Sarawak Historical Event 1946-1960

"Sarawak
Historical Events"
1946-1960
— Compiled By HO AH CHON —
Copyright Ho Ah Chon
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means
electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording
or any information storage and retrieval system, without
prior permission in writing from the author.
Printed in Kuching by See Hua Daily N e w s Bhd.
Preface
As far as 1952 was concerned, it was an eventful year in the history of
Sarawak, unquestionably the most eventful since the cession of the territory to
the crown.
One of the last honours bestowed by His Late Majesty King George XI
before his death was the conferment of knighthood upon His Excellency the
Governor, an honour which was received with pride and satisfaction by people
throughout Sarawak. His Excellency was absent from the country on furlough
for five months in the middle of the year and during that period the Chief
Secretary, Mr. R.G. Aikman, was Officer Administering the Government.
Probably the most important event of the year— at any rate to the citizens of
Kuching and Sibu—was the visit in October of Her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Kent, accompanied by her son the Duke of Kent. This was the first visit of a
member of the Royal family to Sarawak. Her Royal Highness arrived in Kuching
on the 14th of October from Singapore and with three day's stay she attended
many a interesting functions. The Duchess spent most of Thursday, 16th October, at Sibu, flying to and from that town in the Sunderland flying boat which had
brought her to Sarawak. The Duchess was welcomed both in Sibu and in
Kuching with wholehearted and sincere demonstration of affection and loyalty,
and the drive through the brilliantly decorated streets of these towns was a most
moving experience for all those who took part in it.In the words of His Excellency
the Governor, Her Royal Highness left behind Sarawak a gay and happy memory and a great example of unselfish public service which we will always
remember and treasure."
1953 was in Sarawak, most emphatically Coronation Year; a number of
other important events occurred but none of these are likely to be as well remembered as the joyful and spontaneous manifestations loyalty throughout the
whole country on the occasion of Her Majesty's Coronation. In addition to the
services held in churches of all denominations, there were celebrations in towns
and villages everywhere, regattas, processions, sports, dancing, dinners and
presentations of addresses and sentiments of loyalty to Her Majesty from all
classes and races of the community. Some of the gatherings to celebrate the
Coronation are shown in photographs in this issue; special mention of any
particular event is, perhaps, invidious but those who saw them will long remember the decorations and the great evening procession in Kuching.
Ho Ah Chon
BBS,
AMN.
Acknowledgement
The compilation of this No. 6 Pictorial Book is the third volume in the
series of Kuching during the Third Governor of Sarawak, Sir Anthony
Foster Abell.
The illustrations and descriptions of the varies events had been reported through the Sarawak Gazette issued by the Sarawak Government
Sarawak By the Week' issued by the Sarawak Information Service, Sarawak Tribune issued by the Sarawak Press Sdn. Bhd.
I wish to put on record my sincere thanks to Mr. Au Young Nang Gan
for his kind permission in using many of his picturs for the publication of this Pictorial Book.
A.R.P.S.
Ho Ah Chon
BBS,
Compiled and edited by
HO AH CHON
No. 11 Park Lane, Jalan Central Barat,
93300 Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia.
Printed by See Hua Daily News Bhd.
Lot 1125, Section 66,
Jalan Kemajuan, Kawasan Perindustrian Pending,
93450 Kuching, Sarawak, East Malaysia.
AMN.
CONTENTS
Page
Clock Tower
1
Administration
3
Pre-war Sarawak, the effects of the war and the events leading up to Cession ....
1946
3-8
8-13
Message from His Highness The Rajah to the people of Sarawak - Cession Day
1st July, 1947
Malay Text
Iban Text
Chinese Text
14
15
16
17
Installation of The Governor (1st)
18-21
Installation of His Excellency the Governor (2nd)
22-25
Installation of His Excellency the Governor (3rd)
26-29
Installation of His Excellency the Governor (4th)
30-32
The cession of Sarawak to the British Crown - The Anti-Cession Movement
Secretariat Circular No.9/1946
The Visit of His Excellency the Governor to Sibu from
5th May to 9th May, 1948
Tour of the Third Division by Their Excellencies the Commissioner-General
and the Officer Administering the Government, 1949
33
34-36
37
38-42
His Excellency The Governor, Mr. Duncan George Stewart
Visit to Sibu on 3/12/49
H.E. The Governor Flown To Singapore
43
44
Arrests In Sibu, Attack on the Governor - Preliminary Inquiry at Sibu
45-46
Obituary
46-48
Funeral Of His Excellency The Governor
49
The Sibu Murder Trial
50-52
The Sibu Conspiracy Case - Preliminary Inquiry
53-55
L/C Natu Laid To Rest With Military Honours
56-57
Visits of His Excellency the Governor to Sibu and Brunei
58
Visit of His Excellency the Governor to Coastal Districts 1953
59
Governor's Broadcast On The Royal Visit To Sarawak
60-64
Duchess Performs Laying Of Foundation Stone Ceremony
65-66
Sibu Turns Out Thousands To Welcome Royal Visitor,
Natives From Rural Areas Join In Loyalty Demonstration
H.R.H. Opens New Clinic At Sibu Witness To Stubborn and Courageous Spirit
Teach Your Children The Pride and Love Of Your Town.
See That You Stick To This High Standard: Governor
Sarawak Representatives Off For The Crowning Big Send-Off At The Airport
67
68-69
70
70
England at Coronation Time by Datu Abang Openg Bin Abang Sapi'ee
71-73
Grand Coronation Tuba Fishing
74
Mass Parade Of School Children
75-79
The Open Air Non Denominational Prayer-Meeting
80-81
The School Children Fancy Dress Competition
82-85
A Most Colourful Pageant
86-88
Coronation Celebrations In Kuching
The Coronation Of Queen Elizabeth Trumpets and Guns To Signal Crowning ...
89-94
94-107
The Queen's Birthday Parade
108-111
Happiness Springs From Simple Things - 1955
112-114
Royal Visit
115-118
The Suite of H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh
118-119
I - Kuching (Royal Visit)
119-120
The Loyal Addresses
121-123
Prince Philip's Reply
124-126
II-Sibu (Royal Visit)
127-129
III-Miri (Royal Visit)
130-131
The Procession
125-126
Speech by His Excellency the Governor at the Opening of the Council
Negri, 21st May, 1951
132-138
His Excellency's Address to Council Negri — 5.5.53
139-146
1
ADMINISTRATION
As from the beginning of the year 1957 the
w h o l e population of the country, about
600,000, were under the jurisdiction of local
authorities except for an area, on the northeast coast between Miri and the Brunei border
containing about 15,000 people, the inclusion
of whom in an area administered by a local
authority has so far not been possible. All local
authorities have a dual function: local government within the limits defined in the Local
Authority Ordinance and, as electoral colleges, the election of representatives to Divisional Advisory Councils, which in turn elect
members of the Council Negeri. In this electoral function three urban councils also elect
one representative each direct to the Council
Negri. Local authorities are themselves constituted by election.
In 1941, to commemorate the centenary of
Brooke rule, His Highness the Rajah granted a
Constitution, and in 1946, when Sarawak became a Crown Colony, the Supreme Council
and the Council Negri retained the authority
granted to them in that Constitution. This gave
legislative and financial jurisdiction to the
Council Negeri, a body of twenty members of
whom fourteen were official members
appointed from the Sarawak Civil Service and
eleven unofficial, representative of the several
peoples of the country and their interests. In
addition, there were certain Standing Members — natives of Sarawak who had been
members of the Council Negeri immediately
before the enactment of the new Constitution
Ordinance. The Council had the power to
make laws for the peace, order and good
government of the country, and no public
money could be expended or any charge
made upon the revenues of the country without the Council's consent. The Constitution
also provided for a Supreme Council of not less
than five members, of whom a majority should
be members of Sarawak Civil Service and of
the Council Negri.
All powers conferred upon the Rajah or the
Rajah-in-Council by any written law enacted
before the date of operation of the Cession of
Sarawak to His Majesty were vested in the
Governor-in-Council. In the exercise of his
powers and duties the Governor consulted
with the Supreme Council, except in making
appointments to the Supreme Council and in
cases
Sarawak is divided for administrative purposes into five Divisions, each in charge of a
Resident.
These Divisions are the First Division, with
headquarters at Kuching; the Second Division, with headquarters at Simanggang; the
Third Division, with headquarters at Sibu; the
Fourth Division, with headquarters at Miri;
the Fifth Division, with headquarters at Umbang.
Each Division is sub-divided into a number
of Districts, administered by District Officers,
and most of the Districts into smaller areas or
sub-districts each in charge of a member of the
Native Officers Service. The District Officers
are advised by District Advisory Councils and
sometimes Chinese Advisory Boards set up in
each District, whilst Residents have the benefit of the advice of Divisional Advisory Councils which meet at frequent intervals at Divisional Headquarters. As far as is practicable,
Government attempts to free Residents and
District Officers from as much office work as is
possible in order that they may tour their areas
and maintain the close contact with the people
which has always been the keynote of administration.
Progress in local government continued in
1957. Before the war the Native Administration Order was published as a enabling Ordinance to allow the gradual introduction of the
people themselves into the administration of
their own affairs. This Order contemplated the
setting up of village committees to replace the
individual chiefs, but the first experiment on
these lines did not get very far owing to the
outbreak of war and the impossibility of prov i d i n g adequate supervision. In 1947 a
scheme was drawn up for the development of
Local Government through local authorities
with their own treasuries. The Local Authority
Ordinance, 1948, forms the basis for the powers of these Authorities, and their revenues are
made up of direct taxes, fines, and fees,
supplemented by a grant from the central
Government calculated according to the number of tax-payers.
Most of the authorities first constituted
were established on a racial basis, but this
proved to be an unsound foundation, and the
pattern on which they are now organised is the
M i x e d , o r Inter-racial, Authority, with
jurisdiction over people of all races in the area.
2
(a) of such nature that, in the Governor judgement, Her Majesty would sustain material
p r e j u d i c e by consulting the S u p r e m e
Council thereon; or
namely the Chief Secretary, the Financial
Secretary and the Attorney-General, two nominated members and five elected members
w h o are elected, nominated or standing members of the Legislative Council. Councils representing the five Administrative Divisions of
Sarawak, or Divisional Advisory Councils, as
they are designated, elect twenty-one of the
twenty-four unofficial members, and the remaining three members are elected by the
Kuching Municipal Council, the Sibu Urban
District Council and the Miri Urban District
Council. To qualify for election as an unofficial
m e m b e r a person must be, amongst other
things, over twenty-one years of age and a
British subject or a British protected person,
and must, with certain exceptions, have resided for at least seven out of the last ten years
in Sarawak. This Constitution came into force
on 1st April, 1957, the day appointed by His
Excellency the Governor for this purpose.
(b) of matters in his judgement too unimportant to require their advice; or
(c) of matters in his judgement too urgent to
admit of their advice being given by the
time action might be necessary.
In August 1956 an Order-in-Council was
made and Letters Patent and Royal Instructions w e r e promulgated which between them
contained a n e w Constitution for Sarawak. It
provides for a new legislative body consisting
of forty-five members of whom twenty-four
are elected unofficials, fourteen are ex-officio,
four nominated to represent interests which
the Governor considers inadequately represented, and the remaining three are standing
members. T h e n e w Supreme or Executive
Council consists of three ex-officio members,
Pre-war Sarawak, the effects of the
war and the events leading up to
Cession
It had long been apparent that the oilfields
At the outbreak of the war Sarawak had
fought its w a y back from the doldrums of the at Miri might be one of the enemy's objectives
great slump to a state of comparative affluence and during the t w o months i m m e d i a t e l y
for so small a country. Though it was not until preceding the outbreak of war with Japan
1941 that revenue was restored to the 1929 much important machinery was dismantled
level, nevertheless r e v e n u e was regularly and removed to Singapore in accordance with
e x c e e d i n g expenditure, sums w e r e b e i n g a pre-arranged plan.
During the w e e k succeeding the declaraplaced in reserve to meet future contingencies
and social services w e r e being gradually im- tion of w a r by Japan the w e l l s and such
proved, though they still fell far below the installations as had not had their machinery
removed w e r e blown up by members of the
country's needs.
From the very beginning of the war the Sarawak Oilfields staff assisted by a small
State g a v e all the assistance possible to the party of Royal Engineers. These persons w e r e
A l l i e d War effort. Donations and loans w e r e e v a c u a t e d f r o m M i r i in S/S " L i p i s " and
made by the Government to the Imperial Ex- reached Kuching on 14th December, 1941.
T h e European Government Officers and
chequer totalling £312,000. Local bodies and
members of the public contributed generously General Manager of the oilfields remained beto various funds. Local defence forces w e r e hind to help and advise the population and the
raised, river patrols and coast watchers w e r e f o r m e r s u r r e n d e r e d w h e n t h e J a p a n e s e
organised and, at the request of the British landed early in the morning of 16th December,
Government, an aerodrome was constructed, 1941.
On 19th December, Kuching was raided at
the cost of which was borne by the State.
Some time before the entry of Japan into about mid-day by seventeen Japanese planes.
the war almost all the European w o m e n and On the night of 23rd December, 1941, in con_ sequence of information received to the effect
children w e r e sent to Australia for safety.
3
during the short period of Military Administration towards the restoration of normal conditions and the re-establishment of health and
other essential services.
In April, 1946, H.H. The Rajah returned
and resumed the Government of the country.
He was accompanied by a f e w more of the
pre-war European Civil Service, but the
serious loss of European personnel by internment, murder and war casualties was a handicap which could not be entirely overcome and
which will, in fact, be felt for some time to
come.
The rest of the year 1946 brought steady
improvement in the life of the country in all its
aspects. The foundations of the future were
laid and reconstruction, though handicapped
by shortage of staff and material, was begun.
Health and morale immediately began to improve but the mental and physical deterioration caused by the long enemy occupation was
such that some time must elapse before it can
be completely overcome. A serious w a v e of
crime, mainly theft and robbery, marked the
beginning of the year 1946 but was slowly but
surely quelled.
Until November, 1941, relations between
His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and Sarawak w e r e g o v e r n e d by the
Agreement concluded with Rajah Brooke in
1888, which placed Sarawak under the protection of the United Kingdom. This Agreement
vested in the British Government the power of
decision in any question arising in respect of
the right of succession to the Raj, and control of
Sarawak's foreign relations. It accorded mostfavoured-nation treatment to British subjects,
commerce and shipping, and provided that
the Rajah and his successors should not make
any cession or other alienation of any part of
Sarawak territory to any foreign State or subjects w i t h o u t the consent of the British
Government. Under this A g r e e m e n t , His
Majesty possessed no jurisdiction in Sarawak,
and the formal powers and rights of control of
H i s M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t w e r e strictly
limited.
In the years between the two World Wars it
became increasingly apparent that the Agreement of 1888 w a s inconsistent w i t h His
Majesty's Government's responsibilities for
S a r a w a k , and on s e v e r a l occasions His
Majesty's Government proposed inviting the
Sarawak Government to consider a revision of
the existing Agreement, but in the event on
each occasion circumstances necessitated the
that a Japanese fleet was in passage from Miri
towards Kuching, the airfield was blown up
and parts of various ships and launches were
removed in order to deny their use to the
enemy. The 2/15 Punjabi Regiment together
with units of the Sarawak Constabulary and
Sarawak Rangers were concentrated near the
airfield but, on it becoming apparent that the
Japanese w e r e landing large forces at
Kuching, these troops comprising the Kuching
garrison retired on Bau and the Dutch border.
A Company was left behind at the seventh
mile and fought a delaying action with the
Japanese until surrounded on 25th December.
T h e first J a p a n e s e troops a r r i v e d in
Kuching at about- 4 p.m. on 24th December
and by noon on Christmas Day several thousand men had been landed and, for all practical purposes, the conquest of Sarawak was
complete.
From then on until the liberation in
September, 1945 conditions throughout the
country deteriorated with gathering momentum.
In the matter of devastation Sarawak may
perhaps be considered lucky in comparison
with her neighbour North Borneo. Extensive
damage was done in the north during the reoccupation by the Australian forces and by air
attack. In the Third Division, particularly in
the areas bordering the Rejang river, damage
was caused during the guerilla fighting, but in
the First and Second Divisions property
suffered little damage.
As is usually the case the hardships
suffered in the towns during the long period of
occupation were generally much more severe
than i n the v i l l a g e areas. T h i s a p p l i e d
particularly to Kuching where there was a
large Japanese garrison, with Military Police
playing the role that has brought Japanese
occupation forces into contempt and hatred
everywhere. It was not until September, 1945,
that the Australian Forces landed in Kuching
and purged the town. The administration was
handed over by them to the "British Military
Administration" in November.
The difficulties that faced the Military Administration were serious, lack of trained officers b e i n g not the least important, but
Sarawak was fortunate in that a f e w experienced officers of the Sarawak Civil Service
were serving in the unit. This gave confidence
to the people who were not unnaturally in a
state of mind which was ready to be suspicious
of anything new. Good progress was made
4
postponement of a formal approach to the Rajah were thenceforth to be exercised by the
Rajah acting with the advice and consent of
Sarawak authorities.
After the outbreak of the late war the late the Supreme Council, whilst all legislative and
Lord Moyne, at the time Secretary of State for budgetary power was vested in the Rajah
the Colonies, addressed an official despatch in acting with the advice and consent of the
March, 1941 to the British Agent for Sarawak Council Negri.
The negotiations between the Sarawak
on this subject. Lord Moyne stated that, after
considering his position as the person charged G o v e r n m e n t and the British A g e n t f o r
with the responsibility of representing the Pro- Sarawak in 1941 resulted in the conclusion in
tecting Power in regard to Sarawak, he had November of that year of a Supplementary
come to the conclusion that the limits imposed Agreement between His Majesty's Governby the Agreement of 1888 were unduly restric- ment and the Government of Sarawak. This
tive in present times, and that they prevented Agreement provided for the appointment of a
the Secretary of State for the Colonies from British Representative whose advice had to be
providing himself either with the requisite sought and acted upon on all matters affecting
information about affairs in Sarawak, or with Sarawak's foreign relations or the rights and
the necessary authority and influence to help status of foreign nationals, and on all matters
and direct the State administration towards of defence. His services were to be available
the higher standards which w e r e b e i n g for consultation and he was to be entitled to
achieved in Colonies and Protectorates else- offer his opinion on matters touching the
where. The British Agent was therefore in- general administration of the State. He was to
structed to seek the consent of the Rajah to the have access to state documents and records
conclusion of a supplementary formal Agree- concerning matters in respect of which his adm e n t w i t h H i s M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t , vice was sought, and to have the right to
providing for the acceptance of a British Resi- attend, but not to vote, at meetings of the Sudent Adviser. The British Agent for Sarawak preme Council when such matters were being
. accordingly entered into negotiations with the discussed. He was to have the right to attend,
but not to vote, at all meetings of the Council
Government of that territory to this end.
Negri. But in the event there was no time to
In September 1941, whilst these negotiaappoint a British Representative under this
tions were in progress, the Rajah enacted a
Agreement before Sarawak was overrun by
Constitution to mark the Centenary of the rule
the Japanese.
of the White Rajahs. Previously the internal
constitution of the State had been in theory an
When Sarawak was invaded the Rajah was
absolute monarchy (the Constitution Order in Australia. His original intention was to
refers to "Our will and intention to commemo- continue the administration of Sarawak affairs
rate this centenary year .... by terminating for from Australia, but in April of 1942, with the
ever the era of autocratic rule which has so far concurrence of His Majesty's Government, he
characterised our government ...."). In prac- appointed instead a Sarawak Commission in
tice there had come to be associated with the London, under the Chairmanship of his
Rajah, as the Supreme Head of the State and brother, the Tuan Muda, to be responsible to
the sole legislative and financial authority, va- the Rajah for the control and administration of
rious bodies with more or less loosely defined Sarawak funds, and to safeguard Sarawak's
functions. Amongst these were the Supreme interests. The Commissioners were selected
Council, established in 1855, and the Council by the Rajah and held their appointments at
N e g r i , established in 1867. T h e Supreme his pleasure.
Council had ceased to hold formal meetings
In 1943 and 1944 His Majesty's Governsince 1927, and the practice of the Council ment again reviewed the question of AngloNegri had been to meet every two or three Sarawak relations, as part of their general
years to hear an address from the Rajah on the survey of the future of the British territories in
progress of the State since the last meeting, South East Asia for which the Secretary of
The Constitution of 1941 however vested in State for the Colonies is responsible. In the
the Supreme Council and Council N e g r i case of Sarawak they concluded that a fresh
powers approximately equivalent, respective- Agreement was desirable in order that His
ly, to those of the Executive and Legislative Majesty's Government should be in a position
Councils of normal colonial constitutions. to discharge its responsibilities in respect of
Generally speaking, the prerogatives of the the territory.
5
The Rajah did not in fact form a n e w
"government," but soon after informed the
Secretary of State that, having given further
study to the proposals, he had come to the
conclusion that they did not go far enough. He
expressed the view that the continuance of the
White Raj was no longer wise or expedient,
and stated that he had in mind the cession of
the territory to His Majesty in the interests of
the native inhabitants themselves.
The Rajah expressed the wish to consult
certain of his principal native counsellors in
regard to his proposal for the future of his
territory, through the intermediary of his personal private secretary, before making any definite proposal to His Majesty's Government.
Arrangements were accordingly made for his
personal private secretary to visit Sarawak,
which was then being administered by the
Australian military authorities, accompanied
by a senior official of the Colonial Service
acting as the Secretary of State's observer.
These consultations took place in January,
1946. Although they took the form of meetings
of the Sarawak State Councils, the Rajah
decided that they should nevertheless be regarded only as exploratory discussions. The
resolutions passed at those meetings were not
therefore gazetted, and were not regarded as
constituting in any sense formal or final agreement of the Councils to the Rajah's proposal.
With these and other indications of local opinion, however, the Rajah felt able to make a
definite proposal for the cession of his territory
to the British Crown. His Majesty's Government informed the Rajah that this proposal
would be acceptable to themselves, provided
it was agreed to by the Sarawak State Councils upon the Rajah's return to the territory,
and subject to the necessary legal and constitutional measures being taken.
