The First Chief Minister of Sarawak (1963–1966): Stephen Kalong Ningkan

Dato (now Tan Sri) Stephen Kalong Ningkan (1920–1997) was the first Chief Minister of Sarawak (1963–1966). Ningkan was born on 20 August 1920 in Betong, Sarawak which was then administered under the Second Division of Simanggang. He was a student of St Augustine’s school.

Kalong Ningkan was of mixed Iban and Chinese parentage and his Chinese name was Mok Teck Boon. Ningkan grandfather, Mok Bak Seng was born in Namhoi, Kwangtung Province, China in 1870. At 6 years old, he took Ningkan to China for several years so that Ningkan could learn the culture and the way of life there. However, his grandfather died on 20 October 1963, a few months after Ningkan took the office as chief minister.

Stephen Kalong Ningkan was appointed as the first chief minister of Sarawak on 21 July 1963 by the then Governor, Sir Alexander Waddell. Ningkan had a strong anticommunist stand during his tenure as chief minister. He also opposed the National Language and Education policy. He wanted Sarawak to continue using English as the official language and Sarawakians are free to learn and use their mother languages. He also opposed the education system of Malaya, he wanted Sarawak to have its own education system.

Because of that, Tunku Abdul Rahman wanted him to step down as Chief Minister. In 1966, Tunku engineered the well-known Sarawak Constitutional Crisis to bring down Ningkan. The rest is history.

The Prime Minister of Sabah (Donald Stephens) and Prime Minister of Sarawak (Stepehen Kalong Ningkan)

Both Leaders of Sovereign States of Borneo, Sabah and Sarawak should use the title as "The Prime Minister" instead of "Chief Minister". Singapore insist to remain with the title as "The Prime Minister of Singapore".

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