 Following Singapore's exit from Malaysia, Stephens sought a review of Sabah's participation in the federation, although he was not seeking secession.However, this was rejected by the federal government, which feared that such a move would endanger the federation as a whole.In 1973, Fuad Stephens was appointed as the governor of Sabah, known as the Yang di-Pertua Negara (the post was later known as Yang di-Pertua Negeri).