Subsequently doubts were expressed in
the House of Commons as to whether the
Sarawak State Councils, as constituted, were
sufficiently representative to ensure that the
views of the inhabitants of the territory would
be properly reflected in their decisions on this
important question. In agreement with the
Rajah, therefore, arrangements were made for
Lt. Col. D.R. Rees Williams, M.P. (Labour) and
Capt. L.D. Gammans, M.P. (Unionist) to visit
Sarawak, to undertake an informal but independent enquiry on behalf of His Majesty's
Government for the purpose of ascertaining
whether or not the Rajah's proposal was
broadly acceptable to the native communities
In the summer of 1944 the Secretary of
State for the Colonies communicated to the
Rajah His Majesty's Government's view that
the existing Agreements did not sufficiently
provide them with the means of discharging to
the full their responsibilities for the policies to
be followed in Sarawak's future political,
social and economic development, and proposed that discussions should be opened with
a view to clarifying the lines on which AngloSarawak relations should develop in the postwar period. At the Rajah's suggestion a preliminary discussion was held at the Colonial
Office in October, 1944 at which the Rajah was
represented by his brother the Tuan Muda.
Later the Rajah informed the Secretary of
state that his brother had for reasons of health
asked to be relieved of his office as Chairman
of the Sarawak Government Commission, and
that after consulting his brother and the Commission he had d e c i d e d to appoint his
nephew, the Rajah Muda, to administer the
Government with the advice of the Commission, thus constituting a "Provisional
Government of Sarawak" with full powers.
His Majesty's Government were advised that
they should not accord formal recognition to
this body, and did not in fact do so. Its members were therefore regarded merely as the
Rajah's representatives for the purpose of continuing the discussions already opened with
Captain Bertram Brooke.
Discussions were eventually opened with
members of the "Provisional Government of
Sarawak" during the first half of 1945. It was
made clear that it was not the intention of His
Majesty's Government to ask the Government
of Sarawak to enter into a binding agreement
at that stage, but that they wished to undertake the necessary preparatory work to seek a
formula which would be acceptable to both
sides and could be embodied in a further
Agreement to be negotiated with the Sarawak
Government after its restoration in the territory.
The talks had not progressed very far when
the Rajah announced that, consequent upon
the conclusion of hostilities in the Far East and
the liberation of Sarawak, he had decided to
re-assume his powers and prerogatives under
the 1941 Constitution, thus terminating the
appointment of his nephew as "Officer Administering the Government" and also the
functions of the "Provisional Government" itself, which the Rajah dismissed.
6
Malayan Union. Sarawak subjects would
become British subjects. The cardinal
principles set out in the 1941 Constitution are in general in accord with those
Which govern the administration of other
parts of the Colonial Empire. The Constitution of 1941 would be continued in the
first place subject to such amendments as
are necessitated by cession. But it would
be necessary quite soon to introduce
other changes (in particular to provide
for the Royal Assent to legislation and for
His Majesty's power of disallowance) in
order to adapt the Constitution to the
n e w status of Sarawak as part of His
Majesty's dominions. As a preliminary to
that the Governor of Sarawak would be
asked too into the whole constitutional
.question with the representatives of the
communities and other persons concerned on the spot, with a view to recommending what steps should be taken, at
the time when these changes are made,
to associate the people of Sarawak with
its government and administration on a
basis as broadly representative as conditions permit. It is hoped in this way to
secure the maximum progressive constitutional development. In all legislative
and administrative measures the fullest
regard would be paid to the religions and
existing rights and customs of the various
communities. There is no intention of exploiting the people of the country or its
resources, and among the most important objectives would be rehabilitation,
improvement of social services and communications, and controlled development of trade and resources with a view
to raising the standard of living of the
inhabitants."
On 1st July, 1946, His Excellency the
Governor-General of Malaya, Mr Malcolm
MacDonald, installed Mr C.W. Dawson as
Acting Governor of Sarawak. In his inaugural
address Mr Dawson made it clear that the
change of Government would not, as had been
rumoured, be the signal for drastic changes in
the customs of the people at large. This statement and the subsequent conduct of public
affairs did much to restore confidence.
as a whole. The Rajah, accompanied by a Senior official of the Colonial Service who had
been appointed to act as the British Representative under the 1941 Agreement, and by a
Colonial Office Legal Adviser, arrived in the
territory to resume his administration from the
military authorities on the 15th April, 1946.
The two Members of Parliament arrived in
Sarawak on the 2nd May. After an initial
public meeting in Kuching with representatives of all communities on the 3rd May, the
two Members of Parliament set out on tour.
Public meetings were held with representatives of the various communities in several
centres.
T h e two M e m b e r s reported to His
Majesty's Government their conclusion that
there was sufficient acquiescent or favourable
opinion in the country as a whole to justify the
question of cession being brought before the
Council Negri of Sarawak, and they strongly
urged that there should be no postponement
of that action. After considering this report His
Majesty's Government informed the Rajah
that, in view of the conclusion reached by the
two Members of Parliament, His Majesty's
Government were able to confirm that the
cession would be acceptable to them provided
the Sarawak Councils passed the necessary
legal and constitutional measures.
T h e Cession Bill was accordingly submitted to the Council Negri on the 15th May,
and on the 17th M a y was passed by 19 votes to
16. The Instrument of Cession was executed
by the Rajah and the Supreme Council, and by
the British Representative on behalf of His
Majesty, in Kuching on the 21st May. His
Majesty's Order in Council bringing that
Instrument into force as from the 1st July was
made on the 26th June. Sarawak thus became
a Colony on the 1st July, 1946.
On the 9th May, previous to the Council
Negri Meeting in response to a request from
the native communities in Sarawak for a statement of His Majesty's Government's policy in
the event of the cession of the territory,
supported by a recommendation from the two
Members of Parliament that such a statement
should be issued, His Majesty's Government
authorised the Rajah to make the following
official statement on their behalf:-
Sir Chalres N o b l e Arden Clarke, Kt.,
C.M.G., was installed as Governor and Commander-in-Chief in October, 1946, and on
December 2nd addressed a meeting of the
Council Negri. This was the first meeting of
" I n the event of cession Sarawak
would become a Colony and would be
administered generally on the same lines
as other Colonies within the British Empire. It w o u l d not form part of the
7
The supply position showed steady improvement, but the need to grow more food, particularly rice, was still paramount.
Mr C.W. Dawson, as Acting Governor, had
visited many of the outstations and the
Governor at once started on an extensive programme of tours covering the whole country.
As the whole basis of Brooke Administration had been unceasing personal contact with
the people by the Rajah himself and all his
administrative officers the reassurance provided by this proof of the intention of the
'Government to keep in touch with the people
had an excellent effect and allayed the fears
that the new administration would be impersonal and remote.
the Council to be held since Sarawak became
a Crown Colony.
After touching on the past history of the
Council, the Governor pointed out that the
e v e n t u a l aim o f C o l o n i a l p o l i c y w a s
s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t and that this would be
achieved all the sooner by mutual trust and
co-operation between the various races and
between the people and their Government.
The basis of representation in the Council
would be broadened, but changes would only
be introduced after full consultation with the
people and with the advice and consent of the
Council. His Excellency pointed out how timely was the grant of $5,000,000 from the Colonial Development and Welfare Fund, which
would serve to start the task of development.
Kuching town as seen from Thompson Road in 1952.
1946
1946, the first year of peace, has departed
to its fathers. Its birth found Sarawak still in
the throes of the military administration, and
it is difficult for those of us who were not in the
country at the time to assess fairly the duty
that was done and the work that was accomplished. "The evil that men do lives after
them; the good is oft interr'd with their
bones." So let it be with the B.M.A. The difficulties of that first attempt at recovery and
rehabilitation must have been enormous, and
the civil government owes a great debt of gratitude to its predecessor for the conditions of
comparative calm under which it resumed the
helm. Sarawak is a difficult enough country to
understand and administer even to those who
have spent years on the job, and to complete
newcomers, to whom the people were strange
and the language incomprehensible, it must
indeed have seemed a formidable under-
8
necessary to stop the distribution of milk in
such cases and the demand for birth certificates closed down as suddenly as it had
begun.
This story lifts only one small corner of the
curtain. No other information has come to
hand concerning the hectic early months of
the year. On April 15th His Highness the Rajah arrived in Kuching and on the following
day the civil authorities took over from the
military administration. His Highness was
accompanied by a f e w officers who thus
joined their colleagues, now released from the
control of senior army officers who inevitably
knew less, both about Sarawak and about the
government of backward peoples, than these
trained subordinates. Little by little other
members of the service trickled back, some
after, demobilisation from the forces and
others after recuperating from a long period of
internment. Familiar figures arrived on practically every boat and plane, but as they came
back the gaps that the war has left became
more apparent. The proportion of officers of
the Sarawak Civil Service, who in one way or
another lost their lives since the day the
Japanese landed in Kuching, is probably
almost as high as that of any similar body of
men in the world. It is believed that one-third
is not a very inaccurate estimate. Those who
returned did not find Kuching very different.
taking. Some of the officers were of course
members of the Civil Service; a few, who were
not, have since been given appointments;
and, while it is impossible to regret the disappearance of certain names now only too
familiar, the majority carried out a difficult
task with determination, and on the whole
carried it out well.
One event during the military regime must
not be allowed to pass unrecorded. Early in
December, 1945, an application was received
in the Legal Office, Kuching, for registration
of a birth which had occurred some twelve
months previously. In these circumstances it
has been the practice to require an affidavit
and within a f e w days several applicants
appeared. By the new year there were forty
women in the office every day, each carrying
a baby and generally accompanied by several
other children. To cope with the work it became necessary to print urgently one thousand affidavit forms. These were rapidly exhausted and another thousand w e r e obtained. To cope with the noise a special office
had to be opened. It soon came to light that
with the aid of a birth certificate milk could be
obtained at the Supply Depot. A rush of work
was caused at the Depot and great concern as
to the adequacy of the supply. In several instances the father collected the milk and sold
it on the black-market. In the end it was
Main Bazaar along the Sarawak River as appeared in 1950.
9
Astana.
Kuching: the residence of His Excellency the Governor,
an formerly of His Highness the Rajah.
the a p p o i n t m e n t of a G o v e r n o r . On O c t o b e r
28th Sir C h a r l e s N o b l e A r d e n C l a r k e , C . M . G . ,
arrived in Kuching and took the oaths as
G o v e r n o r a n d C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f o f Saraw a k on the following day.
O n e of t h e most i m p o r t a n t i n n o v a t i o n s w a s a
d a i l y p a p e r iri English, the Sarawak Tribune,
w h i c h r e p r e s e n t s a d e f i n i t e i m p r o v e m e n t in
local amenities.
I n M a y the C o u n c i l N e g r i m e t a n d t h e e y e s
of a c o n s i d e r a b l e part of the w o r l d a p p e a r e d
to be f o c u s s e d on its p r o c e e d i n g s . It m a d e
p r o v i s i o n f o r the p u b l i c s e r v i c e for the rem a i n d e r of the y e a r ; p a s s e d the n e c e s s a r y a n d
c o n v e n t i o n a l i n d e m n i t y l a w ; a d o p t e d certain
m i l i t a r y p r o c l a m a t i o n s ; a n d authorised the
p a y m e n t of m o n e y to d e p e n d a n t s of the R a j a h
a n d other persons; but all this w o r k w a s o v e r s h a d o w e d b y the Bill e m p o w e r i n g H i s H i g h ness t o c e d e S a r a w a k t o the British C r o w n .
T h i s Bill w a s p a s s e d b y a n a r r o w m a j o r i t y , a n d
His Highness, together with His M a j e s t y ' s
accredited representative, forthwith signed
an i n s t r u m e n t of cession. On July 1st S a r a w a k
b e c a m e a C r o w n Colony by Order-in-Council
i m p l e m e n t i n g that a g r e e m e n t , a n d a n imp r e s s i v e c e r e m o n y a t t e n d e d b y His Exc e l l e n c y the G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l , M r M a l c o l m
M a c D o n a l d , took p l a c e in K u c h i n g on that
d a y . T h e f o r m e r British R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
a p p o i n t e d u n d e r the 1941 treaty, M r C . W .
D a w s o n , b e c a m e C h i e f S e c r e t a r y , and, b y virtue of a d o r m a n t commission, a s s u m e d the
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the g o v e r n m e n t p e n d i n g
It is to be r e g r e t t e d that no r e v i e w of t h e
y e a r 1946 w o u l d b e c o m p l e t e w i t h o u t s o m e
a c c o u n t o f the cession c o n t r o v e r s y w h i c h c o n t i n u e d i n v a r y i n g d e g r e e s until the e n d . T h e
f i r e w a s lit a n d the f l a m e s w e r e f a n n e d outside Sarawak. Repeated reference is m a d e by
M r A n t h o n y B r o o k e a n d his f r i d n d s i n t h e
Malay
National
Union
and
the
Dayak
A s s o c i a t i o n , but o n l y t h e f o l l o w i n g w o u l d
contend
that the f o r m e r
represents
the
M a l a y s a n d o n l y the i g n o r a n t c a n b e l i e v e that
the latter represents the D a y a k s .
If Mr.
B r o o k e ' s o b j e c t h a d b e e n t o retard r e h a b i l i t a tion in this country, and to w a s t e t h e t i m e a n d
e n e r g i e s of a d e p l e t e d staff of G o v e r n m e n t
servants,
his
agitation
might have
been
u n d e r s t o o d . I t i s t h o u g h t h o w e v e r that h e
himself is sincere, a l t h o u g h t h e s a m e c a n n o t
be said of s o m e of his supporters, s p o k e s m e n ,
and satellites, w h o had hitherto r e f r a i n e d
f r o m r e v e a l i n g their d e e p concern for the
liberty of d e p e n d e n t peoples, and w h o s e m o t i v e s are a p p a r e n t t o the least d i s c e r n i n g . O n e
is e q u a l l y astonished at the r e a s o n i n g w h i c h
10
The Fort Margarita
e q u a t e s " i n d e p e n d e n c e " t o the p e r s o n a l rule
destruction had b e e n occasioned by the w a r
of a British subject, at the s h a m e l e s s chatter of
than
e d i t o r s a n d politicians, w h o h a v e n e v e r b e e n
p a r t i c u l a r l y malaria, w a s r a m p a n t ;
e l s e w h e r e in the
Colony.
Disease,
i n t h e c o u n t r y a n d w o u l d not k n o w h o w t o
e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e U l u B a r a m , w e r e short o f
c o n d u c t t h e m s e l v e s i f t h e y a r r i v e d here, a n d
f o o d ; t h e n e m e r o u s b o m b craters i n Bintulu
natives,
at the self-complacency of Mr Brooke, w h o
District w e r e not f i l l e d in; a n d t o t h e s e w o e s
a p p e a r s t o t h i n k that m o s t o f S a r a w a k i s
w a s a d d e d t h e destruction o f M a r u d i b a z a a r
n i g h t l y d r i n k i n g a toast, in o r a n g e a d e a n d
b y f i r e i n t h e m i d d l e o f the y e a r . O n t h e other
luak, to t h e r a j a h let across the w a t e r . T h i s h e i r
h a n d , a s far a s prices a n d s u p p l i e s w e r e c o n -
p r e s u m p t u o u s is in d a n g e r of c o n f u s i n g the
c e r n e d . Bintulu a p p e a r e d t o b e w e l l i n t h e
d i v i n e w i l l o f the h e a v e n l y f a t h e r w i t h the
v a n g u a r d of recovery. Bad health and mal-
" p o l i t i c a l w i l l " o f a n earthly g r a n d s i r e . M a n y
nutrition w e r e c o m m o n all " o v e r t h e C o l o n y
S a r a w a k officers served for some years as
a n d District O f f i c e r s c o n t i n u a l l y c o m p l a i n e d
colleagues of Mr Brooke. T h e y k n o w him as a
o f the s h o r t a g e o f m e d i c i n e s . O t h e r c o m m o -
l i k e a b l e f e l l o w , but t h e y also k n o w the c o u n -
dities, the a b s e n c e o f w h i c h , w a s s e v e r e l y felt,
try w e l l e n o u g h to r e c o g n i s e his claims a n d his
w e r e g u n s a n d c a r t r i d g e s ; the d e p r e d a t i o n s o f
p r e t e n s i o n s f o r t h e t w a d d l e that t h e y are. O n
m o n k e y s and pigs causing great d a m a g e to
D e c e m b e r 13th the C h i e f S e c r e t a r y i s s u e d a n
p a d i crops.
o r d e r p r o h i b i t i n g t h e entry o f this e f f e r v e s c e n t
Agriculture indeed loomed large in the
e m a n c i p a t o r into the C o l o n y . T h e r e the m a t -
e c o n o m y o f the C o l o n y . T h e p r e - w a r s c h e m e s
ter r e s t e d at t h e e n d of the y e a r .
w e r e p u s h e d o n a s far a s f i n a n c i a l s t r i n g e n c y
I t i s w i t h relief that w e turn f r o m t h e s e
p e r m i t t e d a n d the A g r i c u l t u r a l D e p a r t m e n t
B o n n i e P r i n c e C h a r l i e futilities to the r e a l l y
i n c r e a s e d in stature as t h e y e a r p r o g r e s s e d . Its
i m p o r t a n t m a t t e r s of the latter half of t h e y e a r .
activities w e r e d i v i d e d b e t w e e n the d e v e l o p -
T h e p o s i t i o n w i t h r e g a r d t o essential c o m m o -
m e n t o f t h e l a r g e - s c a l e p r o j e c t s , t h e distribu-
d i t i e s g r a d u a l l y i m p r o v e d and t h e r e w a s a
tion of p r o p a g a n d a d e s i g n e d to e x p a n d pro-
s l i g h t r e d u c t i o n in the cost of l i v i n g in m o s t
ductivity and e n c o u r a g e e v e r y o n e to plant
Districts. T h e hardest hit D i v i s i o n w a s p r o -
food, and the rendering of practical help to
b a b l y the Fourth w h e r e rather m o r e p h y s i c a l
f a r m e r s a n d a m a t e u r cultivators. It is not o n l y
11
Thompson Road along Sarawak River.
glaries in Kuching w e r e frequent, but they
almost ceased in the last two months of the
year. This was possibly due to the arrest of a
Labuan Malay who admitted to being concerned in two cases. He was placed on probation, and this leniency does not appear to have
been attended with untoward consequences.
After the Kuching burglaries ceased a similar
outbreak began in Mukah, but this seemed to
have been terminated by the arrest of a Malay
woman. A distressing feature of the "crime
w a v e " , if it can be properly so called, was Ihe
high proportion of youthful offenders. It is
difficult to deal with these in the absence of
any reformatory or industrial' school, but a.
convenient expedient has been found by
sending those convicted on serious charges to
work on agricultural stations. The success of
this experiment depends on the maximum
amount of co-operation between the department and the boy. The assistance of the former is never failing, but in some instances the
attitude of the culprit has resulted in his being
sent to prison after all. In Kuching children
have been prominent amongst the principal
perpetrators of minor nuisances, notably in
conducting small-scale black-market activi-
the exintemees w h o are now more competent
at swinging a changkol than they were in 1941.
The work of this important department culminated in the Kuching Show in December
which is dealt with elsewhere. Engkabang flowered and fruited profusely, but until towards
the end of the year it appeared that the uncertainties of the market would once again render this
crop less profitable than it ought to be. Arrangements were, however, then made for purchase by
the agents of the British Ministry of Food at the
price of $16.20 per picul ex-ship's side, Singapore, for minimum quantities of twenty tons. It
remained to be seen how far the Sarawak
producers and dealers would take advantage
of this good fortune.
C r i m e c a n n o t b e said t o h a v e b e e n
non-existent, but Sarawak can congratulate
herself that it was less serious than might
reasonably have been expected. Armed robbery was extremely rare but once Chinese
fired at the Sibu police, who were attempting
to arrest him, in November, and was shot dead
in return. Bau District was in an unsettled
condition, but this neighbourhood has always
sheltered more than its fair proportion of antisocial elements. Until about October bur-
12
ties a n d i n g a m b l i n g o n t h e f i v e - f o o t w a y .
that f a c i l i t i e s w i l l b e ' a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e e n -
T h e r e w a s n o D a y a k " t r o u b l e " i n the f a m i -
c o u r a g e m e n t a n d g u i d a n c e o f this m o v e m e n t .
liar s e n s e d u r i n g t h e y e a r a l t h o u g h v a r i o u s
It is not e n t i r e l y to be r e g r e t t e d that a M a l a y
u n f o u n d e d rumours c a u s e d m i n o r stirs f r o m
s h o p w i l l p r o b a b l y a l w a y s b e a rarity, but
t i m e t o t i m e , a n d f e e l i n g b e t w e e n the n a t i v e s
m a n y m e m b e r s o f that r a c e are a s e a g e r a s
and
the
Chinese
in
the
upper
Rejang
o t h e r i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s t o r e a p t h e fruits o f
appeared to be getting more and more exa-
m o d e r n l e a r n i n g a n d culture, a n d t o t a k e their
c e r b a t e d . It is to be h o p e d that the r e c e n t visit
p a r t i n t h e p r o g r e s s o f the nations. T h e r e l u c -
o f t h e C h i n e s e C o n s u l - G e n e r a l has h e l p e d t o
tance of s o m e to look ahead instead of over
r e s t o r e h a r m o n y i n that area. T h e C o l o n y w a s
t h e i r s h o u l d e r s can b e u n d e r s t o o d but i t must
little d i s t u r b e d by l a b o u r disputes but a s e -
b e a l l o w e d t o r e t a r d the a d v a n c e o f others.
rious strike o c c u r r e d i n M i r i i n A u g u s t a n d
T h e interest that the n e w authorities t a k e
in t h e w e l f a r e of all races, their r e p e a t e d assur a n c e s that t h e r e w i l l b e n o drastic i n n o v a tions w i t h o u t prior consultation w i t h the rep r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e p e o p l e , a n d their o b v i o u s
d e s i r e to listen to s u g g e s t i o n s a n d r e q u e s t s
a n d r e n d e r e v e r y assistance i n their p o w e r ,
h a v e m a d e a d e e p impression. His Excellency
t h e G o v e r n o r - G e n e r a l has v i s i t e d K u c h i n g o n
several occasions and in A u g u s t he m a d e a
m o s t s u c c e s s f u l a n d p o p u l a r tour of the outstations. T h e O f f i c e r A d m i n i s t e r i n g the
G o v e r n m e n t , M r C . W . D a w s o n , also v i s i t e d
o t h e r parts of the C o l o n y in O c t o b e r , a n d in
N o v e m b e r H i s E x c e l l e n c y the G o v e r n o r w h o
h a d o n l y just a r r i v e d i n the country, v i s i t e d
Miri, Sibu and S i m a n g g a n g . T h e a g e - o l d
c o m p l a i n t that K u c h i n g g o t all the attention
a n d n e a r l y all t h e m o n e y l o o k s as if it is g o i n g
t o l o s e its substance. A t t h e turn o f t h e y e a r t h e
C o l o n y s q u a r e d its shoulders, b r u s h e d a w a y
the irritating gnats, took up the burdens
w h i c h a r e s o m u c h l i g h t e r than t h e y w e r e
t w e l v e m o n t h s a g o , a n d s t r o d e out h o p e f u l l y
a n d c o n f i d e n t l y a l o n g the p a t h l e a d i n g t o t h e
future.
