# Osu Sukam

Osu bin Sukam (Jawi: اوسو بن سوكم; born 19 February 1949) is a Malaysian politician who served as the 12th Chief Minister of Sabah from March 1999 to March 2001, Member of Parliament (MP) for Papar from August 1986 to March 2004 and Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kawang from February 1994 to March 2004. Following the rotation system in place at that time, Osu, an ethnic Bajau, held the post for two years representing the Muslim bumiputras of Sabah. In 2001, he was replaced by Chong Kah Kiat. Until 14 July 2005, he was a member of a ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

## Election results

Parliament of Malaysia :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout |
| 1986 | P146 Papar, Sabah | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 4,844 | 48.92% | James Ghani (IND) | 4,638 | 46.83% | 9,995 | 206 | 57.99% |
| 1986 | P146 Papar, Sabah | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 4,844 | 48.92% | Othman Mohd Yassin (IND) | 421 | 4.25% | 9,995 | 206 | 57.99% |
| 1990 | P146 Papar, Sabah | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 8,452 | 51.22% | Abdul Rahman Juman (IND) | 7,939 | 48.10% | 16,613 | 513 | 71.80% |
| 1990 | P146 Papar, Sabah | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 8,452 | 51.22% | Wenches B. Lajingah (IND) | 45 | 0.27% | 16,613 | 513 | 71.80% |
| 1990 | P146 Papar, Sabah | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 8,452 | 51.22% | Md. Ariff Ab. Bakar (IND) | 41 | 0.25% | 16,613 | 513 | 71.80% |
| 1990 | P146 Papar, Sabah | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 8,452 | 51.22% | Alexander Huang Tzin Tat (IND) | 27 | 0.16% | 16,613 | 513 | 71.80% |
| 1995 | P153 Papar, Sabah | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 12,131 | 56.68% | Johnny Mositun (PBS) | 9,015 | 48.10% | 21,607 | 3,116 | 74.94% |
| 1995 | P153 Papar, Sabah | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 12,131 | 56.68% | Mohd. Hashim Yussup (IND) | 257 | 1.20% | 21,607 | 3,116 | 74.94% |
| 1999 | P153 Papar, Sabah | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 14,013 | 64.81% | Mohd Saidi Lampoh (PBS) | 7,608 | 35.19% | 21,821 | 6,405 | 70.22% |
Sabah State Legislative Assembly :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout |
| 1981 | N.. Kawang | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 2,153 | | Fred Sinidol (BERJAYA) | 2,976 | | 5,444 | 823 | 84.74% |
| 1981 | N.. Kawang | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 2,153 | | Patrit Sendu (PASOK) | 222 | | 5,444 | 823 | 84.74% |
| 1985 | N.. Kawang | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 1,923 | | Wenches B. Lajingah (PBS) | 2,122 | | 5,239 | 199 | 81.63% |
| 1985 | N.. Kawang | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 1,923 | | Fred Tokudung Sinidol (BERJAYA) | 956 | | 5,239 | 199 | 81.63% |
| 1985 | N.. Kawang | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 1,923 | | Pengiran Othman Rauf @ Awang (BERSEPADU) | 190 | | 5,239 | 199 | 81.63% |
| 1986 | N11 Sulaman, P137 Tuaran | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 2,913 | 45.65% | Muhammad Abd Rahman (PBS) | 2,510 | 39.34% | 6,437 | 403 | 76.71% |
| 1986 | N11 Sulaman, P137 Tuaran | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 2,913 | 45.65% | Mungkit Ampuling (BERJAYA) | 651 | 10.20% | 6,437 | 403 | 76.71% |
| 1986 | N11 Sulaman, P137 Tuaran | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 2,913 | 45.65% | Nawawi Budin (IND) | 212 | 3.32% | 6,437 | 403 | 76.71% |
| 1986 | N11 Sulaman, P137 Tuaran | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 2,913 | 45.65% | Bigong Albert Polinoh (IND) | 80 | 1.25% | 6,437 | 403 | 76.71% |
| 1986 | N11 Sulaman, P137 Tuaran | Osu Sukam (USNO) | 2,913 | 45.65% | A Tanjong Hakim (IND) | 15 | 0.24% | 6,437 | 403 | 76.71% |
| 1994 | N32 Kawang | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 4,699 | 49.53% | Irene Daphne Pritchard @ Ariah Tengku Ahmad (PBS) | 4,635 | 48.84% | 9,561 | 64 | 81.11% |
| 1994 | N32 Kawang | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 4,699 | 49.53% | Norbert Chin Chuan Siong (IND) | 110 | 1.16% | 9,561 | 64 | 81.11% |
| 1994 | N32 Kawang | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 4,699 | 49.53% | John Dagul (IND) | 32 | 0.34% | 9,561 | 64 | 81.11% |
| 1994 | N32 Kawang | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 4,699 | 49.53% | Duig Sumpang (IND) | 12 | 0.13% | 9,561 | 64 | 81.11% |
| 1999 | N32 Kawang | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 7,017 | 57.19% | Ariah Tengku Ahmad (PBS) | 4,804 | 39.16% | 12,354 | 2,213 | 79.92% |
| 1999 | N32 Kawang | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 7,017 | 57.19% | Mohd Kanit Omar (BERSEKUTU) | 282 | 2.30% | 12,354 | 2,213 | 79.92% |
| 1999 | N32 Kawang | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 7,017 | 57.19% | Pengiran Othman Rauf (SETIA) | 117 | 0.95% | 12,354 | 2,213 | 79.92% |
| 1999 | N32 Kawang | Osu Sukam (UMNO) | 7,017 | 57.19% | Sajit Patrick Singh (IND) | 49 | 0.40% | 12,354 | 2,213 | 79.92% |

## Controversy
### Gambling debt

He resigned from his party of UMNO due to gambling debts totalling at least US$1.8 million he accumulated from Ritz Hotel Casino in London and another casino. The casino obtained a judgment in the High Court in England to recover debts owed by Osu. The casino sought to enforce the judgment in Malaysia by registering the judgment in the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in July 2005. The High Court at Kota Kinabalu refused to register the judgment on grounds of public policy. However, in 2007, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the casino allowing the debt to be recovered.

## Honours

* Malaysia:
** Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2022)
* Sabah :
** Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk (1994)
** Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (1997)
* Sarawak :
** Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak (DA) – Datuk Amar (1999)