COMMENT | There was once a man called Stephen Kalong Ningkan. He was the first elected Chief Minister of Sarawak but his brief “reign” was not without controversy.

He acted against attempts by Umno to spread its wings to Sarawak and also tried to initiate a land reform law that would allow the natives to sell their land to anyone.

Crucially, he also tried to sack a young Melanau leader called Abdul Taib Mahmud from his position as Sarawak’s communication and works minister.

Stephen’s attempt to consolidate his power backfired and, after a revolt by his coalition partners and even some reps from within his party, he was unceremoniously dumped in 1966 under the looming threat of a no-confidence motion...