S e p t e m b e r . A particularly n o t i c e a b l e f e a t u r e
o f t h e y e a r w a s the n u m b e r o f n e w s o c i e t i e s
that w e r e r e g i s t e r e d , a n d it is p r o b a b l e that a
p r o p o r t i o n of t h e s e w i l l h a v e to transfer to the
r e g i s t e r o f t r a d e unions w h e n the a p p r o p r i a t e
l e g i s l a t i o n is p a s s e d .
T h e C h i n e s e a n d the u p - r i v e r r a c e s s e e m
t o b e r e c o v e r i n g f r o m the c o m a t o s i t y i n d u c e d
b y the y e a r s o f o c c u p a t i o n rather q u i c k e r than
t h e M a l a y s . Particularly i n the f i e l d o f e d u c a tion the latter w e r e b e i n g l e f t b e h i n d . T h e
proportion of Chinese
children attending
s c h o o l is far a b o v e that of a n y other race, b u t
the most b a c k w a r d p e o p l e s h a v e recently
e v i n c e d a n u r g e n t d e s i r e f o r the e d u c a t i o n o f
t h e i r c h i l d r e n a n d schools h a v e b e e n started
amongst the Kenyahs, Kayans, and Kelabits.
T h e S e a D a y a k s h a v e o f course a l w a y s b e e n
w e l l to the f r o n t in such matters, a n d their
bent for trading, which w a s b e c o m i n g obv i o u s b e f o r e the w a r , i s n o w e x p a n d i n g m o r e
a b u n d a n t l y than e v e r . T h e r e s e e m s t o b e a
w i d e f i e l d , a m o n g s t the M a l a y s a s w e l l a s the
o t h e r races, f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c e r s '
c o - o p e r a t i v e societies, a n d i t i s t o b e h o p e d
13
MESSAGE FROM HIS HIGHNESS
THE RAJAH TO THE PEOPLE OF
SARAWAK
CESSION DAY 1ST JULY, 1947
On this day July 1st, I send warm greetings to all my friends in Sarawak. A year
has passed since Sarawak was ceded to His Majesty the King.
I gave deep thought to his proposal for cession before making it to the British
Government and placing it before the Councils in Kuching. I knew that it meant the
end of Brooke rule, an event which, I was proud to realise, would be a matter of
sorrow to very many of you. Nevertheless I took the decision because I knew that it
was the best interests of the people of Sarawak and that in the turmoil of the modern
world they would benefit greatly from the experience, strength and wisdom of
British Rule.
I have followed very closely the events of the last year and I am more than ever
convinced that the decision taken was the right one. The assurances given at the
time of cession that there would be no interference with your ancient customs are
being scrupulously observed. At the same time large schemes for the welfare and
betterment of the people have been worked out and will be put into force with the
aid of funds provided by the King's Government in Britain. I am glad that all these
plans adhere to the main principles of the policy of the three Rajahs in the past, that
the interests of the local population shall be paramount and that development shall
be undertaken by the people and for the benefit of the people of Sarawak.
I know that there are still some in Sarawak, encouraged by persons living
outside the country, who maintain their opposition to what has been done. Their cry
is that they have lost their "independence" and wish to recover it. What in fact is the
position? You have transferred your loyalty from the Rajah who was like your father
to a greater father, the King, who has for so long been our Protector. Your feet are
firmly set on the road which leads to true independence. Your local institutions are
being developed, your power to express your views on laws and forms of Government is being increased, and your will gradually approach that goal, already
reached by so many peoples who have had theprivilege of Britain's guidance, where
you will be completely self-governing.
The length of time which must elapse before you arrive at that goal will depend
largely on the willingness with which you grasp the hand of friendship and support
held out to you by His Majesty's Government. This is the greatest opportunity for
progress that Sarawak has ever had. With unaltered devotion for your interests and
well-being I say, "Long Live the people of Sarawak. Long Live the King."
14
SABDA SERI PADUKA DULI YANG
MAHA MULIA TUAN RAJA
KAPADA RA'AYAT SARAWAK BAGI HARI PENYERAHAN
1 HARIBULAN JULY, 1947
Pada hari ini ia-itu 1 haribulan July, saya memberi tahni'ah kapada sekalian kawan2
saya di-Sarawak. Bahawa genap-lah sa-tahun sudah Negeri Sarawak ini terserah kapada
Seri Baginda King.
Bahawa saya sudah chukup timbangkan dengan halus-nya terhadap cadangan saya bagi
serahan ini tadi, sebelom saya hadapkan ia kapada Keraja-an British, juga sebelom saya
bentangkan ia kapada kedua2 Majlis Council di-Kuching. Saya ketahui bahawa langkahan
ini ialah berma'ana hapus-nya Pemerintahan Brooke, ia-itu suatu peristewa yang saya telah
berbesar hati mengatahui-nya ada-lah ia menyedehkan hati banyak di-antara kamu. Sunggohpun demikian saya juga lansongkan terns kerana saya ketahui ada-lah ia untok faedah
yang baik ka-atas ra'ayat Sarawak jelata, bahawa dengan kekusutan dunia di-zaman sekarang, mereka pula akan dapat beberapa faedah yang baik dari kepandai-an, kekuatan dan
kebijaksana-an-nya Keraja-an British.
Saya sudah tatapkan betol2 segala kejadian2 pada tahun yang lalu, dan saya dapati lebeh
dari awal-nya tadi bahawa langkah yang telah di-jalankan itu ada-lah perkara yang
sebaik2-nya. Bahkan saperti yang telah di-janjikan pada masa awal serahan-nya tadi
bahawa segala adat2 lama itu ada-lah maseh di-jaga dengan chermat-nya. Begitu juga
chadangan2 yang mustahak ada di-atorkan dengan perbelanja-an Keraja-an Baginda King
dari Negara British bagi memperbaiki kehidupan dan kemajuan ra'ayat Sarawak jelata.
Saya bersukachita bahawa segala chadangan2 itu sunggoh bersetuju dengan segala tujuan
muslihat ka-tiga2 Raja yang telah lalu, ya'ni segala keperluan2 bagi ra'ayat hendak lah
di-utamakan, juga segala kemajuan pula maulah di-usaha oleh ra'ayat sendiri untok faedah
ra'ayat Sarawak jua, adanya.
Saya juga mengatahui bahawa ada sedikit orang2 dalam Sarawak yang suka mengekal
bantahan mereka ka-atas apa yang telah di-jalankan, dengan galakkan orang2 dari luar
negeri. Mereka berseru bahawa mereka telah kehilangan "kemerdeheka-an" mereka, dan
bermaskud supaya mendapatkan ia balek semula. Apakah sebenar keada-an-nya tentang
ini? Kamu sudah memindahkan ta'at setia mahu terhadap Raja yang sebagai bapa itu
kapada saorang bapa yang lebeh besar lagi tinggi ia-itu Seri Baginda King, siapa yang telah
beberapa lama itu tadi menjadi Penaong kita. Bahkan kaki kamu sekarang sedang berdiri
dengan tegap-nya arah jalan yang menuju kapada kemerdeheka-an yang sebenar-nya.
Bahawa adat lembaga kamu sedang diatorkan, kebebasan kamu bagi bersuara tentang hal
Undang-undang kamu serta pula tentang chorak perintahan kamu ada-lah di-perlebeh-kan,
maka kamu akan berunsor hampir kapada taraf saperti yang telah di-perolehi oleh beberapa
bangsa yang telah berpeluang mendapat penduan dari Negara British, bahawa di-sini-lah
kamu kelak akan berperintahan sendiri dengan sepenoh2-nya.
Bahawa tentang masa yang harus di-gunakan pula, sebelom kamu menchapai kapada
taraf itu, ada-lah bergantong kapada keredza-an bagi kamu sendiri pada menyambutkan
jabatan persehabatan dan sukongan yang di-unjok oleh Keraja-an Seri Baginda. Ini-lah
sabesarZ peluang bagi kemajuan Sarawak yang belom pernah terbuka. Bahawa dengan hati
yang tiada berubah walau sadikit pun kerana muslihat serta keselamatan kamu sekalian,
maka saya berseru "Berkekalan-lah ra'ayat jelata Sarawak. Berkekalan-lah Seri Baginda
King"
15
LEKA PESAN TUAN RAJA SOH AMBA
R A Y A T DALAM MENOA SARAWAK
HARI CESSION SARI BULAN JULY, 1947
Hari tu sari bulan July, aku ngirum tabeka samoa pangan-pangan aku di menoa
Sarawak. Sa taun udah genap menoa Sarawak di serah ka Iya Ke Mulia Raja King.
Aku udah bepikir enggau pengambis ia apin aku nyerah menoa tu ka Prentah
Britis lalu ngengkah pekara nya di moa Konsil Konsil di Kuching. Aku tau ka reti ia
ke pia ngapus ka pegai Raja Brooke, ia ke ni, aku udah tau mega enggau ati ke
sumbong, ngenyinu ka ati kita maioh. Entang aku udah netap ka ati laban aku
nemu ari jalai ke pia tau mri pengelantang ka orang dalam menoa Sarawak lalu
ulih laban penusah dalam dunia ke bam diatu sida ia tau bulih untong dalam
penemu, pengering enggau akal ari pegai Britis.
Aku udah mrati bendarpengawa dalam taun ke udah lalu akupuas amat ati ulih
ke diator aku nya jalai ke betol. Janji-janji ia ke di semaia leboh beserah (Cession)
baka ia ke enda ngachau adat lama udah mega di pegai rat. Serta pengawa besai
udah di adang awak ka ngemansang enggau ngelantang ka orang samoa udah mega
di perunding lalu di pejalai enggau ari tulong wang ke kluar ari Prentah King
dalam menoa Britis (Britain).
Aku andal ati samoa perunding kepia nitih ka asal adat ke di pegai tiga Raja ke
udah, baka ke nguntong ka amba rayat di pejalai brat lalu pemansang pengawa di
pejalai amba rayat empu lalu mri untong ka sida ia empu di Sarawak.
Aku nemu agi bisi skeda dalam Sarawak, di pransang orang bukai ari luar
menoa, sapa ke agi ngidup bantah-bantah ka penyadi ke udah. Sida ia besru ka
kuasa-diri empu (independence) nyau lenyau lalu deka ngambi iapulai baru. Nama
pemendar ia reti ke pia? Kita udah mindah pengelwrus ati ari Raja sapa ke baka
apai kita ngagai ke besai agi, ia-nya Raja King, ia ke udah lama nyadi peninding
nyaga kitai. Kaki kita trengkah tegot ba jalai ngiring kita nujupenguasa diri empu
ke bendar. Adat-adat kita udah di pansang manah, kita be-empu kuasa bejako
mandang ka pikir ke dikedeka kita dalam adat kita empu lalu dalam jalai mrentah
pun ditambah mega, lalu beserunyut mansang nyapai kapeneka kita, baka ke udah
di japai maioh mensia mana ke udah betuah di iring ka Prentah Britis (British
guidance), ari ni kita legi tau mrentah kita empu.
Pengelama ia maia ngelebus apin kita nuntong ka adan ke pia bepanggai bendar
ari bepagut bajari ke di unjor soh kita ari Prentah Raja King. Tu meh tuah ke
pemadu besai nuju pengelantang ia ke baru ditemu menoa Sarawak.
Enggau ati ke enda berubah kaseh sayang aku ngemata ka pengelantang enggau
pemansang kita lalu aku nelah, "Slamat kekal amba rayat di Sarawak. Slamat
kekal Raja King."
16
17
Installation of the Governor
CEREMONY IN KUCHING
official members should be permitted to vote
freely in cases in which, in the judgement of
the Governor, the public interest does not forbid. In the opinion of Mr Wight: "The discipline imposed upon official members by a
liberal governor today is no greater than that
imposed in the House of Commons by party
whips." It will be remembered that the cession bill at the last Council Negri was left to a
free vote.
The subject has been dealt with at length
because the Council Negri is still in the first
flush of expeprience as a legislative body, and
it is important that it should develop into a
useful instrument of Government, if it is decided to persist with the present constitutional
framework. It may well be that the typical
Colonial model is not suited to the conditions
of Sarawak, and that it would be better to
develop institutions with firmer roots in the
soil of the land. Whatever the final decision on
that point the fact remains that it is the declared policy of the British Government to
train up Coionial peoples to rule themselves.
The process may have to be long and gradual,
but with the present Council Negri a start has
at any rate been made. That is the machinery
we are using at moment although better training schools will perhaps be produced in the
future. The officials may look upon their lot as
tedious; and the unofficials may regard themselves as impotent; but, if both will realise that
they are playing an essential part in the political development of the Colony, the constitutional reforms of 1941 will not have been
enacted in vain.
The Governor General was already present, Mr MacDonald had arrived in Kuching
three days previously, and had spent the first
night of his visit with the Land Dayaks in
Kampong Singgeh in Bau District. After Sir
Charles Clarke had entered the Court the
oath of allegiance and the oath of office were
administered by the Chief Justice of Sarawak,
the Hon. Mr R.Y. Hedges, and the Chief
Secretary, the Hon. Mr C.W. Dawson, officially welcome His Excellency. Addresses were
then presented by the Malay representative,
the Hon. the Datu Bandar in Malay, the
Chinese representative Mr Lim Chong Chiew
in Mandarin, and the Indian representative
At 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 29th,
1946 Sir Charles Noble Arden Clarke, KT.,
C.M.G., was formally installed as Governor
and Commander-in-Chief of Sarawak. His
Excellency had arrived with Lady Clarke in
the previous e v e n i n g on H.M.S. "Black
Swan". He came ashore at Pangkalan Batu
shortly before half-past eight and was received by a guard of honour consisting of men
from H.M.S. "Black Swan," a detachment of
the Sarawak Constabulary, and a large
contingent of boy scouts and girl guides. The
national anthem was played by the Constabulary Band. Kuching was gay with flags; Union Jacks and Sarawak flags being most prominent in the streets and Chinese national
flags hanging out from the upper storeys of
shophouses. Two American flags also seemed
to have secured a favourable position. His Excellency proceeded to the main Court where
His Excellency the Governor-members who
had not seats on the executive council, at a
special meeting of such members. It was
added that once the Government's policy was
decided it was important that official members should present a united front. On the
other hand it was expressly recognised that
18
Mr S.M. Deen, in English. His Excellency the
Governor replied, his speech being translated
by Native Officer Abang Openg into Malay.
His Excellency then returned to the Astana
and the proceedings terminated.
The following is the test of the speeches:f55The Hon. Mr C.W. Dawson: Your Excellency, on behalf of the councils and on behalf of branches of the Government Services
in Sarawak I would like to extend to you congratulations on your appointment and to extend to you and Lady Clarke our welcome to
this country. Sarawak is a pleasant place inhabited by people of many different races and
religions, having a happy knack of getting on
well with one another. This, I think, is one of
the chief assets we have in the combined
effort which is now being made towards the
rehabilitation of the country after so many
years of Japanese misrule.
Some sections of the population are under
the impression that the recent change for the
rule of the Rajah to that of the British Crown
may carry with it some interference with the
w a y of life and ancient customs. We have
been assured by His Majesty's Government
that this is not the intention, and I have no
doubt Sir that you will see to it that, except in
so far as changes may be clearly beneficial
and agreed to by the people at large, the cus'toms of the people will be observed. We look
forward to working with you in loyal co-operation towards the general prosperity and
happiness of this country which is very near to
the hearts of many of us.
member of the Colonial Empire. For this reason such effort and patient understanding will
be needed to bring Sarawak back to its former
prosperity and contentment again. However,
w e h a v e e v e r y c o n f i d e n c e i n your Excellency's wise guidance and in the traditional fairness of the British rule which ensures that all our rights will be respected.
In conclusion I have not hesitation in giving your Excellency our assurance that we
shall spare no effort on our part to co-operate
with the Sarawak Government in order to create a better country for the peoples of Sarawak and to achieve then high ideals of freedom and justice.
The Hon. the Datu Bandar: Your Excellency, on behalf of of the Malay Community I
take this opportunity of extending to your Excellency our heartiest congratulations on your
Excellency's installation as Governor and
Commander-in-Chief of Sarawak; I take this
opportunity further of welcoming your Excellency and Lady Clarke to our country.
We have learnt of your Excellency/s brilliant career and meritorious services in East
Africa: particularly of your Excellency's wise
and benevolent administration over the African natives. It is, therefore, most fitting that
the choice to this high office should fall upon
your Excellency. It may be said with truth that
the natives of this country will greatly benefit
under your Excellency's illustrious guidance.
Your Excellency is undoubtedly aware
that this country has just emerged from the
throes of war and has only recently become a
Mr L i m Chong Chiew: Your Excellency,
on this momentous occasion when Your Excellency is being installed as the First Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Sarawak,
we, on behalf of the Oversea Chinese of
Kuching, beg to offer to Your Excellency our
congratulations and our staunch loyalty and
support.
Sarawak is indeed very fortunate in having Your Excellency as its Governor and Commander-in-Chief, and every one of us is confident that Your Excellency will steer the
course of the Colony of Sarawak towards
prosperity and contentment.
19
in spite of differences of race and religion. I
appreciate what an asset this is to the country
and will spare no effort to maintain and foster
this spirit. Without mutual trust, confidence
and goodwill between the various peoples
and between the peoples and their government there can be no progress.
I am told that some of the people are under
the impression, a false impression, that the
change which Sarawak has recently undergone from the rule of the Rajah to that of the
King will mean sudden and abrupt changes in
the ancient customs and the life of the people.
I can assure you, and through you the people
at large, as you have already been assured by
the Secretary of State and by His Excellency
the Governor-General that there is no intention to the part of Government to introduce
any abrupt or sudden change contrary to the
wish of the people. Rather it is our aim to
preserve all that is good in the ancient customs. Some changes there must inevitably be
in course of time; for no man and no country
can remain static and unchanged in a progressive and changing world. It would be
absurd and wrong to guarantee that Sarawak
should stay immobilized for all times at the
stage of development it had reached on July
1st, 1946. Changes, when the time for them is
come, will only be introduced after consultation with the people and with the consent of
their representatives in Council.
I have studied the "Nine Cardinal Points"
set out in the Constitution Order. I find them
to be in accord with the principles which govern the administration of other parts of the
British Empire. There is, therefore, no reason
whatsoever to apprehend that I shall attempt
to change or disregard them. In thfe constitutional sphere the aim of the Government will
be to associate the people more and more with
the management of their own and their country's affairs and, as a first step towards this
end, to broaden the basis of representation as
rapidly and as far as conditions permit.
In the material sphere I appreciate that
there is much to be done in the way of rehabilitation before the country can recover its
pre-war prosperity. But when that prosperity
is recovered, we must not be content with the
pre-war standards. We must aim higher. Our
objective must be to survey and plan the controlled development by and for the people of
this country of its trade, its communications
and its agricultural and mineral resources and
at the same time to improve the health and the
All the various races of Sarawak look to
Your Excellency for guidance towards the
goal of living in harmony, freedom and prosperity.
We take this opportunity to request Your
Excellency to convey to His Majesty the King
our loyalty to the Crown.
Mr S.M. Deen: Your Excellency, we, the
Indian Community in Sarawak, take this
opportunity to express our congratulation
upon Your Excellency's installation as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Sarawak
and further express our great pleasure to welcome Your Excellency and Lady Clarke to
Sarawak.
Your Excellency's meritorious administration in Africa and the goodness to the various
types of the natives in Africa is all known to us
and at present we are hopeful that Your Excellency's benevolent administration would
be extended to us to bring peace and prosperity to this country.
After a long peaceful and happy period
during Brooke rule we suffered a good lot, as
Your Excellency knows well, during Jap's
occupation, and now it is our hope that Your
Excellency's broad-minded policy and administration will continue to bring back to us
freedom, justice and prosperity.
In conclusion we have to give our assurance to Your Excellency to be obedient, aiding and assisting in full-cooperation as loyal
British Subjects.
His Excellency the Governor: Your Excellency, Members of the Councils — Ladies
and Gentlemen.
I thank you for the welcome you have
accorded me and for the addresses you have
made to me on my installation as the representative of His Majesty the King and the first
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of His
Majesty's Crown Colony of Sarawak.
It is too early yet for me to have formed
personal impressions about Sarawak and its
peoples or for you to have made up your
minds about me. Our first task will be to get to
know each other better and with better knowledge I hope and believe will come mutual
trust, respect and liking.
In the short time at my dispoal since I left
Africa I have done what I can to learn about
this country, and its peoples, and in London I
twice had the pleasure of meeting and talking
with His Highness the Rajah. I have heard
much about the friendliness which all communities in Sarawak bear towards each other
20
educational services.
1 have no doubt that these aims can be
achieved provided that the peoples of Sarawak co-operate with each other and with the
government in the future as they have done in
the past.
pehak pamerentah tidak b e m i a t sekali2
m e n d a t a n g k a n perubahan yang tidak
semana di-atas kemahuan ra'ayat. Bahkan
tujuan kita mameliharakan segala 'adati s i t i ' a d a t asli y a n g sampurna. S a d i k i t
perubahan mesti di-adakan mengikut masa,
kerana tiada suatu manusia atau sabuah
n e g e r i akan berdiri t e g a k dengan tidak
berubah di-dalam peridaran di-'alam
kemajuan. Bahkan tidak berarti dan tidak
patut menjamin iaitu Sarawak tidak akan
berubah untok selama2-nya. Kalau ia dapat
melangkah
kaneracha
kemajuan
sebagaimana yang telah di-dapatinya pada
satu haribulan 7 tahun 1946. Pertukaran bila
tiba masa-nya untok mereka akan datang,
hanya
akan
di-kenalkan
satelah
dirondengkan dengan ra'ayat dan mendapat
persetujuan daripada Wakil2 mereka
didalam Majlis mashuarat.
Tuan Yang Terutama—Ahli2 Majlis2
Mashuarat-Nona2 dan Tuan2.
