Osu Sukam

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12th Chief Minister of Sabah
Osu Sukam
In office 1999 – 2001
Preceded by	Bernard Dompok
Succeeded by	Chong Kah Kiat

Political party	United Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
Religion	Islam

Osu Sukam, or Datuk Seri Panglima Osu Bin Haji Sukam, is an ex-Chief Minister of the state of Sabah, Malaysia. He became the 12th Chief Minister of the state in 1999 and took over the post from Bernard Dompok. 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 July 14, 2005, he was a member of a ruling United Malays National Organization party, which he resigned from due to gambling debts totalling at least USD$1.8 million he accumulated from Ritz Hotel Casino in London and another casino.^[1] He bears a striking resemblance to Roland Gift, the lead singer of the pop group the Fine Young Cannibals.

[edit] Gambling controversy

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 favor of the casino allowing the debt to be recovered.^[2]