land and customs matters.
Although these core demands were included in the 20 Points safeguard, the locals said that they did not trust what was agreed upon on paper and wanted it to be cast in stone.
Following this, the Oath Stone was erected and unveiled on August 21,1965, witnessed by the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong and federal ministers. – The Vibes, March 21, 2021