Saya menguchap terima kaseh diatas persambutan yang indah ini juga pada uchapan2
tahni'ah terhadap perlantikan diri saya
sebagai Wakil Baginda King dan Governor
yang pertama dan Penglima A g o n g bagi
Jajahan Baginda King di Sarawak.
Belom tiba masa-nya bagi diri saya buat
menghuraikan perkara yang berkena'an
dengan Sarawak serta pendudok2-nya atau
b a g i kamu untok mangetahui ke-ada'an
saya. Terlebih awal hendaklah kita pada kah
yang pertama berkehal-kenalan, dan dengan
pangetahuan yang sampurna saya harap dan
yakin kamudian itu akan mendatangkan
pertukaran kaperchaya'an, kahormatan serta
kasuka'an antara kita.
Pada sadikit masa sahaya satelah saya
berangkat dari Africa saya telah berusaha
saberapa dapat buat mangetahui ke-ada'an
n e g e r i ini serta pendudok2-nya, juga di
L o n d o n saya telah berpeluang dua kali
berjumpa serta beramah2 dengan Duli Yang
Maha Muha Tuan Rajah. Saya dapat ketahui
di-atas perikatan mahebah di-antara sekalian
b a n g s a d i - d a l a m Sarawak sunggohpun
berlainan bangsa dan Ugama. Keada'an yang
serupa ini saya sangat m e g a h k a n dan
semangat yang semacham itu tidak shak lagi
akan mendatangkan fa'edah yang besar bagi
n e g e r i ini. Dengan tidak-nya pertukaran
kaperchaya'an, dan 'azam di-antara sekalian
bangsa 'am-nya dan pendudok2 khas-nya
serta p a m e r e n t a h - n y a n e s c h a y a t i d a k
beroleh kemajuan.
Saya dapat ketahui sabahagian dari orang
a w a m ada m e n a r o h p e r a s a ' a n , i a - l a h
p e r a s a ' a n y a n g karut, terbitnya dari
pertukaran p e m e r e n t a h Brooke k e p a d a
Baginda King bereti akan mengubahkan
adat-isti.'adat d a n chara p e n g h i d u p a n
p e n d u d o k 2 d e n g a n tidak semana. Saya
b e r a n i berkata pada kamu sekalian
p e n d u d o k 2 'am-nya, sebagaimana yang
telah di-kata oleh Setia Usaha Jajahan dan
Tuan Yang Terutama Governor Agong, iaitu
Saya telah berpaham di-atas 9 sharat2
yang terutama yang-mana telah di-siarkan
didalam rang Undang2. Saya dapati
kasemua-nya ia-lah puncha pentadbiran
yang di-jalankan didalam bahagian Jajahan
Maha Britain. Oleh kerana itu tidak-lah ada
jalan sakali2 bagi saya buat membatal atau
mehampakannya. Didalam rang Undang2
t u j u a n p e r e n t a h akan m e m p e r s a t u k a n
ra'ayat terlebih2 supaya dapat berdaya kadiri
juga berkena'an dengan hal-ehwal tanah airnya, dan b a g i l a n g k a h y a n g pertama
terhadap
natijah
ini,
hendaklah
m e n a m b a h k a n wakil2 dengan s a b e f a p a
segera-nya sebagaimana di-kahendaki.
Berkena'an dengan benda2 saya yakin
bahwasa-nya banyak perkara akan di-buat
untok memulangka semula negeri ini kapada
kema'muran-nya
sebelum pechah
peperangan. Tetapi manakala kema'muran
itu balek semula, hendaklah kita tidak berpuas hati dengan keada'an sabelum pechah
peperangan. Kita hendaklah berchita2 tinggi,
tujuan kita mesti disukat dan menchadang
perbina'an yang tersekat oleh dan untok
ra'ayat negeri ini bagi perniaga'an-nya, perhubungan-nya dan tanam-tanaman dan
mahsul tanah, ketika'itu jua akan memperbaiki kasehatan dan pelajaran.
Saya tidak shak lagi chita2 ini tidak akan
didapati melainkan manakala ra'ayat
Sarawak bakerja-sama di antara satu dengan
lain serta dengan pamerentah-nya pada
kamudian hari sebagaimana yang telah dibuat oleh mereka dahulunya tadi.
21
Installation of His Excellency
the Governor
Large, M.C.).
The Chief Secretary read the Royal Commission and the Chief Justice administered
the Oaths.
The Chief Secretary then rose and read
the following address:"Your Excellency,
His Excellency Mr D.G. Stewart, C.M.G.,
arrived in Kuching in the Rajah Brooke at about 8.15 a.m. on the 14th November 1949, and
went straight to the Astana.
At 10.55 a.m. he landed at the Pangkalan
Batu, accompanied by the Private Secretary
(Mr T. St. J. Dilks), and inspected the Constabulary Guard of Honour. He was then met
by the Hon'ble the Chief Secretary (Mr C.W.
Dawson, C.M.G.), and conducted through
welcoming lines of Sea Scouts and Boy Scouts
to the Main Court House, where a large
gathering of representatives of the various
communities, Government officers and their
wives, had assembled. On the platform, with
His Excellency, the Chief Secretary and the
Private Secretary, were the Hon'ble the Chief
Justice (Dr R.Y. Hedges), the Members of the
Supreme Council, and the Acting Commissioner of Sarawak Constabulary (Mr R.W.
On behalf of the Councils and of all branches of the Government Service of Sarawak, I
congratulate you on your appointment as
Governor and Commander-in-Chief, and
have great pleasure in welcoming you to this
country.
Sarawak is a pleasant and beautiful country and one with a character of its own. It is
inhabited by people of many different races
and religions, who, however, seem to have the
happy knack of getting on well with one
another. This is one of our chief assets in the
22
shall spare no effort on our part to co-operate
with the Sarawak Government in order to create a better country for the peoples of Sara-j
wak and to achieve their high ideals of freedom and justice."
Speaking for the Dayaks, Mr Edward
Jerah said:"Your Excellency,
combined effort which is now being made by
all towards the rebuilding of the prosperity of
the country.
T h e f e e l i n g that some sections of the
population once had, that the change from the
rule of the Rajah to that of the British Crown
might mean interference with the way of life
of the people and with their ancient customs,
has now almost entirely disappeared; and I
have no doubt, Sir, that you will see to it that,
except in so far as changes may be clearly
beneficial and agreed to by the people at
large, the customs of the people will be preserved.
I am sure that members of the Councils
and of all branches of the Government Service
will work with you towards the general prosperity and happiness of this country, which
lies very near to the heart of so many of us, in
the same spirit of loyal co-operation that they
have extended towards me during the past
year."
T h e H o n ' b l e A b a n g H a j i Mustapha,
O.B.E., Datu Bandar of Sarawak, nest welcomed His Excellency on behalf of the Malay
Community, as follows:"Your Excellency,
On behalf of the Dayak Community, I take
this opportunity of extending our congratulation on Your Excellency's installation as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Sarawak;
and to bid welcome to Your Excellency.
The news of Your Excellency's brilliant
and extensive career in many parts of the British Empire has preceded Your Excellency's
arrival in Sarawak and the choice to this high
office is a most fitting tribute of Your Excellency's meritorious services.
The Dayaks are proud to have gained a
great name for themselves through their energy, courage and their loyalty to the Government since the earliest days in the history of
Sarawak, and it will be our constant aim th at
this high tradition shall be maintained.
In recent years much has been accomplished in order to implant the ideal of local
government among our people who are now
learning to conduct their own affairs, and
their own Schools, so that we may advance in
c l o s e h a r m o n y w i t h the other races in
Sarawak.
On behalf of the Malay Community I take
this opportunity of extending to Your Excellency our heartiest congratulation on Your Excellency's installation as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Sarawak; I take this
opportunity of further welcoming Your Excellency to our country.
We have leamt of Your Excellency's brilliant career and meritorious services in various parts of the British Empire and of Your
Excellency's wise and benevolent administration. It is, therefore, most fitting that the
choice to this high office should fall upon Your
Excellency. It may be said with truth that the
natives of this country will greatly benefit
under Your Excellency's illustrious guidance.
Your Excellency is undoubtedly aware
that this country has not yet fully recovered
from the ravages of war, and is the youngest
but one of the Colonies. For this reason much
effort and patient understanding will be
needed to keep Sarawak prosperous and eontent. However, we have every confidence in
Your Excellency's wise guidance and in the
traditional fairness of the British rule which
ensures that all our rights will be respected.
In conclusion, I have no hesitation in giving Your Excellency our assurance that we
But much remains to be done and we are
happy to go forward under Your Excellency's
wise and illustrious guidance in these important matters.
Before I conclude I can assure Your Excellency that our people will exert every effort
in co-operating with the Government and to
foster and create an atmosphere of friendliness and mutual confidence between the
Government and its people."
Mr Tan Kui Choon spoke for the Sarawak
Chinese:"Your Excellency,
On behalf of the Chinese Community, I
have the honour to express our warm welcome and hearty congratulations to Your Excellency upon your appointment to the post of
G o v e r n o r and C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f of
Sarawak.
We, the Chinese of Sarawak, have always
prided ourselves on the harmonious relations
23
Coming, indeed, as a stranger to a strange
land, I am not ashamed to admit that I stand in
real need of that warmth of welcome, as, indeed, I shall stand in need of your co-operation in the tasks which still he ahead of us. The
tasks of Government never end, indeed they
never should end, because, whatever stage of
development a country has reached, there
must always be some advances which can
profitably be made. It is because of this that I
was very glad to hear, and indeed I have
heard it also in other quarters, that there exists
between the races of Sarawak this happy
understanding and mutual goodwill. It is a
priceless asset, and one which forms a sure
foundation, perhaps the only sure foundation,
upon which to build a contented, industrious
and prosperous State. It is also because of this
spirit of goodwill that I look forward all the
more sincerely to what will be my first duty in
this country, namely, to get to know as soon as
I can, and as well as I can, the various peoples,
their customs, their pursuits, and their aspirations. In this happy task, I know that my w i f e is
looking forward to joining me in the near future.
Now, you will not expect me to speak at
great length on this occasion, much less will
you expect me to attempt to deal with matters
of political or economic importance, but there
is one matter to which it is very appropriate
that I should refer on this occasion. The arrival
and installation of a new Governor does not,
in any way, herald a change in the policies of
Government, nor will it result in any break in
the continuity of administration. The Governor is, as you know, first and foremost, the
personal representative of His Majesty the
King; and it is because the countries which
form the British Commonwealth are so far
spread over the globe that it is only through
such personal representatives that the King is
able as it were to keep in touch with and be
accessible to the many peoples who give him
their allegiance. A change of Governor is,
therefore, no more than a change in the
identity of one of the King's many representatives. The administration, that is to say the
Government, goes on just the same, and its
policy remains founded on that stable and
continuing basis which is provided by the advice tendered by councillors and official advisers. The advice which they will give to one
Governor will not normally vary from that
which they have given to his predecessor, nor,
in due course, is it likely to vary from that
which have existed and which still do exist
between ourselves and the Government and
b e t w e e n ourselves and the various other
races of this Colony. Our earnest wish is that
this harmony may be maintained throughout
the years to come.
We, therefore, assure Your Excellency of
our loyalty to you personally and to your
Government and we affirm our earnest desire
to do all that we can to co-operate in ensuring
the p e a c e , happiness and prosperity of
Sarawak.
M a y we again present to Your Excellency
our sincere felicitations and good wishes."
A n d finally Mr Abdul Hamid welcomed
His Excellency on behalf of the Sarawak Indian Community:"Your Excellency,
We, the Indian Community of Sarawak,
take this opportunity to express our congratulations upon Your Excellency's installation
as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the
Colony of Sarawak and further express our
great pleasure in welcoming Your Excellency
to Sarawak.
We understand that Your Excellency possesses great-experience by the opportunities
afforded you as a District Officer, Nigeria, as
Colonial Secretary in the Bahamas, as Financial Secretary, Palestine, and as Secretary to
the West African Governors' Conference.
It is an undeniable fact that each and every
citizen of this country is enj oying his full rights
and privileges under our present Government.
We have no doubt that Your Excellency
will study the interests of all sections of the
peoples of this country and will direct them
wisely in their paths of life as your predecessor has done.
In conclusion we give our assurance to
your Excellency that we shall be obedient,
abiding and assisting and give our full cooperation as loyal British Subjects.
His Excellency replied as follows:" M r Chief Secretary, Your Honour, Ladies
and Gentlemen:I thank you all sincerely for the honour
which you have done me by assembling here
this morning, and I thank you, and through
you the communities whom you represent, for
the welcome extended to me and for the
words which have been addressed to me.
24
from the people of Sarawak to Her Royal
Highness comprised a set of gold and silver
brooches, the work of Sarawak craftsmen. It
acknowledging this gift the Princess writes:-
which they will give to his successor. Even
were it not so, I can assure you that I myself
have no inclination whatsoever to diverge
from the sound policies which have been laid
down by my predecessor Sir Charles ArdenClarke, with the help of his advisers and with
the co-operation of the community.
In spite of the fact that I know I can rely
upon so much goodwill and co-operation,
there is one cause for regret which I would
like to refer to today. It is that so soon after my
arrival I shall be deprived of the services of
one who has for the last three or four years —
years of great importance, of rehabilitation
and reconstruction — been the principal
adviser and the lynch-pin of the administration. I refer, of course, to the Chief Secretary,
Mr Dawson, who I understand is leaving
shortly on the eve of his retirement. As you
know, Mr Dawson has, moreover, borne the
w h o l e w e i g h t and responsibility of administration almost without a break since the
end of January last, and I know that there will
be many of you besides myself who will, in the
months to come, very much miss his help and
guiding hand, and I know therefore that I am
speaking for you if I say here how deep is the
debt of gratitude which Sarawak owes to him.
That debt can only be paid, and I know it will
be paid, in the abundance of goodwill and
good wishes which he and Mrs Dawson will
carry with them when the day comes for them
to leave these shores.
Lastly, I would like to take advantage of
this occasion to read out to you a letter which I
have recently received from the Princess Elizabeth. As you will remember, a wedding gift
"I am delighted with the Wedding Present which the Government and People
of Sarawak have had the kindness to
send me. The two sets of brooches, made
from gold and silver mined locally, are
perfectly charming, and I know that they
bring with them the good wishes of the
People of Sarawak for my happiness and
that they represent much loyalty and
affection on their part.
Would you please tell all concerned how
grateful I am for this most acceptable present."
The signature, of- course, is that of Her
Royal Highness. Steps will be taken during
the course of the next f e w days to give publicity to this gracious acknowledgement of Sarawak's gift.
A n d now, in conclusion, it only remains for
me to assure you that in matters of administration during my tenure of office my single purpose will be to serve the People pf Sarawak to
the best of my ability. Where any actions for
decisions which are my responsibility come to
be regarded as right or come to be regarded as
wrong, I can at least promise you that I shall
have been guided only by that which I honestly believe to be in the best interests of the
country. I look forward, ladies and gentlemen,
to making your acquaintance personally during the next f e w days and weeks."
25
dest and most pleasant way. I shall always
remember with gratitude the very cordial and
friendly welcome I have received today. I
shall make it my first duty, by travelling
extensively, to get to know the country, the
various peoples who inhabit it, their customs
and aspirations.
While in London recently I had the pleasure of meeting His Highness the Rajah and
we had a most interesting and useful discussion concerning your affairs. I can assure you
that the orderly progress and the happiness
and welfare of this country is always uppermost in the Rajah's mind. I also went by aeroplane to Accra on the West Coast of Africa to
pay short visit to an old friend of yours Sir
Charles Arden Clarke. We talked far into the
night about Sarawak and your problems and I
left Accra convinced that the far-sighted policy initiated by Sir Charles should be followed
and would be followed by me with your assent
and co-operation. There will therefore be no
break in the continuity of the policy of the
administration.
My aim will be to continue the policy of
associating the people of the country with the
administration by the creation of Local Authorities as fully representative of all races and
conditions of men as is practicable and acceptable at the present time. By this means we
can advance the education of the people in
political responsibility and build up a tradition
of service in their local Governments which
will provide in the future the main supports on
which our system of democracy will rest. But
our rate of progress in the political field and
the social services we can provide are conditioned by and dependent upon the state of
your finances. I will therefore do my best to
ensure that the economic development of the
country is achieved on sound lines and by
properly coordinated plans with that sense of
urgency which your present position demands.
Your ambitions ' a n d my aims cannot
however be fulfilled nor can this country
make any economic or political advance unless law and order are maintained. We have
seen here in Sarawak and we see many examples around us of the misery and tragedy and
interruption to progress which indiscipline
and contempt for the laws of the land bring to
9 community. This country has long enjoyed
an enviable reputation among the countries of
the Commonwealth for the spirit of co-operation and mutual goodwill which exist be-
B e f o r e concluding this address I can
assure Your Excellency of the full co-operation of the Chinese community and I now
again convey to Your Excellency our sincere
felicitations and the best wishes of the community I represent."
The final address of welcome to His Excellency was that from the Indian Community,
which Mr Abdul Hamid presented in the following terms :"Your Excellency, we, the Indian Community of Sarawak, take this opportunity to
express our sincere congratulations upon
your Excellency's installation as Governor
and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of
Sarawak and further express our great pleasure i n w e l c o m i n g y o u r E x c e l l e n c y t o
Sarawak.
We understand that Your Excellency possesses great experience and has won the
hearts of the peoples of Nigeria, by Your Excellency's benevolent, exalted, and meritorious service.
It is an accepted principle of Colonial Administration throughout the British Commonwealth that the welfare of the indigenous inhabitants must be the first object of Colonial
Administration. In accordance with that cardinal fact, our present Government is by all
means, looking after the welfare of the peoples concerned and is devoted to the cause of
peace and progress.
We hope that Your Excellency will take a
genuine interest in promoting good-feeling,
confidence, and peace among the people of
diverse nationalities in Sarawak and thus lay
Your Excellency's fame in the History of this
Country, by giving a lead in the right direction.
In conclusion, we give our assurance to
Your Excellency that we shall be obedient,
law abiding and active in co-operation with
your Government and we pledge our unhesitating support in everyway.
His Excellency replied to these addresses,
saying:" M r Chief Secretary, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you most sincerely for the honour
you have done me by assembling in this Hall
to meet me this morning, and I thank you and
the communities you represent for the addresses of welcome which you have presented to
me.
As you are aware I am a stranger to the
East and I have everything therefore to learn
and you have started my education in the kin-
28
Just over a month ago I had the great honour of being received by the King in audience.
For a quarter of an hour His Majesty talked
about Sarawak and its problems. I can assure
you of the very great interest he takes in your
progress and welfare. He was however deeply shocked that so soon after becoming a
C r o w n Colony this tragedy should have
occurred. I am sure that it is the wish of all men
of goodwill in this Colony to prove to His
Majesty and the rest of the world that our
heart is sound and that this great tradition of
mutual respect among races which this country has built up over one hundred years is no
empty boast but will lead in time to the disappearance of racial difference in a common
desire to promote the welfare of Sarawak.
tween the races of Sarawak. This happy
understanding has, I believe, been based on a
regard for one another's customs and mode of
life and respect for law and order. I know that
recent events here do not indicate any deterioration in the basic soundness and loyalty
of the people of this country but I am aware
that there is still some opposition on the part of
a section of the people to the Cession of Sarawak to the Crown. This opposition led to the
senseless and criminal murder of my predecessor who was the innocent victim of a cruel
and cowardly conspiracy and who was struck
down in the course of duty. This outrage profoundly shocked your fellow members of the
British Commonwealth and in particular your
friends and admirers who know your country.
Four men have paid the extreme penalty for a
despicable and degrading crime.
I intend to carry on the tradition of personal accessibility established by the Rajahs
of Sarawak. This tradition has been a notable
feature of the administration of this territory
for over one hundred years and is, I believe, a
privilege much valued by most of the people
of this country. I will always be ready to give a
healing to anyone who presents his case in a
straight-forward honest and law-abiding
fashion but I am not prepared to parley with
those who feel bound to support their cause
by indulging in conspiracy and political
assassination. I now hope that better counsel
will prevail and that these people will decide
that their interests and their interests of their
country will best be served by loyal cooperation with Government in its plans for the
economic and political advance of the peoples
of Sarawak.
In conclusion I thank you again most
sincerely for your welcome today and for the
offer of co-operation you have made to me in
your addresses, and I know that I can count on
you. For myself I can promise you that I will
work wholeheartedly and to the best of my
Ability for peace, happiness and prosperity of
the people of this Colony. Confident in your
cooperation and sustained by your goodwill
and with God's grace I should be guided only
by that which I honestly believe to be in the
best interests of the country. Before closing I
should like to say how much I appreciate the
kind gesture of the Governor of our neighbours and friends in North Borneo in sending
the Chief Justice of that Colony to represent
him this morning.
Ladies and gentlemen, I look forward to
being of service to you in the future and of
making your personal acquaintance in the
course of the next f e w days and weeks."
29
Installation of His Excellency
the Governor
w h i c h the C h i e f S e c r e t a r y p r e s e n t e d to Sir
Sir A l e x a n d e r N i c o l Anton W a d d e l l ,
K.C.M.G., D.S.C., was installed as Governor
and Commander-in-Chief of Sarawak in a
ceremony held in the afternoon of the 23rd
February, 1960 in the Council Negri Chamber
in Kuching. Sir Alexander and Lady Waddell,
accompanied by the Private Secretary, Mr.
G.T. Barnes, disembarked fom the Bentong
into the Astana barge and landed at Pangkalan Batu at 4.00 p.m. Waiting to receive
them were the Chief Secretary and Mrs. Jakeway, the Commissioner of Sarawak Constabulary, Mr. P.E. Turnbull, and the A.D.C.,
Abang Marzuki. Sir Alexander, in ceremonial
dress, then inspected the Guard of. Honour
mounted in front of the Brooke Memorial, after
A l e x a n d e r a n d L a d y W a d d e l l , the C h i e f Justice a n d L a d y A i n l e y ; Bishop V o s ; M r . G . L .
Gray, Acting Chief Secretary of North Borneo;
m e m b e r s o f the S u p r e m e C o u n c i l a n d their
w i v e s , a n d the P u i s n e J u d g e , M r . Justice G . G .
Briggs.
I n the C o u n c i l C h a m b e r the C o m m i s s i o n
a p p o i n t i n g Sir A l e x a n d e r W a d d e l l , K . C . M . G . ,
D.S.C., w a s r e a d b y the C h i e f S e c r e t a r y a n d
the O a t h o f O f f i c e w a s a d m i n i s t e r e d b y the
C h i e f Justice. T h e l o y a l a d d r e s s w a s then r e a d
b y A b a n g H a j i Mustapha bin A b a n g H a j i
M o a s l i , the Datu Bandar, on b e h a l f of t h e p e o p l e s of S a r a w a k , to w h i c h a r e p l y w a s m a d e by
H i s E x c e l l e n c y the G o v e r n o r .
