Page:Report of the Commission of Enquiry North Borneo & Sarawak.pdf/31

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
(d) Representation in the Federal Parliament

The party wishes Sarawak to be given at least 17 seats in the House of Representatives. For the Senate, they agree with the present arrangements in Malaya under which each State elects two members.

(e) Language

Malay is accepted as the National Language. but the party considers that English should be used for ofiicial purposes in Sarawak for at least l5 years from the day on which Malaysia comes into existence. The party considers too that the present policy of the Sarawak Government on the use of English as a medium of instruction in secondary schools should not be changed without the concurrence of the State Legislature.

(f) Migration

The party consider it essential that control of migration into Sarawak should be vested in the State.

(g) Federal Citizenship

The party agrees with the views of the M.S.C.C. on this subject, but does not wish a test of permanent residence to be applied to a person who is indigenous to Sarawak.

(h) Special Privileges

These should be granted to the indigenous peoples In Sarawak as they are to the Malays in Malaya but, as the latter are more advanced than the natives in Sarawak, the party considers that the ratio of scholarship awards for Sarawak should be seven for natives to every one for non—natives; and that the same ratio should apply to the public services. The indigenous peoples should also be given special treatment in the economic field, and assistance, including financial assistance, to encourage them to enter into business. These special privileges should, however, continue for a limited period and the party suggests 20 years. The party makes clear its opposition to any suggestion that non-native should be deprived of their vested rights.

(i) Armed Forces

The party wished these to be confined to natives as at safeguard against infiltration by Communists and their agents.


CHAPTER 2
ENQUIRY IN NORTH BORNEO
Section A,——Background

95. North Borneo is bordered on the south-west by Sarawak and on the south-east by Indonesian Kalimantan. From Jesselton, the capital, it is 1,000 miles to Singapore and 1,200 miles to Hong Kong. The country is smaller than Sarawak (29,388 square miles, or roughly the size of Ireland) and more compact, though mountainous and densely forested. Mount Kinabalu (13,455 feet) can be seen from many parts or the Colony. Great rivers flow