part to play in the future; it is essential that they should live and work in harmony. If these things can be achieved, the intensification of political consciousness arising out of the Malaysia proposals will in the long run prove beneficial. Although some kind of association between the Federation of Malaya and the Borneo territories has long been discussed, the degree of interest taken in Sarawak, both by supporters and by opponents of the present proposals, has been a most encouraging indication of their concern regarding their political future. In this connexion, the deliberations of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee,[1] representing the opinion of informed and responsible sections of the population of Sarawak, have made a most useful contribution.
Section D.—General Observations on Evidence.
25. We have noted earlier the high esteem in which the colonial administration is held in Sarawak. Generous tributes were paid by all communities to the impartiality of colonial administrators and to the progress which has been made since the war. In a multi-racial society the quality of impartiality, and belief in such impartiality, is exceedingly important. The present officials, moreover, have an intimate knowledge of the people and of the requirements and possibilities of the country. For these reasons, the wish was expressed to us from almost every quarter that any new arrangements should not cause an exodus of the present ofiicials, but should rather encourage them to remain in service in Sarawak until their places can be taken by the local people with the necessary qualifications.
26. We were made aware of the high respect and affection in which Her Majesty The Queen is held, more especially among native populations in the interior. There was genuine gratification that the Commonwealth links would be maintained with Malaysia.
27. On a number of occasions during our tour, we were reminded of the “Nine Cardinal Principles of the rule of the English Rajah”. These Principles which had long been observed were enacted by the then Rajah of Sarawak in 1941, and since the cession of the territory to the Crown, have been enshrined in the First Schedule to the Sarawak (Constitution) Order-in-Council, I956. They are reproduced in Appendix C. The eighth of these Principles, to which our attention was most frequently drawn, reads as follows:
- “That the goal or self-government shall always be kept in mind, that the people or Sarawak shall be entrusted in due course with the governance of themselves, and that continuous efforts shall be made to hasten the reaching of this goal by educating them in the obligations, the responsibilities and the privileges of citizenship."
The argument was used by those who opposed the Malaysia proposals that it would be inconsistent with the British Government's obligation to agree to a scheme which did not first grant independence to Sarawak. The Malaysia proposals are regarded in some quarters as an indication that the British Government are no longer prepared to shoulder their responsibilities or honour their commitments. We should record, however, that some of the native population, who at the time of cession had found assurance in these Principles,
- ↑ See Appendix F.