30
Loyal Address by the Datu
Bandar,
Abang Haji Mustapha
Your Excellency,
me in my language by addressing you in
Malay, but my Malay is too unsure for me to
address you in that language today. I thank
you Datuk Bandar for the very kindly welcome
which you have given me not only in the
address which you have just presented to me,
but one senses behind the official proceedings
a warmth of welcome which I have long anticipated and which in the event much exceeds
the pleasure which we have had in anticipation. My wife and I have for a long time
been looking forward to the time when we
might come back to this part of the world. We
never thought we would but in the years between that when we left North Borneo and
today we have always hoped that it might be
our fortune though we never hoped that we
would come to serve you in this capacity.
On behalf of all the peoples of Sarawak, I
feel greatly honoured this day to be able to
extend our warmest congratulations on the
installation of Your Excellency as Governor
and Commander-in-Chief of Sarawak, and to
welcome Your Excellency with great joy to our
country.
It is our earnest hope that Your Excellency
and Lady Waddell will find the climate of our
country hospitable and its peoples friendly
and law abiding.
We have learned that Your Excellency has
served for many years in the Western Pacific
a n d S o u t h - E a s t A s i a and has s e e n
constitutional changes in West Africa and has
therefore vast knowledge and experience of
the problems and aspirations of the people in
those territories.
I wish to thank you the Honourable Chief
Justice for administering to me the oath on this
the most solemn day of my life. You too are a
newcomer and if one newcomer may say to
another how glad I am to meet you, you will
know it is true and I hope that you will have
many happy days in our midst.
The thoughts of many of you indeed of all
of you must today be turning back to my distinguished predecessor, Sir Anthony Abell,
who, I know, is held in the highest esteem and
affection by you all. His fame has spread far
beyond the shores of this country and he has
made known the ways of pleasantness and the
paths of peace which the people of this country have trod for so many years. I know from
him how much he loved Sarawak and I know
that he will follow with interest the fortunes of
this country in the future. He is a part of a great
tradition and it was only the other day that I
had the priviledge and pleasure of meeting
His Highness the Rajah and from him I learnt
much of earlier days in this country.
Sarawak is but a small country and is
possibly the youngest among Her Majesty's
dependent territories. It is very much behind
those territories which Your Excellency has
just served in its economic an constitutional
development. We have every hope that Your
Excellency's wide experience of democratic
and economic progress in those territories will
guide us in our plans for social, economic and
political progress in the years to come.
In conclusion, I am giving Your Excellency
our assurance that we shall spare no effort on
our part to co-operate with the Government
and we are c o n f i d e n t in H e r M a j e s t y ' s
declared policy to guide us by stages to
ultimate self-government.
Reply by His Excellency the
Governor of Sarawak, Sir
Alexander Waddell
The Honourable Datu Bandar, My Lord
Bishop, the H o n o u r a b l e Chief Justice,
honourable and distinguished guests from
neighbouring territories, ladies and gentlemen.
You will, I know, Datu Bandar, forgive me
if on this occasion I cannot as yet repay the'
compliments you've done me in addressing
31
It is right today to think of the past so that
we may set our course for the future taking
advantage of the favourable winds that have
blown over this country for so long. Let us
make a firm resolve to guard the spirit of harmony, let us treasure the inheritance of goodwill and understanding which is ours. Let us
preserve the friendly relations and the mutual
respect on which this country has been built.
Let us in fact all regard Sarawak as our true
home. It is in the furtherance of such a policy of
unity and trust that I pledge myself today for
that is the only true, the only firm basis of
lasting progress whether it be economic,
political or social. Let us be united in this.
As I take up my high office today I have in
mind the Cardinal Principles which were set
down as long ago as 1941 and I will daily
remind myself of the duty laid upon me by Her
Majesty the Queen in the Royal Instructions
and these instructions bear repeating to me
daily and to you from time to time and one of
the most important of these is "the Governor is
to the utmost of his power to ensure that the
fullest regard is paid to the religious and existing rights and customs to the inhabitants of
Sarawak, to promote religion and education
among them, and, by all lawful means, to
protect them in the free enjoyment of their
possessions and to prevent all violence and
injustice against them."
I c o m e to this c o u n t r y w i t h s o m e
knowledge of how you suffered in war, with a
great admiration for the valour and stout
hearts with which you withstood the enemy
and cast him out, writing by your actions and
by your bravery against overwhelming odds,
unique and illustrious pages in the annals of
war. The war is long over but those qualities
remain and have been demonstrated in equal
measure by the Sarawak Rangers whose prowess overseas in the cause of freedom is
already legendary.
T h e resources of the country lie not
primarily, in fact they lie not in its products or
its material worth but in the character, steadfastness and the c o u r a g e of its p e o p l e .
Knowning something as I do of the quality of
the people in Sarawak in peace and in war I
32
am confident that there is no limit to what can
be achieved. It is a great priviledge for me now
to be associated with the civil service of
Sarawak, a service whose reputation is second
to none. The service in Sarawak is well known
for its devotion to the interests of the people,
for its skill and humanity and all progress depends very largely on an active, strong and
able civil service, such as we have.
I have today propounded no new policies,
nor will you expect me to. But I hope I may
have shown by what principles I shall be
guided and I hope I have expressed my conviction and faith in the future of Sarawak. M a y
I say that it is my intention to maintain the
tradition of accessibility which has been long a
happy feature of this country for to govern is to
serve and one cannot serve without meeting
and understanding those whom one would
seek to serve.
Sir Alexander then spoke in Malay. He
said: "I am sorry for not being able to speak
Malay well. Although today I am giving my
good wishes to you in my own language, I do
hope that when I go out travelling in all parts
of Sarawak I will be able to learn the language.
My intention in Sarawak is to make a visit
to all parft of the country which will enable me
to meet the people either in their houses, in the
kampongs, in their gardens, in the shops and
in their offices in order to acquaint myself with
their traditions, aspirations and their hopes.
Thank you."
Anti-Cession demonstration in Sibu of members of the Pergerakan
The cession of Sarawak to the British
Crown
Pemuda
Melayu (P. P.M.).
people had not been consulted on the matter.
E v e n t u a l l y i t w a s d e c i d e d that t w o
members of the British Parliament would visit
Sarawak to ascertain public opinion upon the
matter of cession. Their recommendation was
that there was sufficient approval for the
matter to come up before the Council Negri.
In May 1946, a debate took place and the
Cession Bill was passed with a slender
majority — by the votes of the European members who were not citizens of Sarawak.
Soon after the liberation of the whole of
Sarawak on February 8, 1946, Sir Charles
Vyner Brooke made known his intention to
give up Sarawak to the British Crown. The
reason given for this was that, as a Colony, the
people of Sarawak could enjoy, with financial
and technical help from Britain, "an era of
widening enlightenment, stability and social
progress such as they have never had before".
The feelings and reactions were mixed. The
initial sense of bewilderment soon crystallised
either for or against the move. But Sir Charles
airily dismissed any idea that any one should
question his decision on the matter, declaring,
"I am spokesman of the people's will. No one
other than myself has the right to speak on
your behalf. Not one of you will question whatever I do in his high interests. There will be no
Rajah of Sarawak after me. My people will
become subjects of the King. This is for your
good. By Royal Command."
The Anti-Cession Movement
Such a remark reflected the authoritative
and arrogant attitude of the Brooke rulers towards the people of Sarawak. However, on
this occasion, many did disagree. The people
of Sarawak were, for the first time, reluctant to
have their future arranged in so arbitrary a
manner, and a major protest was organised by
the Malay National Union saying that the
33
The passing of the Cession Bill caused
bitterness and dissatisfaction among many
Natives. They joined forces With members of
the Malay National Union to form a strong and
vocal movement against Cession which grew
until eventually it claimed to have no less than
35,000 members throughout the State. These
members, who were mostly Native Government servants and teachers, denounced
cession as being illegal and demanded a
restoration of the independent status. It was
claimed that an anti-cession rally at the Central Padang in Kuching was attended by about
15,000 people. Acutely embarrassed by the
anti-cessionists, who were mostly Government servants, the new colonial government
issued a notorious Secretariat circular— "Circular No. 9" to curb their activities, which was
signed by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Mr C.W. Dawson.
Anti Cessionists in Sibu
Secretariat Circular No. 9/1946
"In view of the political change in the
Status of Sarawak by which on 1st July, 1946,
it became a Crown Colony, His Excellency the
Governor has directed that this circular
should be sent to all Government officers on
the Establishment.
(a) Government expects and requires absolute loyalty from all servants.
(b) Since there is no question of any change
in the present regime or any reversion to
Brooke Rule, Government will not permit
or tolerate any association by its servants
with any activities designed to keep alive
the question of cession.
(c) There will be no victimisation for any
speech or act of any Government servant
34
in the past relating to the question of
cession, but each Government servant
must now make up his mind whether he
wishes to serve the present Government
loyally and faithfully or not.
(d) If you do not feel that you wish to continue
in the Government Service under these
conditions, you should inform your Resident, District Officer, or Head of Department, as the case may be, before 31st
December, 1946 and he will advise you as
to the course you should pursue.
(e) Any Government servant in future who
associates himself with any activity designed to k e e p open the question of
cession or commits any act of deliberate
disloyalty to Government will render himself liable to instant dismissal."
Wanita members of P.P.M.
demonstrating against cession in Sibu.
If the circular was designed to instil fear others were imprisoned and detained from
among those public servants who were active three weeks to 12 years. However, this antiin the anti-cession movement, it misfired mis- cession movemet cearly showed the British
erably. A total of 338 teachers and Govern- that the people of Sarawak were concerned
ment servants, mostly Malays, representing about their future. It also served as an awakenabout 13% of the Civil Service, resigned. This ing of the political consciousness of the people
episode of mass resignation now known in the of Sarawak.
history of the State's struggle for Independece
A number of the anti-cessionists continued
simply as "338". The climax of the anti-ces- their involvement in politics and won for the
sion activities was murder of the Second Gov- State its "second independece" by supporting
ernor of the Colony of Sarawak, Duncan Ste- the formation of the Nation of Malaysia
wart, by two members of the Sibu-based Gera- mooted by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alkan Pemuda Melayu on December 3, 1949. Haj, then the Chief Minister of independent
The Government's reaction to the attack was Malaya. Among them were Datuk Haji Noor
swift and thorough when four young Malays Tahir, the late Datuk Ajibah Abol, the late
involved in the assassination, Rosli bin Dhoby, Datuk Amar Abang Ikhwan Zaini and the late
Morshidi bin Sidek, Bujang bin Suntong and Tan Sri Mohd Su'ut Tahir.
A w a n g Ramli bin Haji Matsaruddin, were
In 1963 Sarawak achieved independence
convicted and sentenced to death. Fifteen —within Malaysia.
35
The Malay National Union members protesting against me cession
Anti-Cessionists in the grounds of the Dutu Patinggi's house, Darul Kernia 2nd April 1947. They are grouped to
represent the Malay National union's slogan "No Circular No. 9. "
36
The Visit of His Excellency the
Governor to sibu from 5th May to 9th May 1948.
This photograph shows the recipients with his Excellency (5th from the left)
In a v e r y c r o w d e d f i v e days in Sibu, His
E x c e l l e n c y m a n a g e d to c o m b i n e a great deal
of business with, apparently, a great deal of
pleasure.
g a i l y d e c o r a t e d and p r e s e n t e d a pretty picture.
At 9 a.m. on the 6th, H i s E x c e l l e n c y pres e n t e d m e d a l s a n d ribbons outside the G o v e r n m e n t buildings. A G u a r d of H o n o u r w a s
present. T h e f o l l o w i n g g e n t l e m e n are t o b e
c o n g r a t u l a t e d on their a w a r d s : -
T h e " L a F o l l e t t e " w i t h His E x c e l l e n c y o n
board, a c c o m p a n i e d by his Private secretary
and M r . Paul A r d e n C l a r k e arrived at Sibu at
12 n o o n on W e d n e s d a y 5th M a y from Brunei.
T h e party w a s m e t at K u b u Wharf by the H o n o u r a b l e the R e s i d e n t and the Divisional Datu.
W h i l e His E x c e l l e n c y w a s inspecting the Saraw a k Constabulary Guard of Honour and
m e e t i n g the dignitaries f r o m e v e r y district in
T h i r d Division, the y o u n g e s t " M e r m a i d " arrived from Kuching bearing Mrs Middleton
and M i s s J e n n i f e r A r d e n Clarke. L a d y A r d e n
C l a r k e had most unfortunately b e e n detained
in K u c h i n g to l o o k after her daughter w h o wr-s
indisposed.
BRITISH EMPIRE M E D A L
1. M r . Yu Sut M o i , Sibu.
2. P e n g h u l u J u g a h anak L a p e k , S o n g .
3. M r . P e t e r L i e w S h o n g M e n g of the Lands
and S u r v e y s D e p a r t m e n t , Sibu.
4. S e r g e a n t E m b a h of the S a r a w a k Constabulary, Sibu.
5 . M r . C h o n g A h O n n o f the M e d i c a l Department, Sibu.
Sibu w a s full to capacity b e f o r e the arrival
of His E x c e l l e n c y , but it w a s surprising h o w
m a n y m o r e p e o p l e of e v e r y race race arrived
f r o m all o v e r the Division and then the C o l o n y
o n e v e r y s u b s e q u e n t d a y and w e r e s o m e h o w
a b s o r b e d a n d m a n a g e d to g e t a home. Bungal o w s b u l g e d w i t h guests, dapors w e r e full,
visitors w e r e u n d e r n e a t h and on top of houses,
and e v e n a bicycle shed was transformed
o v e r n i g h t into a miniature K a y a n longhouse,
w i t h g a y sarongs and beautifully b e a d e d hats
h a n g i n g out to air. On such a f e s t i v e occasion
the residents of Sibu did not bear the slightest
g r u d g e as a result of the o v e r c r o w d e d conditions and the local discomfort. T h e t o w n w a s
37
K I N G ' S M E D A L S FOR COURAGE, ETC.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Mr. Thomas Nyandau, Kanowit.
Mr. T e o Ah Chong, Belaga.
M r . John C. Liu, Sibu.
P e n g h u l u J u g a h anak B a r i e n g of M e r i r a i ,
Kapit.
5. P e n g h u l u Sibat anak S e m a d a of M e l i n a u ,
Kapit.
6. M r . H e l b o u m e S e m i g a a t of the Posts and
T e l e g r a p h s D e p a r t m e n t , KanoWit.
W h e n this w a s over, His E x c e l l e n c y presented suratkuasa and f l a g s to T u a K a m p o n g s
and P e n g h u l u s . Practically all the chiefs of
T h i r d Division w e r e here.
Tour of the Third Division by Their Excellencies the
Commissioner-General and the Officer Administering the
Government, 1949.
38
Commis-
T h e f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g at 7 a.m. t h e party,
s i o n e r - G e n e r a l a n d the O f f i c e r A d m i n i s t e r i n g
Their
Excellencies
j o i n e d b y the R e s i d e n t , set out f o r Kapit. T h e
he
Government
the
and
Mrs.
Dawson,
first part o f t h e j o u r n e y w a s m a d e i n h e a v y
Gilliat, M . B . E .
mist but w a s w i t h o u t i n c i d e n t . K a n o w i t w a s
Commissioner-General's
p a s s e d at 10.45 a.m. a n d S o n g at 2.15 p.m.
a c c o m p a n i e d by M a j o r M.J.
Comptroller of the
household,
and
the
Private
Secretary,
H e a v y rains h a d s w o l l e n the R e j a n g and
e m b a r k e d at Pending on M.L. " L a Follette" at
progress b e c a m e slower. A f t e r a f e w inevit-
10.15 p . m . on the 4th A p r i l en route to the
a b l e calls o f " S a t u T a n j o n g l a g i " , K a p i t w a s
T h i r d D i v i s i o n . T h e j o u r n e y b e g a n i n a slight
r e a c h e d a t 5.15 p . m . T h e r e T h e i r E x c e l l e n c i e s
d r i z z l e of rain a n d t h e party r e t i r e d almost
w e r e w e l c o m e d b y the N a t i v e O f f i c e r A b a n g
i m m e d i a t e l y , h o p e f u l of an undisturbed night
Indi, in t h e a b s e n c e of the District O f f i c e r , M r .
crossing the bay.
I . A . N . U r q u h a r t w h o , u n f o r t u n a t e l y , w a s ill i n
A l l w a s w e l l until 5 a.m. o n the 5th w h e n
" L a F o l l e t t e " ran into r o u g h w e a t h e r and
w o u l d - b e s l e e p e r s h a d d i f f i c u l t y i n staying i n
their b u n k s .
S a r i k e i w a s r e a c h e d at 11 a.m. and an uno f f i c i a l call p a i d u p o n t h e District O f f i c e r , M r .
A . R . Snelus, a n d M r s . Snelus.
A visit w a s m a d e to the P e p p e r G a r d e n s at
the T h i r d M i l e R e p o k R o a d and the party w a s
then e n t e r t a i n e d to lunch at the District
Officer's Bungalow.
L e a v i n g S a r i k e i a t 1.30 p.m., Sibu w a s
s i g h t e d at 5.30 p.m., a n d the a p p r o a c h of T h e i r
E x c e l l e n c i e s w a s h e r a l d e d by a 17 g u n salute.
Their
Excellencies
were
Sibu Hospital.
A W e l c o m i n g Arch had b e e n erected over
t h e p a t h f r o m t h e j e t t y t o the o f f i c e a n d the
p a t h w a s l i n e d b y l e a d i n g m e m b e r s o f all
communities and by school children carrying
flags.
After inspecting
the
Guard of Honour
Their Excellencies talked for some time with
the w e l c o m i n g party b e f o r e w a l k i n g u p t o the
District O f f i c e r ' s B u n g a l o w .
A short tour of the b a z a a r b e f o r e d i n n e r
c o n c l u d e d t h e e v e n t s o f the d a y .
At 9 a.m. the n e x t d a y H i s E x c e l l e n c y the
at
the
O f f i c e r A d m i n i s t e r i n g the G o v e r n m e n t h e a d
Hon'ble
met
the
r e q u e s t s in C o u r t a n d this w a s f o l l o w e d by a
R e s i d e n t , T h i r d D i v i s i o n , M r . J . C . H . Barcroft,
tour of t h e Station a n d a visit to the M e t h o d i s t
a n d Datu A b a n g Y a n , and, a f t e r i n s p e c t i n g a
M i s s i o n . A f t e r l u n c h the party d i v i d e d t o p r o -
smart G u a r d of H o n o u r u n d e r the c o m m a n d of
c e e d u p the B a l l e h i n f o u r p e r a h u s d r i v e n b y
M r . K.S. L e e s t o n - S m i t h , w e r e i n t r o d u c e d t o
outboard
Senior G o v e r n m e n t officials and l e a d i n g
p e r a h u s w a s k e e n a n d the " A d m i r a l - d r i v e r "
m e m b e r s of all c o m m u n i t i e s .
h a d d i f f i c u l t y i n k e e p i n g his f l e e t i n f o r m a t i o n .
Government
Wharf
by
the
engines.
Competition
between
T h e R e s i d e n t k i n d l y h a d put the R e s i d e n c y
A l t h o u g h the r i v e r w a s h i g h the j o u r n e y
at the d i s p o s a l of T h e i r E x c e l l e n c i e s a n d in
w a s u n e v e n t f u l a n d the noise of 4 e n g i n e s
v i e w of a rather l o n g j o u r n e y to c o m e , the
m e a n t that not a s i n g l e b i r d or a n i m a l w a s
e v e n i n g w a s spent quietly.
s e e n o n the b a n k s .
39
Rumah Penghulu Jinggut was reached at 5
p.m. where the party was given a traditional
welcome by the Dayaks. During the firing of
salutes a small brass cannon e x p l o d e d ,
injuring a woman in the leg. The Dresser who
accompanied the party treated the injury and
pronounced it to be superficial, so that the
welcome was not marred by any bad omen.
In the evening, offerings of ritual food
(bedarah) were made either in each "bilek" or
on the "ruai" of the house. The party split up in
order to carry out the ceremonial, which
ensured reasonable abstinence and an early
night.
At 7.30 a.m. the following morning the
party o n c e more e m b a r k e d en route to
Temonggong Koh's house. A brief halt was
made at a house close to the confluence of the
Balleh and the Ga'at in order to have a picnic
lunch.
The inmates of the house were a little
bewildered at so many Europeans descending
upon them unannounced and in such a hurry,
and o n e old man w h o r e m e m b e r e d the
Krakatau eruption felt that this new upheaval
was no less impressive.
Temonggong Koh's house was reached at
4.15 p.mn. and after a welcome at the jetty
Their Excellencies mounted to the house
through lines of assembled Penghulus and
other notables and girls in traditional costume
dispensing "tuak ".
Once inside the house, a "bedarah'' was
performed on the "ruai" and a "pantun" sung
to each of the guests. A welcome pause then
followed and later the party assembled in
Temonggong Koh's room where Penghulu
Gerinang acted as Master of Ceremonies with
startling efficiency.
After dinner the real business of the evening begin:- a "bedarah" in each room or on the
" r u a i " followed by dancing in which the
visitors joined. During the performance of
these "bedarah" Mrs. Dawson was in great
demand, and all the male "pantun" singers
vied with each other in singing her praises.
The next morning a "Gawai", stated to be
"Gawai Nanga Rumah", one of the "Ranyai
Gawai", was performed. Their Excellencies
went down to the jetty and made a ceremonial
entry into the house, in which the killing of a
pig figured. A' 'piring" (dish of ritual food) was
prepared which included, to the momentary
discomfort of the guests, cups if fowls blood.
This was described as a "Piring Pengalu", the
_ normal offering made to the gods in honour of
40
the
arrival of d i s t i n g u i s h e d visitors.
