KOTA KINABALU: Tun Sakaran Dandai will be remembered by many as a “good and humble man” in Sabah’s rough and tumble politics.

       The late Sakaran, whose political career spanned from the formation of Malaysia in 1963 to becoming Umno’s first chief minister in Sabah in 1994 and later governor, was noted as a gentleman politician.

       It was best illustrated through his brotherly embrace of Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan when the latter’s Parti Bersatu Sabah’s government collapsed and had to make way for the Umno-led Barisan Nasional helmed by Sakaran.

       Sakaran, 91, passed away yesterday after more than a week battling Covid-19.

       In March 1994, he became Umno’s first chief minister in Sabah after Pairin resigned upon losing majority support three weeks after the state election.

       Former minister in Sakaran’s state Cabinet, Datuk Tham Nyip Shen, said his former boss was a “fine gentleman” who was always working towards uniting the people and had the rakyat in his heart.

       “As a leader, he always had the rakyat’s interest at heart. He was gentle even to the opposition.

       “I had the honour of joining his Cabinet in 1994, and witnessed the graceful transition of power,” said Tham, who was part of the Sabah Progressive Party which was a partner of Sabah Barisan.

       Condolences poured in for Sakaran’s family from all over Malaysia, with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor describing him as a veteran leader who served Sabah well.

       In extending his condolences to Sakaran’s wife Toh Puan Siti Rukaiyah Abdullah, Hajiji called Sakaran a Malaysian leader who had contributed to the people, especially in Sabah.

       “Sakaran remained an influential leader,” he said in a statement.

       Born on April 15, 1930, Sakaran began his political career in Sabah’s first state election in 1967 when he won a seat in Semporna on Usno’s ticket.

       He remained undefeated in the seat until 1994 when he resigned to become Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

       He was also Semporna MP from 1974 to 1990, losing it once in 1981.

       Sakaran, whose political career grew under the late Tun Mustapha Harun, joined Umno when Mustapha decided to dissolve Usno to merge it with Umno that spread its wings to Sabah in 1991.

       However, a political feud between the late Tun Ghafar Baba and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the deputy presidency of Umno in the early 1990s, and subsequent changes in Sabah Umno, saw Mustapha quitting Umno.

       It thrust Sakaran into the leadership position of Sabah Umno and when Barisan took over the state government, Sakaran became chief minister in March until December 1994.

       Subsequently, he was elevated to governor (January 1995 to December 2002).

       Since his retirement, Sakaran had kept a relatively low profile.

       His son Datuk Nasir and nephew Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (now opposition Parti Warisan Sabah president) were among those from his family to continue to be active in politics.

       Sakaran was laid to rest at Heroes Mausoleum at the state mosque in Sembulan here, Nasir said.

       Sakaran was admitted to Gleneagles Hospital here on Aug 19 and was at the intensive care unit since last Wednesday.