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85. Before concluding this section, and to avoid any possible misapprehension, we should make it clear that we do not in any way question the sincerity of very many thinking people, both Chinese and others, who opposed the Malaysia plan when appearing before us as members of S.U.P.P. delegations. It would be quite wrong to describe all these people as Communist or as being knowingly under Communist influence, and we had much sympathy with those who took exception to being so described.

Party Negara (PANAS)

86. This party was formed in April 1960. Its total membership towards the end of February 1962 was stated to be 52,795 of which Malays and Ibans provided approximately 20,000 each and Land Dayaks another 10,000. The party claimed to have established 65 branches and sub-branches throughout the State, and party delegations did in fact appear before us at a number of places.

87. The party's attitude towards Malaysia is based on the recommendation in the report of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee that Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei should each become States in the present Federation which would include in addition the 11 States in the present Federation of Malaya and the State of Singapore. It recognises that Sarawak is not yet ready for independence on her own but welcomes the opportunity to gain independence as part of a strong Federation, particularly in view of the cultural, economic and historical ties that exist between Sarawak and Malaya. The party agrees generally with the reservations contained in the M.S.C.C. report. Points which were particularly emphasised to us were the following:

(a) The party is not confident that Sarawak can remain non-Communist, either by itself or as part of a Borneo Federation. They consider that the only safeguard against Communism is a Malaysian Federation.

(b) Special priveleges should be written into the Constitution to give indigenous peoples of Sarawak the opportunity to raise their standard of living to that of the other communities. These special privileges should be the same as those available to Malays under the present Constitution of Malaya, but the party recognises that the privileges need not necessarily continue in perpetuity. They do not wish to alienate the sympathies of the Chinese population of the country.

(c) The Borneanisation of the Public Services should be accelerated, but the British officers should remain until they can be replaced by properly qualified local people. It is thought that this would be a gradual process which would not have been completed even in 10 years.

(d) The Head of State of Sarawak should be a native of the country, but the party did not expect that he would be eligible to become the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the new Federation.

(e) The party holds the view that strict control of immigration into Sarawak was vital. Not only should immigration from Malaya and Singapore be controlled, but also from the other territories in Borneo. One of the party's delegations asked that the head of the Immigration Department should be a native of Sarawak.