Excellency the
His
"bedarah"
Commissioner-General then
u n d e r t o o k the c e r e m o n y o f " N a n a m " .
made
beforehand.
small
and
a
fowl
was
p l a c e d o n a p o l e set u p i n " R u m a h M e n i g a " :
house
This c e r e m o n y concluded, each of the
( R u m a h M e n i g a ) s y m b o l i c o f the d w e l l i n g o f
g u e s t s in turn, attired w i t h hat, s w o r d , s h i e l d
the g o d s i n h e a v e n , h a d b e e n constructed o n
a n d m o n k e y skin,
t h e r i d g e of the roof of the l o n g house. A l a d d e r
R a n y a i " (the s w e e p i n g o f the " R a n y a i " ) u s i n g
l e d u p t o " R u m a h M e n i g a " f r o m the " r u a i " o f
a
the h o u s e a n d a f u r t h e r l a d d e r f r o m outside on
a c c o m p a n i e d b y a sponsor w h o l e d t h e m i n
the v e r a n d a h . A l o n g p i e c e of cloth, s i g n i f y i n g
s w e e p i n g e a c h m a i n post o f the h o u s e a s w e l l
continuity b e t w e e n earth and h e a v e n and
a s the " r a n y a i " a n d i n uttering l o u d shrieks
p r o m i s i n g l o n g l i f e a n d g o o d luck, w a s h u n g
opposite
f r o m " R u m a h M e n i g a " t o the " r u a i " . A f e n c e
o f f e r e d a glass of " t u a k " . T h e s t r e n g t h of the
m a d e of a r o t a n m a t a n d a D a y a k b l a n k e t w a s
shriek s e e m e d to d e p e n d entirely on the
t h e n c o n s t r u c t e d a r o u n d the l a d d e r l e a d i n g
q u a l i t y of " t u a k " o f f e r e d or p e r h a p s it w a s that
from the
as the libations increased the vocal effort
"ruai",
A
place
blood o f f e r e d to the gods. This " p i r i n g " w a s
O n this o c c a s i o n all the p r e p a r a t i o n h a d
been
took
s l a u g h t e r e d d u r i n g the p e r f o r m a n c e a n d its
the w h o l e b e i n g called
" R a n y a i " a s y m b o l i c t r e e a n d l o n g house.
At
the
same
time
His
performing
mop
each
of
grass.
door w h e r e
They
were
the inhabitant
b e c a m e easier. " N e p a s R a n y a i " w a s f o l l o w e d
by
E x c e l l e n c y the
Commissioner-General was
circular
proceeded with " N e p a s
"Nimang",
the recitation of traditional
m y t h s c o n n e c t e d w i t h the deities, p e r f o r m e d
a
f u r t h e r " b e d a r a h " ( P i r i n g N a n a m " the plant-
by tour p e r s o n s . A f i n a l " b e d a r a h " w a s p e r -
i n g of p l a c i n g of the o f f e r i n g to be m a d e to the
f o r m e d b e f o r e the party l e f t the h o u s e a n d the
"piring"
gods).
T h e " b e d a r a h " concluded, His Excellency
t h g e O f f i c e r A d m i n i s t e r i n g the G o v e r n m e n t
b o r e the
"piring",
by w a y of the outside
ladder, to " R u m a h M e n i g a . " T h e r e another
41
given
to
His
Excellency
the
C o m m i s s i o n e r - G e n e r a l , w i t h the injunction
that it s h o u l d not be d i s p o s e d of f o r t h r e e days.
T h e " p i r i n g " was ceremoniously consigned to
the S a r a w a k r i v e r t h r e e d a y s later.
This whole " g a w a i " appeared to be a portion of the larger "Ijok Pumpang" ceremony,
in which the gods are persuaded to come and
stay in the house especially constructed for
them, when, after a night of festivity in which
the gods have shared, a pig will be offered to
the G o d Singalang Burong, who in gratitude
will given an omen and enter the room of the
giver of the feast, in this case Temonggong
Koh.
It was also explained that the ceremony
was symbolic of Temonggong Koh's ascending to the house of the gods and consorting
with them.
It was a very reluctant party who left
Temonggong Koh's house, amid many sincere and often fond farewells, for Kapit. The
following day the "La Follette" was boarded
once more and, on the way to Sibu, the newly
built Song Station was visited. Their Excellencies were given a rousing welcome and after
42
hearing requests and inspecting the Station
were entertained to light refreshments at the
Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
A further stop was made at Kanowit where
Their Excellencies were met by the District
Officer, Mr. J. F. Drake-Brockman, and the
Principal of the Rural Improvement School,
Mr. R.A. Bewsher, and Mrs. Bewsher. A most
instructive hour was spent in touring the
School with Mr. Bewsher who explained it
activities.
Sibu was reached at 4.30 p.m., and in the
evening the Resident gave a party at the Island Club in honour of Thier Excellencies'
visit.
An enjoyable evening was spent with
Government officials and leading citizens of
Sibu, to bring to a close a most memorable
tour.
The journey back to Kuching was accomplished on the 11th. - (Contributed).
His Excellency The Governor,
Mr Duncan George Stewart
Visit to Sibu on 3/12/49
Attack on H.E. The Governor
The
newly
appointed
governor
of
tion, a small c o r e of w h i c h has, s i n c e t h e arri-
S a r a w a k , w h i l e p a y i n g his first visit to Sibu on
val of the Governor,
S a t u r d a y last 3/12/49 w a s s u d d e n l y a t t a c k e d
o p p o s i t i o n to the C e s s i o n of S a r a w a k to t h e
b y t w o M a l a y s w h i l e o n his w a y f r o m the
Crown.
wharf to the G o v e r n m e n t offices. He received
f o r m e d a n d further surgical h e l p w a s q u i c k l y
a stab w o u n d i n t h e a b d o m e n . T h e assailants
sent b y R . A . F . f l y i n g b o a t f r o m S i n g a p o r e a t
h a v e b e e n arrested and investigations are
the r e q u e s t o f the S a r a w a k G o v e r n m e n t . T h e
p r o c e e d i n g . T h e y a r e m e m b e r s o f a n associa-
G o v e r n o r ' s c o n d i t i o n is serious.
43
continued to show
A n i m m e d i a t e operation w a s per-
H.E. The Governor flown to
Singapore
There are more details of the attack on His
Excellency the Governor of Sarawak, Mr
D u n c a n G e o r g e Stewart, w h i l e h e w a s
making his first official visit to the town of
Sibu in the Third Division. His Excellency was
walking up the road to be present at an investiture to present medals to some persons in the
town and was in uniform. He had passed rows
of school children who had lined up to welcome him, holding flags and cheering him,
when a Malay rushed out from the crowd and
stabbed Mr Stewart in the stomach. The
assailant fell when he had done this and was
immediately held by the police. Although he
was wounded. His Excellency proceeded to
the place for the investiture and acknowledged the greetings of the crowd. Soon after
the first attack another Malay tried to stab His
Excellency but he was caught by Mr T. St. J.
Dilks w h o was immediately His Excellency.
Mr Dilks frustrated his attempt and held him
until he was arrested by the police. The Malay
who wielded the knife is stated to be a youth
of sixteen years of age.
His Excellency's condition was found to be
serious as the stab wound had perforated the
intestine and an emergency operation was
performed on him by the surgeon in Sibu, Dr
E.H. Wallace. A message for help was sent to
Singapore. At three o'clock in the morning of
Sunday, Professor M e k i e a w e l l - k n o w n
44
Singapore surgeon took off in a Sunderland
and arrived in Sibu four hours later. Professor
M e k i e made his examination and decided
that another operation was necessary and His
Excellency should be flown to Singapore the
same day for this purpose. He paid tribute to
the work of Dr Wallace in the emergency
operation. The plane carrying His Excellency
arrived in Seletar where the Commissioner
General, Mr Malcolm MacDonald, and the
Officer Administering the Government of
Singapore, Mr P.A.B. McKerron, were waiti n g . His E x c e l l e n c y w a s rushed to theHospital. It is stated that during the flight to
Singapore blood transfusion was given to Mr
Stewart.
A bulletin issued by the General Hospital
at nine o'clock yesterday morning stated that
his Excellency had passed a calm night on
Sunday and had got over the danger of the
attack but his condition was still serious. The
Officer Administering the Government of
Singapore, Mr P.A.B. McKerron, received a
message from the Officer Administering the
Government of Sarawak, Mr C.W. Dawson,
who said that he was glad that His Excellency
was doing well and added that a public meeting was held in Sibu of all communities in
which they expressed horror at the crime and
their sympathy for the Governor.
Arrests In Sibu
In connection with the attack made upon
the Governor of Sarawak at Sibu on Saturday
last, in addition to the two assailants, nine
other persons have been arrested. It is proba
le that two further arrests will be made in the
near future.
The two assailants, whose names are Rosli
bin Dobie and Morshidi bin Sidek, have been
produced before a Magistrate and a preliminary inquiry will shortly be held at which it
is understood that the prosecution will ask for
committal for trial on charges of attempted
murder.
The other arrested persons have been remanded in custody and enquiries are proceeding.
A public meeting was held at Sibu on
Monday, at which the Governor's Deputy, Mr
C.W. Dawson, was present. It was attended by
l a r g e numbers of representatives of the
Malay, Dayak and Chinese Communities,
and a solution was unanimously passed
condemning the outrage and expressing their
support of the Government.
Messages of sympathy and loyalty have
been received from all communities throughout Sarawak. It is satisfactory to note the incident has not been accompanied by any disturbances.
The latest news of His Excellency's condition is that he passed a fair night on Monday
and his condition is satisfactory.
Attack on the G o v e r n o r —
Preliminary Inquiry at Sibu
The preliminary inquiry into the death of
the Governor of Sarawak opened on the afternoon of the 15th December before Mr F.B.K.
Drake in the Court Room of the Government
Offices, Sibu, and was concluded the following morning. The two men, Roslie bin Dobie,
aged 19, and Morshidi bin Sidek, aged 25,
who were originally arrested on a charge of
attempted murder, were in Court throughout
the proceedings, and were able to question
witnesses who were called by the prosecuting
o f f i c e r , Mr A . C . Eattell, Assistant Commissioner of Constabulary.
Sgt. Kiker Singh explained that he was in
charge of traffic outside the Government
Offices when the Governor arrived at Sibu.
Just after the Governor had passed in front of
him, he noticed someone came out and then
saw blood on the Governor's left side. He saw
a youth holding a knife, and this youth slipped
down in front of him. He quickly caught hold
of the youth's right hand, in which he still held
a knife. A constable came to his assistance
and together they took the youth to the Police
Station. He recognised the youth whom he
arrested as Roslie bin Dobie. He also identified the knife which the youth had in his hand
at the time. He said that at the first attempt the
45
youth stabbed the Governor and that he tried
to do so again, but fell and was caught.
Dr E.H. Wallace, Medical Officer, Third
Division, described seeing a man holding a
dagger in his hand and making an attempt to
stab the Governor. He was then called over to
the Governor, whom he helped to the nearest
taxi, a distance of about twenty yards. He
assisted him into the taxi and they immediately drove to the hospital, where the Governor
was taken to the operating table. Dr Wallace
added that he found out that an immediate
operation was necessary, and then described
the nature of the Governor's wounds.
Professor D.E.C. M e i k i e , Professor of
Clinical Surgery, Singapore, said that on
arrival in Sibu he examined the Governor
with Dr Wallace and decided that he should
be transferred to Singapore General Hospital,
because the nature of. his injuries demanded
greater facilities than were available in Sibu.
Mr J.C.H. Barcroft, Resident, Third Division, described the arrival of the Governor
and his progress down the road between lines
of school children. He continued: "I pointed
out to His Excellency the various schools and
explained the initials of their badges as we
came abreast the entrance to the Offices. I
said to His Excellency:- "Here we wheel right.
Suddenly from the left from the ranks of the
Methodist School someone collapsed at the
feet of His Excellency and myself. I thought a
school boy had fainted. Immediately there
was a commotion. I saw another man advancing upon us with a knife in his hand. I
stepped towards him, but he seized from be-
hind by Mr Dilks, the Private Secretary." Mr
Barcroft added that he also grabbed the man
by the wrist with which he held the dagger.
He then turned round to see a Sikh policeman
with a Malay youth, whom he had seized
round the throat. Only after that did he realised for the first time that the Governor was
wounded.
Obituary
HIS EXCELLENCY MR. DUNCAN GEORGE
STEWART, C.M.G.
Air Force to send a flying boat to Sibu the next
morning with a surgeon and nurse. It left
Singapore at 4 a.m. After consultation the
doctors decided that the patient could be
flown to Singapore, and this was done the
same day.
First reports of Mr. Stewart's condition
from the Singapore General Hospital were
encouraging, but it was later learned that a
further operation had been found necesary.
This was not successful, and his condition
deteriorated rapidly till at 11.10 a.m. on the
10th December, exactly a w e e k after the
attack, he died.
The funeral took place with full military
honours in Singaore on the 11th December.
The pall-bearers were the CommissionerGeneral (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald), the High
Commissioner for the Federation of Malaya
(Sir H e n r y G u r n e y ) and the O f f i c e r s
Administering the Governments of Singapore
(Mr. P.A.B. McKerron) and Sarawak (Mr. C.
W. Dawson). TheCommissioner-General was
also present as the personal representative of
His Majesty the King. The funeral service wa
broadcast over Radio Malaya and' many in
Sarawak were able to hear it.
Mr. Stewart was in Sarawak for so short a
time that we were hardly able to assess his
qualities as a Governor. Those, however, who
were privileged to meet him were impressed
by his youthfulness, his keenness and his unassuming manner. We could not doubt that he
would have made a worthy successor to Sir
Charles Arden-Clarke, and that Sarawak is
the poorer for his untimely death.
We cannot do better than reproduce the
words spoken over Radio M a l a y a by the
C o m m i s s i o n e r - G e n e r a l o n t h e 10th
December:*
Dncan George Stewart was born in the
Transvaal in 1904. Educated at Winchester
and Oriel College, Oxford, he was appointed
to the Colonial Administrative Service in 1928
and posted to Nigeria. After sixteen years in
West Africa, he became successively Colonial
Secretary of the Bahamas and Financial
Secretary, Palestine. H e w a s appointed
G o v e r n o r and C o m m a n d e r - i n r Chief of
Sarawak in September, 1949, in succession to
Sir Charles Arden-Clarke, and he arrived in
Kuching and was formally installed on the
14th November.
He was detained in Kuching for a little
over a forthnight owing to the meeting of the
Council Negri and the accompanying social
activities, but he had intended as soon as he
could to visit every Division in Sarawak and
the State of Brunei. He left for his first tour, to
the Third Division, on the 2nd December, and
it was after landing the following day at Sibu
and inspecting the guard of honour that he
received the stroke from a dagger which
finally proved fatal to him.
He was moving from the guard to the
government office between the customary
rows of school children, when a young Malay,
who had been standing among the children,
rushed f o r w a r d and stabbed him in the
abdomen. Another Malay, who was standing
in the front of the crowd, pretending to take
photographs, also made as if to attack him, but
was prevented by the Private Secretary, who
handed him over to the police.
The Governor walked the remaining f e w
y a r d s to t h e o f f i c e , a n e a r b y car w a s
summoned and he was taken to the hospital,
where an operation was performed. News of
the incident was at once passed to Kuching,
and arrangements were made for the Royal
46
" W e h a v e l i s t e n e d h e l p l e s s t o the
h e a r t - b r e a k i n g n e w s that this morning
Duncan Stewart, Governor and Commanderin-Chief of Sarawak, died of his wounds. Of
the blow which struck him down I shall say
nothing. On that we must withhold opinion
until the processes of justice reveal their sorry
tale and pronounce their solemn judgement.
But this I must say. I know the peoples of
Sarawak. This crime does not represent them.
They are the salt of the earth; they are the
most friendly, most peaceable and the most
kindly people whom one could wish to meet.
They detest this deed. It is a blow, not for
them, but against them. It leaves them bewildered and stricken, mourning the loss of a
noble Governor and friend.
strivings there is peace. Such a blow falls
heavily upon the dead, but even more heavily
upon the living.
"Mrs. Stewart has been at her husband's
bedside, facing the grim chances of life and
death with superlative courage. That young
and gracious and lovely lady was to have been
the ideal partner for a Governor of Sarawak.
"With bowed heads we express to her our
unspeakable grief and our most Tespectful
and profound sympathies.
" M a y G o d in his infinite mercy and
kindness sustain and comfort her and her
children and us all."
Telegrams of condolence have been sent
to Mrs. Stewart and to the O f f i c e r
Administering the Government from many
parts of the world and from many communities, associations and commercial firms in
Sarawak. We are unable to print all of them,
but we give below a f e w that are of especial
interesti-
"Duncan Stewart was a man of great and
attractive qualities. In several lands his work
marked him out for early and high promotion
in the service of his fellow men. He was
modest and simple, energetic and fearless,
charming and friendly, able and wise. At the
comparatively youthful age of forty-five he
was chosen for-his new post, because His
Majesty the King wished to give Sarawak the
finest and best that was in his gift in the way of
Governors.
From His Majesty the King:"The Queen and I are grieved to hear the
news of your husband's death and send you
our sincere sympathy in your sad loss."
From His Royal Highness the Duke of
Windsor: " T h e Duchess and I send you all our
sympathy and are thinking of you at this sad
time.
From the S e c r e t a r y of State for the
Colonies:"It is with the greatest sorrow and regret
that I have heard the news of Mr. Duncan
Stewart's death. His brave demeanour after
the foul attack made upon him last Saturday
and his splendid struggle for life were typical
of the fine qualities of one whose loss will be
deeply felt not only among his family and
friends and colleagues but also among the
people of Sarawak whom he had so recently
gone to serve. The cowardly murder of a man
so devoted to the welfare of the Colonial
peoples and with so much to give to their
service is abhorrent to all men of good will.
The deepest sympathy of myself and of His
Majesty's- Government goes out to his wife
and children and to all those who knew and
"Stewart himself was a man incapable of
unkindness or cruelty. He could bear no
malice. With all his distinctions and brilliance
and success, he retained a young and gay
heart.
"When he landed at Seletar from Borneo
the other day, carried ashore on a stretcher,
Pat McKerron and I talked with him for a f e w
minutes. In the course of the brief conversation he spoke only two sentences about
the deadly attack made upon him. With a
smile, he said: " Y o u know, in some ways it
was really rather funny. I must tell you about it
when I have got the time."
"Alas, he was not to have the time for that,
nor to f u l f i l the splendid destiny which
awaited him amongst us.
" A t Sibu and Singapore he r e c e i v e d
devoted medical care. Skilful doctors and
nurses did everything that was possible to
save his life. They found a magnificent ally in
his own stout heart. By sheer healthiness of
body and staunchness of spirit, he kept himself alive a day or two longer than in the end
the effect of his, wounds seemed to make
possible.
loved him."
Also from the Secretary of State for the
Colonies:"I should be grateful if you would convey
my profound sympathy in the loss sustained
"But this morning he lost his gallant fight
and passes to w h e r e b e y o n d all earthly
47
in Bahamas with feelings of deep shock and
personal concern. Expressions I have heard
indicate deep-seated regard with which both
he and you were held in this Colony. On behalf E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l and C o l o n y of
Bahamas generally I wish to express sincere
condolence and sympathy.
From the Acting Governor of St. Helena:" G r a t e f u l if you will c o n v e y to Mrs.
Stewart deepest sympathy from members of
Colonial Service here and the people of St.
Helena Colony."
From the A u s t r a l i a n C o m m i s s i o n e r ,
Singapore:"Please accept deepest sympathy of my
Government and this Australian Commission
in your tragic loss."
From the Swiss Consul, Singapore:"Please accept my sincere condolences
and the expression of my heartfelt sympathy
for the untimely loss of His Excellency the
Governor of Sarawak."
From His Highness the Sultan of Brunei :"Beta dukadta kematian Tuan governor
D.G. Stewart sampaikan kepada isteri dan
ahlinya."
From the British Resident, Brunei:" I and all p e o p l e i n B r u n e i d e e p l y
distressed at tragic news and send our sincere
sympathy to you and g o v e r n m e n t of
Sarawak."
From His H i g h n e s s the Sultan of
Selangor:"It is with the greatest sorrow that my wife
and I heard of the death of Mr. Stewart. Please
convey our heartfelt condolences to Mrs.
Stewart in her hour of bereavement."
From His Highness the Regent of Johore:" P l e a s e c o n v e y t o Mrs. S t e w a r t m y
deepest sympathy and condolence in her very
sad bereavement and the great loss."
by the death of the Governor in such tragic
circumstances to all members of Councils,
Public Services and People of Sarawak."
From Sir Charles Arden-Clarke, Governor
of the Gold Coast:" T h e peoples and Government Service of
Sarawak must be as deeply shocked as we cue
by this insane outrage against the Governor,
so utterly at variance with its tradition of
friendliness and hospitality. My wife and I
send the Colony our deepest sympathy."
From His Highness the Rajah*:"Ranee and I deeply shocked at news of
Sarawak outrage. At first suitable opportunity
shall be g r a t e f u l if you w i l l c o n v e y to
Governor our sincere wishes for a speedy
recovery and early return to duty."
F r o m the O f f i c e r A d m i n i s t e r i n g the
Government of North Borneo:"Deeply regret to hear sad news, of Mr.
S t e w a r t ' s d e a t h . M e m b e r s of A d v i s o r y
Council now in session and people of North
Borneo send their deepest sympathy to widow
and children in their sad bereavement."
From the H i g h Commissioner for the
Federation of Malaya:"I have been deeply shocked to learn of
the death of Mr. Duncan Stewart and offer
you and the Government and p e o p l e of
Sarawak sincere sympathy in your great
loss."
From the Governor of Hong Kong:"Please convey my deepest condolences
to Mrs. Stewart."
From the Governor of the Gambia:"Please accept my sincere sympathy and
that of all communities in the Gambia in the
great loss your Colony has sustained."
From the A c t i n g G o v e r n o r of the
Bahamas:"Tragic news of your bereavement has
been received by all who knew your husband
48
Funeral Of His Excellency
The Governor
The following account of the-funeral of His
Excellency the Governor of Sarawak has been
received from Singapore.
C r o w d s b e g a n to g a t h e r outside St.
Andrew's Cathedral two hours before the
huleral service was due to begin. Close by the
Scots Guards were waiting as escort and with
them w e r e the bank of the S e a f o r t h
Highlanders whose drums were draped in
black, the buglers of the Scots Guards and a
detachment of the Singapore police. At 4 p.m.
the hearse with its police escort arrived
outside the Supreme Court (which is four
hundred yards from the Cathedral) where the
coffin was transferred by the military bearer
party of eight Scots guardsmen to a guncarriage. The coffin was draped with the union
Jack and on top were two personal wreaths
and the white plumed dress helmet of the late
Governor. His insignia were carried on a red
insignia cushion.
T h e o f f i c i a l p a l l - b e a r e r s w e r e the
Commissioner General, Mr. Malcom
MacDonald, the Officer Administering the
G o v e r n m e n t , Sarawak, M r . Christopher
Dawson, the H i g h Commissioner of the
Federation of Malaya, Sir Henry Gurney and
the Officer Administering the Government,
Singapore, Mr. P.A.B. McKerron. As the
cortege m o v e d off the gun-carriage was
pulled by a party of fourteen Singapore Police.
Behind the carriage walked representatives of
the British Services and the representatives of
the people of Sarawak who had accompanied
Mr. Dawson to Singapore in the morning.
It was most moving scene as the cortege,
headed by the band, which was playing
Chopin's Funeral March, moved at the slow
march into the Cathedral grounds. The road
was lined four and five deep all'the way and
the lawn in front of the main door of the
Cathedral was carpeted with wreaths. At the
Cathedral porch the Venerable Archdeacon
Gregory, who was officiating in the absence of
the Bishop of Singapore in Bangkok, met the
procession and preceded it into the church.
While the 23rd Pealm was sung the draped
coffin was carried up the aisle to its place in the
Cathedral Choir. Mrs. Stewart sat with Mrs.
Mckerron and Mr. T. St. J. Dilks, who had
been Private Secretary to her husband. At the
conclusion of the service a party of eight
buglers from the Scots guards sounded the
R e v e i l l e and the Last Post w h i l e the
congregation stood in final respect. The coffin
was then carried down the aisle by the bearer
party, and the official mourners followed. It
was placed on a hearse which moved off while
the Singapore Artillery Regiment fired a
seventeen-gun salute. The burial at Bidadari
Cemetery was, at the request of Mrs. Stewart,
private.
In addition to the wreaths from Sarawak,
mentioned in yesterday
The secretary of State for the Colonies.
The Commissioner General.
T h e Governor of Singapore, Sir Franklin
Gimson and Lady Gimson.
The Officer Administering the Government,
Singapore and Mrs. McKerron.
His Highness the Rajah.
T h e n e w l y appointed Governor of North
Borneo, Sir Ralph Hone and Lady Hone.
The Government of Singapore.
The High Commissioner for the Federation of
Malaya, Sir Henry Gurney and Lady Gurney.
The Government of the Federation of Malaya.
The Sultan and Government of Brunei.
The British Resident of Brunei, Mr. Pretty and
Mrs. Pretty.
The Government and people of the Bahamas,
w h e r e the late G o v e r n o r w a s f o r m e r l y
Colonial Secretary.
49
The Sibu Murder Trial
murder. He then explained the law of common
intention. If two people agree to commit
murder and one attracts the attention of the
victim or does something to halt his progress,
in order to enable the other to deliver a fatal
blow, and the other does deliver that blow,
according to the law both are equally quilty of
murder.
The trial of Rosli bin Dobi and Morshidi bin
Sidek for the murder of the late Governor Mr.
Duncan Stewart opened in the Second Circuit
Court, Sibu, on the 5th January. His Honour
Judge D.R. Lascelles sat with five assessors, of
whom three "were Malays, one Dayak and one
Chinese. Both accused were defended by Mr.
J. Pike, Assistant District Officer, Binatang.
The public benches of the Court Room, which
had been almost empty for the preliminary
inquiry three weeks earlier, were filled with
spectators, many of them Ibans.
Both Rosli and Morshidi pleaded guilty,
though at the preliminary inquiry the latter
had p l e a d e d not guilty. T h e pleas w e r e
accepted, but it was decided to hear evidence.
T h e case was opened by the AttorneyG e n e r a l , M r . A.J. G r a t t a n - B e l l e w , w h o
p r o s e c u t e d . H e e x p l a i n e d h o w the late
G o v e n o r h a d c o m e to Sibu on the 3rd
December, and how he was attacked by Rosli,
who came out from the side and stabbed him
in the abdomen, being immediately caught by
two policemen. Morshidi had meanwhile
p r e t e n d e d tQ take a photograph of the
Governor, in order to check him; after the first
accused had made his attack he (Morshidi)
came forward with a dagger upraised in his
hand, but was immediately overcome by Mr.
Barcoft, Resident, Third Division, and Mr.
Dilks, Private Secretary to the Governor. The
two accused were then taken to the Police
Station with their weapons. The AttorneyGeneral produced in Court a small camera,
which he said was found on Morshidi, but
which could not have been used for taking
pictures as it was broken, the Governor was
s t r a i g h t w a y rushed to hospital and an
operation was performed; the wound, which
was one and a third inches in breadth, had
penetrated three inches. Next morning he was
taken, on medical advice, to Singapore, where
he died on 10th December. On 5th December
both accused made confessions. The
Attorney-General said that, as far as the first
accused, Rosli, was concerned, he had been
caught in the act of murdering the Governor
and that was all it was necessary to say. As to
Morshidi, the evidence would show, Mr.
G r a t t a n - B e l l e w submitted, that the two
accused were acting on an agreement having
the common intention of killing the Governor
and that Morshidi assisted in carrying out the
50
T h e rest of the morning session was
occupied with the evidence of witnesses,
including Mr. Barcroft, Mr. Dilks and a
number of policemen. They gave substantially
the same evidence as they had given at the
preliminary inquiry.
W h e n the Court r e a s s e m b l e d in the
afternoon, statements m a d e by the t w o
accused were read out, which alleged that
there had been in existence for more than a
year an organisation called the "Thirteen
essential ingredients", whose object was to
assassinate the Governor and other British
officials.
In his statement Rosli bin Dobi said that
three or four months previously he was
walking in Sibu when he was hailed by a man
named Bujang bin Suntong, who asked him if
he knew of a party called the "Thirteen
essential ingredients", which was headed by
Awang Rambli, who was Secretary-General of
the Pergerakan Pemuda Melayu. Rosli said he
had never heard of it, and Bujang explained
that the party's first object was to sacrifice
themselves, if necessity arose, because they
had been resisting for three years without
gaining anything. It was essential to get
liberation restored as soon as possible. They
must take action because the justice they had
awaited from the British Government had not
materialised. Secondly, they must await a
future occasion when they could take precise
action and assassinate the Governor and other
British officials. Bujang added that there were
about thirteen members of the society and
gave their "names.
Later, Rosli went on, he was hailed by
Rambli, who asked him to come to his house,
where he was told about the Governor's
impending visit. Rosli suggested that they
should put up posters as they had done in the
past, but Rambli replied:- "It is useless to carry
on the old style of opposition; it is like awaiting
rain of gold from heaven. We must remember
that freedom is certainly in our hands if we are
them that they would take an oath in the form
of drinking water; what was said at the
meeting must not be repeated to anybody, and
whoever related what was said would commit
a mortal sin and would be cursed. Rambli then
said, according to the statement. " W e have
been fighting for three years and have not yet
recovered our country, Sarawak. N o w the
time has come when we must assassinate the
Governor and the Resident, but the exact time
w e d o not k n o w . T h e r e must b e this
assassination that our country may revert to
the status quo ante." He (Morshidi) was very
frightened at hearing this statement and
remained silent, as did the others. Rambli said
that the m e e t i n g w o u l d b e n a m e d the
" T h i r t e e n essential i n g r e d i e n t s " . T h e
statement went on to say that on the last visit of
the Governor, Sir Charles Arden-Clarke, they
did not decide to do anything.
ready to sacrifice ourselves." Rambli said
there was no better person to sacrifice than the
Governor. When Rosli expostulated that this
was a difficult affair, Rambli answered:- " O n
the contrary, it is a very easy one. If we kill the
Governor, our country will quickly regain
freedom, and we will certainly receive an
honourable name which will be known by all
within and without the country." He added
that Rosli was the best person to do the deed
because he was young and still in school and
because of this Government would have no
suspicion. Rambli added that, if Rosli got into
trouble and was imprisoned, he (Rambli)
would definitely assist him. On this occasion
Rosli would not agree to act.
A week later Rambli came to his house
and, after cigarettes had been handed round,
he repeated what he had said before. Rosli
said that they should have another meeting,
and Rambli said no more. They eventually
parted, but at 5 p.m. that evening, when Rosli
went on his bicycle to the mosque, he was
called by Rambli, who was in nearby house.
There was further conversation and, after five
minutes' thought, Rosli said that he was
preparing himself for the deed.
Rosli's statement then described other
meetings which took place in the three days
prior to the arrival of the Governor in Sibu.
At 6 a.m. on the 3rd December, Rosli went
to M o r s h i d i ' s house and discussed
arrangements. The statement continued:- "I
r e t u r n e d h o m e and took a bath and
refreshment. I then dressed and took with me
one camera and one knife. I went to the
Methodist School, fell in with them and
marched to the Offices, where we were drawn
up in front of the main office. Morshidi was
standing close by and I called him over and
gave him the camera." Rosli then described
the attack thus:- "When the Governor came
abreast of me, I took the knife from my pocket
and d i v e d a t t h e G o v e r n o r . M o r s h i d i
advanced with me. When I first tried to stab
the Governor, I did not hit him. I saw the police
were about to seize me and I threw my knife at
the Governor. I was straightway seized and I
do not k n o w w h e t h e r the k n i f e got the
Governor or not."
Morshidi bin Sidek's statement started by
describing a meeting which took place "over a
year ago". He was taken by Rambli to a house
where he saw "a qreat number of friends".
The statement described how, after a passage
from the Koran had been read, Rambli told
Morshidi's statement then referred to a
meeting which took place in a public school at
Sibu on the Thursday before the Governor's
arrival. He was called to the meeting by a
circular which was sent by Rosli, who opened
the meeting by saying that he and Rambli had
agreed to the step which they intended to take
to kill the Governor. He wished to select two
friends to join him. He chose Morshidi. Morshidi protested that the affair must be carefully
thought out, but Rosli assured him that Rambli
approved the proposal and would be responsible for Court proceedings, were they arrested.
The statement later described a meting at
the P.P.M. Club on the evening of 2nd December. At the end Rambli called to Morshidi to go
with him to the bazaar, and there Rambli said
to him and Rosli:- "This is your opportunity.
You kill the Governor on his arrival." Rambli
added that, if the two did not do the deed, he
himself must do it. On his way home Morshidi
called for a short while at a house where a
dance was going on. Morshidi's statement
concluded with a description of his part in the
attack.
After the two statements, each of which
totalled about 2,000 words, had been read in
Court, Rosli went into the witness box and
confirmed in a firm, unemotional voice that his
statement was all correct. He added, in reply
to a question by Mr. Pike, defending, that he
was sorry for what he had done; he had been
pushed into doing it by Rambli, but he was
now reallu sorry for himself and put himself affile mercy of the Court. Morshidi, who followed him into the box, nodded when he was
51
asked if his statement was correct. He also said
that he was sorry for What he had done and
said that he had been pestered by Rosh and
Rambli. He asked the Court to have pity on
him.
In his speech for the defence, Mr. Pike
asked the Court to take into consideration the
youth and impressionability of the accused
and suggested that they had been talked into
their action by Rambli. He spoke of the background of the Japanese occupation, "when a
true appreciation of values and a proper
appreciation of law and order" was lacking;
the accused, who were children when the
Japanese came, had very little chance of
growing up. Mr. Pike finally asked the Court
to take into consideration the way the accused
had helped the Crown and that they had been
driven to do what they had by a "discredited
Government servant who has not the courage
to act for himself and drives small innocent
people to do his dirty work for him."
cused guilty, they could make such recommendations for clemency as they deemed fit.
But they must bear in mind that an innocent
man was done to death and that either of the
accused could have reported the matter to
Government and saved the deceased's life. It
had appeared in evidence that at one stage in
the plotting Rambli said that, if the accused
would not do the deed, then he would do it
himself. "You may ask yourselves why they
did not leave it to Rambli", the Judge concluded.
The assessors were out of Court for barely
ten minutes and, on returning, they each told
Judge Lascelles in turn that they found both
the accused guilty. There were no recommendations to mercy. The accused were then
found guilty by the Judge.
Rosli then made a statement standing in
the dock. His voice was firm and storng, but he
was obviously labouring under strong emotion. He said he realised he had done wrong,
The day's proceeding closed with a short admitted his guilt and asked for clemency. If it
had not been for Rambli, he would have done
summing-up by the Attorney-General.
When the Court resumed on the following nothing. He added that, if the Court would not
morning, Judge Lascelles summed up for the give him clemency, he would ask for the matfive assesors sitting with him. He said it was ter to be considered by the Supreme Council
almost certain that never before in the history in Kuching.
Morshidi then spoke in similar vein, but
of Sarawak had there been a case in Court
which had aroused the interest that this had said that both Rambli and RosU had instigated
done. He advised the assessors that, although him and that he was afraid and gave in.
they might have heard much discussion about
Finally Judge Lascelles passed sentence.
the killing of the Governor, they must view the He said to the two accused:- " Y o u may have
case with open minds and must now allow hoped to achieve names for yourselves and
outside opinion to affect their judgement, as you have done so. Your names will go down in
they had been asked to serve as assessors so the history of Sarawak as the two men who
that he (the Judge) might have the benefit of cowardly murdered an innocent man, a man
their considered opinion. He then made cer- who a few weeks earlier at his inauguration in
tain legal explanations and, after reviewing Kuching as Governor had dedicated himself to
briefly the proceedings of the trial, made this the furtherance of the interests of the country
point. Mr. Pike, for the defence, had stressed, and the people. The Malay people in Sarawak
he said, that the event would not have taken have a fine record of service and loyalty, and I
place without the instigation of Awang Ramb- am sure all decent Malays will regard this
li, that it was entirely due to that man's influ- deed as a blot on that record, and that your
ence that the deed was carried out. He must
names will be regarded by future generations
direct them that the fact that the accused
with abhorrence." After saying that the law
might have acted under the influence of someprovided but one penalty for the offence of
one else was no legal defence to a murder
which they had been convicted, the Judge
charge. He added that, if they found the acsentenced both accused to death by hanging.
52
The Sibu Conspiracy Case
Preliminary Inquiry
Ten Malays, all of them members of the
Pergerakan Pemuda Melayu (P.P.M.), who
were arrested on a charge of conspiracy to
murder, following the attack on the late Gover
nor at Sibu on the 3rd December, appeared in
Court on the afternoon of the 6th January,
when the preliminary inquiry began before
Mr F.B.K. Drake at Sibu. The accused persons
were:1. A w a n g Rambli bin Mohammed Deli,
aged about 38. General Secretary of the
P.P.M. Born in Brooketon (Brunei),
joined the Sarawak Customs Department in July, 1929, and resigned in 1946.
2. Abang Han bin Abang Ahmat, aged 25.
Employed in Sarawak Oilfields Limited
laboratory at Lutong.
3. Bujang bin Suntong, aged 58. Casual
labourer.
4. A w a n g Osman bin Awang Mat, aged 48.
Rubber tapper.
5. Osman bin Abdullah, aged 40. Rubber
tapper and formerly syce.
6. Morni bin Jurit, aged 30. Rubber tapper.
7. Chee (alias Osman) bin Mohammed,
aged 28. Formerly electrician.
8. A b a n g A h m a t bin A b a n g Haji Abu
Bakar, aged 23. Rubber gardener.
9. Wan Zen bin Wan Abdullah, aged 20.
Rubber tapper.
10. Jack bin Haji Usop, aged 17. Temporary
clerk in National Registration Office,
Sibu.
object was to promote anti-cession feeling in
Sarawak. Among the fourteen were the President and the General Secretary of the society.
A f e w months b e f o r e the Governor was
murdered, another man was brought into the
conspiracy by Rambli and Bujang; this was
Rosli, who had that morning been convicted of
the murder of the Governor. After briefly
narrating the events that had led up to the
attack on the Governor, the Attorney-General
said that the date of the meeting and the
names of those present were known because
one of the conspirators had recorded them in
his diary.
After Professor Mekie's evidence had been
taken, the Court adjourned till Monday, the
9th January, when the inquiry was resumed
and lasted till mid-day on Thursday, the 12th.
The most important evidence was that given
by the two men convicted of the Governor's
murder, Rosli and Morshidi, each of whom
spent a whole morning in the witness box. The
chain of events revealed by the prosecution
witnesses was as follows:In August, 1948, one Tambek bin Adon
was employed by Mr Marjoribanks to move
into his empty house, "Journey's End'' in Telephone Road, and to act as caretaker. A few
days later he was approached by the accused
Awang Rambli, Bujang and Abang Han and
by Mohammed Sirat, President of the P.P.M.,
and asked to lend the house for a makan ulap.
This duly took place on the 20th August.
Those present included all ten accused and
Mohammed Sirat, Morshidi, Amin bin Jenal
and Tambek himself, and a radio was brought
from the P.P.M. Club.
The inquiry opened four hours after Rosli
and Morshidi had been sentenced to death in
the same room for the murder of the Governor,
in order that Professor D.E.C. Mekie, Professor
of Clinical Surgery, Singapore, might give his
evidence relating to the Governor's death and
then return to Singapore.
The case for the prosecution was conducted by the Attorney-General (Mr A.J.
Grattan-Bellew). In his opening statement he
said that evidence would be called to show
that in August, 1948, a conspiracy took place.
Fourteen people, including the ten in the
dock, met in a house in Sibu and there conspired to murder the Governor and other officials. They were all members of the P.P.M.,
which was a purely political society whose
All these persons went into a room, where
Awang Rambli addressed them. He said that
they w e r e the leaders of the anti-cession
movement in Sibu. They had fought against
the cession for a long time, but with no result.
The Rajah Muda Anthony Brooke was refused
admittance to Sarawak because the Governor
continued to advise London that his return
would cause trouble. It was therefore necessary to take action in order that the British
Government might know their wishes, and
this action must take the form of killing the
Governor, the Resident, other British officials
and the elderly Malays who supported the
53
British Government. He himself, said Awang
R a m b l i , w o u l d take the G o v e r n o r . T h e
meeting agreed on the action proposed, and
various members accepted responsibility for
killing the Resident, the Datu and others.
A w a n g Rambli impressed on those present
the need for extreme secrecy and said that
anyone who gave information of what had
been discussed would be accursed. It was
decided to take an oath (the ayeryasin). Water
was sent for, the accused Wan Zen read the
yasin and all present took a sip of the water. It
was decided to call the party "Rukun tigabelas," as there were thirteen members in
addition to Awang Rambli, the leader. (Rukun
tiga-belas are the thirteen essentials which
must be included in a prayer, according to
Moslem practice, if the prayer is to be effective). The objects of the party were stated to be
(1) to kill the Governor and the other persons
mentioned above and (2) to spread propaganda among the Malay youth to persuade
them to join in the killing. If any member designated to perform a killing refused to do so
or withdrew, he was to be killed before the
persons listed.
Notebooks found in the possession of the
accused Abang Han contained a list of the
persons present at the meeting of 20th August,
1948. There was also a list of persons to be
killed, which appeared to have been written at
an earlier date. These latter were:"Datuk Abang Yan
Abang Razak
Abang Mentrang
Abang Ibrahim
Inspector Dahlan
Tuan Large
Willie Geikie
Abang Kiprawi, N.O.
Abang Mustapha, N.O.
Abang Morshidi, N.O.
Sarikei."
There was also a smaller list of persons to be
attacked (di-pukul). These entries w e r e
confirmed by Abang Han in a statement which
he made before the District Court Magistrate,
M r A . C . W a i n e . M r W a i n e p r o v e d the
statement in Court.
No immediate action was taken. Some of
the witnesses stated that this was due to the
opposition of Mohammed Sirat, President of
the P.P.M., to the taking of blood.
Some four months before the murder Rosli
bin Dobi, Assistant Secretary of the P.P.M.,
w a s informed by the accused Bujang bin
Suntong of the existence of the Rukun tigabelas and its objects, and the need for secrecy
was impressed on him.
54
On the 26th November, 1949, according to
Rosli's statement, he was cycling past Awang
Rambli's house, when the latter called him up,
and told him that the Governor would be visiting Sibu on the 3rd December. He said that, in
spite of posters to the effect that a Governor
was not wanted, the British Government had
sent out a new Governor, and means must be
found to wipe him out or Sarawak's fight for
independence would seem useless in the eyes
of the world. " W e know," said Awang Rambli,
"that the Government is collecting taxes from
us, and the money is being used for building
bungalows and houses for white men, but our
kampong roads have not been repaired. A
final settlement must be made by killing the
Governor, and after this I fully believe that the
complete independence at which we have
been aiming will become effective. If we do
not carry this out, our good way of living will
be endangered. We have waited four years for
our independence and it is just like waiting for
golden rain to fall from the sky (hujan mas
turun dari langit). I ask you, the Malay youth,
to play your part in the killing of the Governor.
If a youth undertakes this, the Government
will have no suspicion." Rosli demurred and
A w a n g Rambli told him that now was the
chance for him to make a name for himself.
The next day, however, A w a n g Rambli came
to the Sekolah Ra'ayat, where Rosli was teaching, and again urged him to undertake the
deed. Eventually Rosli agreed and Awang
Rambli thanked him and suggested that he
should ask the accused Bujang or Morshidi or
Moss bin Takip to assist him.
Rosli called a meeting at the Sekolah
Ra'ayat on the 1st D e c e m b e r , at which
Morshidi, Moss and certain other witnesses
were present. Rosli said, that A w a n g Rambli
had asked him to kill the Governor on his
arrival in Sibu, and had said that he (Awang
Rambli) would support him in any Court proceedings that might result. He called for volunteers, but only Morshidi was willing. After
leaving the meeting he went with Morshidi to
Bujang's house and asked him to assist;
Bujang, however, advised waiting for four or
five days, when the Governor could be killed
in the kampong, where there would be many
of the British officials and elderly Malays also
present. But Rosli said he could not wait.
On two occasions on the following day,
said Rosli, Awang Rambli met him, to confirm
him in his resolve and to assure him of his
support in a n y C o u r t p r o c e e d i n g s . A m e e t i n g
T h e M a g i s t r a t e s a i d that e v i d e n c e h a d
w a s h e l d i n the P . P . M . C l u b that e v e n i n g , a n d
b e e n a d d u c e d t e n d i n g t o s h o w that all the
w h e n i t w a s o v e r A w a n g R a m b l i w e n t off w i t h
a c c u s e d w e r e p r e s e n t at a m e e t i n g h e l d in
Rosli,
M o r s h i d i and some others. A w a n g
T e l e p h o n e R o a d on the 20th A u g u s t , 1948, at
Rambli finally obtained Morshidi's ag ree-
w h i c h i t w a s a g r e e d t o m u r d e r the G o v e r n o r o f
m e n t t o t a k e part i n t h e m u r d e r , telling h i m
S a r a w a k a n d others. O n e of the parties to this
that this w a s an o r d e r f r o m the Rukun tiga-
m e e t i n g , a c c o r d i n g t o the e v i d e n c e , h a d b e e n
belas a n d that, if he r e f u s e d to o b e y , A w a n g
c o n v i c t e d in the S e c o n d Circuit C o u r t of the
Rambli must take action against him. T h e
m u r d e r of the G o v e r n o r . In t h e p r e s e n t p r o -
f o l l o w i n g m o r n i n g the attack o n the G o v e r n o r
c e e d i n g s a g r e a t d e a l of e v i d e n c e h a d also
took p l a c e .
b e e n b r o u g h t t o s h o w that a n o t h e r p a r t y ,
T h e A t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l , c l o s i n g his case o n
A w a n g Rambli, w a s a c t i v e i n p r o m o t i n g the
the 12th January, s u b m i t t e d that the e v i d e n c e
murder. T h e Magistrate e x p l a i n e d section
s h o w e d that a c o n s p i r a c y h a d t a k e n p l a c e on
1 2 0 A of the p e n a l C o d e , w h i c h states that,
the 20th A u g u s t ,
1948, t o w h i c h t h e t e n
w h e n t w o o r m o r e p e r s o n s a g r e e t o do, o r
a c c u s e d a n d others w e r e p a r t i e s — a conspira-
c a u s e t o b e d o n e , a n i l l e g a l act, such a n a g r e e -
cy to murder, if apportunity a l l o w e d , the
m e n t is d e s i g n a t e d a criminal conspiracy. He
G o v e r n o r a n d o t h e r o f f i c i a l s . A y e a r later Rosli,
accordingly framed the f o l l o w i n g charge
b y his a g r e e m e n t , j o i n e d the c o n s p i r a c y a n d
a g a i n s t all the a c c u s e d : -
b e c a m e o n e of t h e conspirators. As a result of
" T h a t y o u o n o r a b o u t t h e 20th A u g u s t ,
this c o n s p i r a c y , t h e l a t e G o v e r n o r w a s mur-
1948, d i d at a h o u s e in T e l e p h o n e R o a d , Sibu,
d e r e d . W h e n t h e r e is a c o n s p i r a c y , said the
k n o w n as "Journey's End,"
A t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l , e a c h conspirator i s l i a b l e
other p e r s o n s t o m u r d e r H i s E x c e l l e n c y t h e
conspire with
for acts d o n e by t h e o t h e r conspirators in pur-
G o v e r n o r of S a r a w a k a n d others, a n d that as a
suance of t h e c o m m o n e n d s of the conspiracy,
result of the c o n s p i r a c y H i s E x c e l l e n c y t h e
and it is immaterial w h e t h e r he w a s at the
G o v e r n o r w a s i n f a c t m u r d e r e d o n t h e 3rd
place w h e r e the murder w a s committed or
D e c e m b e r , 1949."
w h e t h e r h e h a d a n y k n o w l e d g e o f w h e n the
A l l t e n a c c u s e d e l e c t e d t o r e s e r v e their d e -
particular m u r d e r w a s g o i n g t o b e ; his liability
f e n c e , a n d w e r e c o m m i t t e d f o r trial b e f o r e t h e
continues until h e dissociates himself f r o m the
Circuit Court.
conspiracy.
Rosly bin Dhobie under arrest in Sibu, December 1949, after totally stabbing Governor Duncan Stewart in an anti-cession
protest.
L/C Natu Laid To Rest With Military Honours
DETERMINATION TO RID LAWLESS
ELEMENTS STRENGTHEN
Lance Corporal Natu of
the Sarawak Constabulary
who was cold-bloodedly
killed while on duty in the
early hours of Wednesday
morning at the 27th Milestone, Kuching/Serian Road,
was yesterday laid to rest in
the Malay Community cemetery with full military
honours.
The coffin of the deceased
was brought over from Across
River shortly after 9.30 a.m.
draped with a Union Jack and
carried by a group of his
brother officers and followed
by his widow, and relatives. A
guard of honour was mounted
at the Pangkalan Batu and as
the coffin was carried past the
men stood at attention.
T h e S a r a w a k Constab u l a r y Band m a r k e d the
commencement of the solemn
procession when it marched
forward playing the solemn
funeral march. Immediately
behind the Band walked the
Acting Chief Secretary Mr
J.H. Ellis, the Resident First
Division, Mr W.P.L.N.
Ditmas, the Acting Attorney
General, Mr R.H. Hickling,
The Datu Bandar, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Mr
T.P. Cromwell, Mr Ong Hap
Leong, Mr C.O. Adams, Mr H.
Bomphrey and
Abang
Mustapha. Then came the
coffin carried by 10 policemen in Mosque Parade uniform, followed by the widow
and relatives of the deceased
and behind them marched 11
inspectors and more than 240
m e m b e r s of the Sarawak
Constabulary.
The cortege arrived at the
cemetery at 10.20 a.m. and
56
last r i t e s w e r e p e r f o r m e d b y
H a j i Bol, B e l a l of the M a l a y
Mosque.
S p e a k i n g at the graveside,
the C o m m i s s i o n e r o f P o l i c e , M r
P.J. S h a n n o n s a i d " T o d a y the
m e m b e r s o f the S a r a w a k C o n stabulary, G o v e r n m e n t a n d the
l a w a b i d i n g p e o p l e o f this
c o u n t r y m o u r n the loss of a
loyal and b r a v e m e m b e r of the
Sarawak Constabulary. Lance
Corporal Natu was murdered in
cold w a y s be proud. I wish to
e x p r e s s w i t h his w i f e a n d f a m i l y the s i n c e r e s y m p a t h y o f e v ery m e m b e r of the Sarawak
Constabulary.
A two-minute silence was
o b s e r v e d w h e n t h e b u g l e called the " L a s t P o s t " and
" R o u s e " . W r e a t h s w e r e sent b y
the C o m m i s s i o n e r a n d O f f i c e r s
of the S a r a w a k Constabulary;
the Commissioner, Inspectors
and m e m b e r s of the Sarawak
Constabulary; Squad N o . 1,
Police Training School; and the
Fire B r i g a d e Staff.
Lance Corporal Natu, w h o
l e a v e s behind a w i d o w and four
children, w a s 33 years of a g e .
H e j o i n e d the S a r a w a k C o n s t a b u l a r y in 1937 g i v i n g h i m a rec o r d o f m o r e than f i f t e e n y e a r s
57
Visits of His Excellency the Governor to Sibu and Brunei
His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by
his Hon. A.D.C., Abang Othman, and the Private
Secretary, left Kuching for Sibu on Tuesday, 18th
April by "La Follette" and, after a smooth voyage,
arrived at Sibu at 9.00 a.m. the following day. The
Honourable the Resident, Third Division, (Mr
J.C.H. Barcroft) met His Excellency at Bukit Lau
which is about an hour's journey from Sibu. His
Excellency was recieved by a Guard of Honour and
was met at the jetty by Mr A.C. Waine (District
Officer Sibu), Mr K.S. Leeston-Smith (O.S.S., Sibu),
Mr J. Pike (Acting District Officer Binatang), Mr
J.F. Drake-Brockman (District Officer Kanowit),
Mr I.A.N. Urquhart (Acting District Officer Kapit)
and by the Hon. Mr L.K. Morse, Resident-Designate Third Division. After walking through lines of
welcoming school children, His Excellency went to
the Government Offices, where he heard requests
in court and where addresses of welcome were
p r e s e n t e d . H i s E x c e l l e n c y also r e c e i v e d the
l e a d i n g m e m b e r s o f the M a l a y , D a y a k and
Chinese communities, s p e a k i n g personally to
everyone who came. He presented Mr Geok Lin
with the insignia of the M.B.E. conferred on the
latter for service as an outstanding member of the
Sibu community — a long citation was read before
the presentation was made. In the evening, His
Excellency was entertained at a drinks party, to
which members of all communities w e r e invited,
and afterwards he dined at the Residency.
O n T h u r s d a y , t h e 20th, H i s E x c e l l e n c y
attended the Divisional Council meeting during its
morning session and said good-bye to all members
before his departure for Brunei at midday.
58
Visit of His Excellency the Governor
to Coastal Districts 1953
His
Excellency
the
Governor,
a c c o m p a n i e d by the Private Secretary,
embarked in the Mermaid at Pending at 2.00
p.m. on 12th July and after a short stop to visit
Kidurong arrived at dawn on the 14th July off
Kuala Sibuti w h e r e he was met by the
Honourable the Acting Resident, Fourth Division (Mr A.F.R. Griffin), the Acting District
Officer, Miri (Mr E.G. White) and the Assistant
Superintendent of Police (Mr R.W. Gambrill).
Off Kuala Bintulu, His Excellency transferred once more to the Lorna Doone and
reached Bintulu about 3.00 p.m. in a driving
rainstorm. He was met by the Acting District
Officer (Mr P. Scanlon) and his wife, and by
Senior Native Officer (Abang Zainudin) and
Native Officer (Abang Adenan), and after inspecting a smart Guard of Honour and the
school children and being introduced to the
local dignitaries, he went to the District Officer's bungalow.
W i t h much t r e p i d a t i o n Mr and M r s
Scanlon d e c i d e d to have the scheduled
garden party in their garden and not in the
house, and mercifully the weather played up
and His Excellency was able to meet representatives of all communities at a most successful
party which well repaid the hard work that
had obviously been put into it. Throughout the
party a new but promising local band was
performing.
His Excellency had a well-cooked dinner
with the Kapitan China and the Chinese
Chamber of Commerce and then went to the
new and very fine Malay School to watch a
banasawan and have refreshments.
59
Governor's Broadcast On The Royal Visit To Sarawak
A f e w days ago His Excellency the Governor recorded an address at the Astana on the
occasion of the visit to Sarawak and Brunei of
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent
and the Duke. An official of Radio Malaya flew
over from Singapore specially for this purpose.
The text of the address which follows was
scheduled to be broadcast last night over
Radio Malaya at 7.15 local time.
" T o m o r r o w morning the Sunderland
flying boat bearing Their royal Highnesses the
Duchess of Kent and the Duke of Kent will
touch down at a small place called Pending, on
a wide stretch of the Sarawak River a f e w
miles downstream from Kuching, the capital of
this country. Pending is where sea-going
vessels bound for Kuching wait for the tide.
"Sarawak, was for more than a hundred
years, under the beneficent personal rule of
the Brooke Rajahs, but after the liberation
from Japanese occupation it was ceded by the
Rajah to the British Crown.
"In the sic years that have passed since
then, communications and transport, and all
the advantages they bring, have developed
fast, both within Sarawak and with the outside
world, and now opportunities are being given
to the country. When the Rajahs ruled, they
and their officers were concerned above all to
keep in close personal touch with the people
and their needs. Since July 1946, when the last
Rajah left Sarawak, it has been the policy of
the Government to continue this long and wise
tradition.
"Both Sarawak and her neighbour, the
sovereign State of Brunei, which Their Royal
Highnesses, are also visiting, have long held
in high regard the principle of hereditary rule,
and it is therefore with unique pleasure that
we in these two countries look forward to this,
the first visit in our history, of a Princess and a
Prince of the Royal House of Britain and the
Commonwealth.
"When the Duchess of Kent and her son,
the Duke, come to Sarawak, they will be received with flags and music, with the traditional dances of the Dayaks and the Chinese,
the Malays, the Kayans and the Kenyahs, and
with many other, manifestations of the warmth
of our welcome. But they will not leave us
without also seeing concrete evidence of the
progress this country is making.
" A t Batu Lintang, in Kuching, they will
visit the Teachers' Training College. During
the war, Batu Lintang was a Japanese internment camp. Now, in the same building but in a
very, very different atmosphere, nearly two
hundred students f r o m all the races of
Sarawak, are learning to be teachers. The
College is a remarkable,'perhaps unique,
example of human and spiritual co-operation.
The Principal has a distinguished record of
service in the Royal Air force during the war.
His two assistant Principals are a Minister of
the Church of England and a Father of the
Catholic Church, and there is a Muslim Kathi
also on the staff.
" A t Sibu, the second town of Sarawak, Her
Royal Highness will open the new Out Patient
Department of the Lau Kheng Howe Hospital,
and in Kuching, she will lay the Foundation
Stone of the new Anglican Cathedral there.
The new Cathedral is being built to celebrate,
in 1955, the centenary of the first installation,
at the invitation of the first Rajah, of an
Anglican bishop in Sarawak.
" W h e n Tlf&ir Royal Highnesses l e a v e
Sarawak they will fly to Brunei Town, the
capital of the ancient State of Brunei, and
there they will be received and entertained by
His Highness the Sultan of Brunei. During
their stay in this country the Royal visitors will
also go to Seria on the coast of Brunei to
inspect the great oilfields, there. They will see
the tremendous developments which have
taken place since the end of the war. Their
oilfield is the largest oil producing centre in
the British Commonwealth, and in the town of
Seria men, perhaps of as many different races
as are collected together anywhere in the
world, work together in harmony and in an
excellently designed modern town.
"From Kuala Belait, near Seria, the Duke
and Duchess and their party will fly back to
Singapore and it is my hope, shared, I am sure,
by all the people of Sarawak and Brunei that
the deep pleasure and great benefit their visit
will confer upon us will also, in a large measure, be felt in their hearts, and have made this
part of their long and arduous journey well
worth while."
History was made in Sarawak yesterday
morning when at 12.05 p.m. the Royal Air
Force Sunderland touched down at Pending
60
Her Royal Highness about to enter the Astana Barge yesterday morning after, her arrival at Kuching.
a m o n g s t the e x p e c t a n t c r o w d .
a n d T h e i r R o y a l H i g h n e s s e s the D u c h e s s o f
Kent a n d the y o u n g D u k e o f K e n t set f o o t o n
A t 12.35 p.m. sharp the R o y a l Party f r o m
S a r a w a k soil. T h i s is the first t i m e in the history
P e n d i n g a r r i v e d a n d turned into P a n g k a l a n
o f S a r a w a k that a n y m e m b e r o f the R o y a l
Batu. H e a d s e a r n e d f o r w a r d to catch a g l i m p s e
Family has v i s i t e d t h e country.
o f T h e i r R o y a l H i g h n e s s e s w h o w e r e i n the
first car. As the cars c a m e to a stop H i s
T h e p o p u l a t i o n o f K u c h i n g t u r n e d out
early t o p r e p a r e t h e m s e l v e s f o r the R o y a l w e l -
Excellency the Governor,
c o m e . F i n i s h i n g t o u c h e s to the d e c o r a t i o n s in
A . D . C . s t e p p e d out o f the car. H i s R o y a l H i g h -
the t o w n w e r e c o m p l e t e d the d a y b e f o r e a n d
ness t h e D u k e o f K e n t then s t e p p e d out a n d
a s d a w n b r o k e o v e r the t o w n y e s t e r d a y m o r -
f i n a l l y H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s the D u c h e s s o f
ning t h e r e w a s distinctly an air of festivity
Kent. H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s w o r e a p a l e p i n k
dress w i t h a hat of the s a m e colour, p e a r l
everywhere.
e a r r i n g s a n d of t h r e e r o p e s of pearls.
V e s s e l s i n port w e r e d r e s s e d ; U n i o n Jacks
and S a r a w a k
a t t e n d e d b y his
T h e Bishop o f Borneo, the Rt. R e v N i g e l
flags and coloured bunting
fluttered g a i l y i n t h e m o r n i n g b r e e z e , e v e r -
Cornwall,
g r e e n s a n d p a l m s contributed a colour of
A i k m a n , C . M . G . , and the C o m m i s s i o n of
freshness to the g a i l y d e c o r a t e d a r c h e s in the
P o l i c e , M r P.J. S h a n n o n w e r e then p r e s e n t e d
bazaar,
t o T h e i r R o y a l H i g h n e s s e s the D u c h e s s a n d
s h o p h o u s e s and institutions. T h e
weather w a s exceptionally fine and there w a s
the
Chief Secretary,
Mr
R.G.
the D u k e .
thankfulness in the hearts of m a n y e s p e c i a l l y
T h e N a t i o n a l A n t h e m w a s p l a y e d a n d then
after the w e t ' e x p e r i e n c e i n the past f e w days.
H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s i n s p e c t e d the G u a r d o f
A s the t i m e d r e w n e a r e r t o b e e x p e c t e d
Honour. H e r Royal Highness then joined His
arrival of the R o y a l Party c r o w d s b e g a n to
E x c e l l e n c y a n d the party at the steps of the
g a t h e r b e h i n d the p o l i c e c o r d o n d r a w n u p
Pangkalan
round the S e c r e t a r i a t b u i l d i n g . T h e c r o w d s ,
Astana,
numbering thousands,
p a u s e d at the steps of the P a n g k a l a n Batu
comprising a really
cosmopolitan gathering, w e r e mainly formed
Before leaving
Royal
Highness
for the
graciously
w h i l e press p h o t o g r a p h e r s took pictures.
Their
of the t o w n ' s p o p u l a t i o n but at o n e corner of
Batu.
Her
Royal
Highnesses
and
His
the S e c r e t a r i a t c o m p o u n d c o u l d b e s e e n a
E x c e l l e n c y then left the P a n g k a l a n Batu in the
g r o u p of outstation r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s in their
A s t a n a b a r g e f o l l o w e d b y the other m e m b e r s
colourful a n d n o v e l attires a n d h e a d - d r e s s e s .
o f the R o y a l Party, L a d y R a c h e l D a v i d s o n ,
T h e Guard of Honour mounted by the.
L o r d A l t h o r p , M r Philip h a y a n d M a j o r B u c k l e .
S a r a w a k C o n s t a b u l a r y a n d the S a r a w a k C o n -
A s H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s s t e p p e d into t h e
stabulary B a n d t o o k up p o s i t i o n in front of the
A s t a n a b a r g e the n a t i v e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m
Brooke M e m o r i a l and w h e n they w e r e called
the outstations w h o w e r e a m o n g the s p e c t a -
to attention at 12.30 p.m., a s u d d e n hush f e l l
tors, c h a n t e d a n a t i v e w e l c o m e s o n g .
61
The prize winning Pompous and Noble' arch at Padungan Road, being
inspected by Her Highness during her tour round Kuching town.
T h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e f r o m the t o w n , k a m -
t a k e pictures of the D u c h e s s s h a k i n g h a n d s
p o n g s , rural areas and from the remote
arid s p e a k i n g to s o m e of the l e a d e r s of the
v i l l a g e s o f S a r a w a k l i n e d u p b e h i n d the P o l i c e
c o m m u n i t y as t h e y stood u n d e r t h e arches.
c o r d o n in the g a i l y d e c o r a t e d streets in the
L o n g b e f o r e the R o y a l Party f e r r i e d across
t o w n a n d the k a m p o n g s areas w h e n H e r R o y a l
t h e S a r a w a k R i v e r f r o m t h e A s t a n a t o the
Highness,
Kent toured
P a n g k a l a n Batu c r o w d s o f s p e c t a t o r s t o o k
K u c h i n g t o w n y e s t e r d a y m o r n i n g during the
their p l a c e s round the Sectariat b u i l d i n g . T h e
s e c o n d d a y of the R o y a l visit to S a r a w a k .
R o y a l Party a c c o m p a n i e d by the G o v e r n o r , Sir
the
Duchess
of
T h o u s a n d s of school children f r o m almost
A n t h o n y A b e l l a r r i v e d a t the P a n g k a l a n Batu
e v e r y s c h o o l i n K u c h i n g w a v e d U n i o n Jacks a s
just after n i n e o ' c l o c k . H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s ' s
t h e R o y a l cars p a s s e d b y . U n i o n Jacks, s o m e
Standard fluttered on the b o n n e t of t h e car as
Sarawak flags and brightly coloured banners
H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s b e g a n her tour o f the
f l u t t e r e d i n the tropical m o r n i n g b r e e z e a n d
t o w n f r o m the P a n g k a l a n Batu i n t o ' G a m b i e r
e v e r y w h e r e a l o n g the route of the R o y a l tour
R o a d w h e r e she p a s s e d u n d e r the first arch,
t h e r e w a s an a t m o s p h e r e of festivity.
a n d all a l o n g t h e s t r e e t s s c h o o l c h i l d r e n
w a v e d f l a g s a s the R o y a l Party p a s s e d b y .
Strict m e a s u r e s w e r e also b e i n g carried out
and Policemen and Auxiliary Policemen lined
T h e first p e r s o n t o s h a k e h a n d w i t h H e r
up in front of the c r o w d e d spectators in almost
Royal Highness was L e m b o n g bin Bujang
e v e r y t e n f e e t a l o n g the route of the R o y a l tour
w h e n the Duchess m a d e her first stop to h a v e a
right up to Batu L i n t a n g T e a c h e r s T r a i n i n g
g o o d v i e w of an arch at K a m p o n g N o . 3, Datu's
C o l l e g e w h e r e the tour e n d e d .
Road. T h e others w e r e A b g . A m i n bin A b g . H j .
T h e R o y a l Party p a s s e d b y g a i l y d e c o r a t e d
D r a h i m a n d A b a n g Kushairi b i n A b g . D a w i .
a r c h e s at the m a i n streets of the t o w n and on
T h e attractive a p p e a r a n c e o f the d e c o r a t i o n s
m a n y sections of the roads in the k a m p o n g
at K a m p o n g N o . 4, Datu's R o a d attracted H e r
areas a l o n g Datu's Road, G r e e n Road and
R o y a l H i g h n e s s a n d h e r e also s h e s t o p p e d .
Satok
Brightly clad M a l a y girls,
Road
and
as Her Royal Highness
s t o p p e d to s e e s o m e of the i m p r e s s i v e arches,
boys,
m e n and
w o m e n l i n e d up the r o a d f r o m the j u n c t i o n of
p r e s s c o r r e s p o n d e n t s , p h o t o g r a p h e r s and the
M o s q u e R o a d a n d Datu's R o a d r i g h t u p t o the
M a l a y a n Film Unit c a m e r a m e n w h o w e r e
junction of Satok R o a d a n d G r e e n R o a d and
t r a v e l l i n g b e h i n d the R o y a l Party rushed to
t h e y w a v e d a s the R o y a l Party p a s s e d by.
62
HRH Inspects Training College Personal of Youth Bodies and Social Service Presented.
Her Royal Highness also stopped at the James, Mr Chew Oui Cheng. Her Highness
attractive arch at Padungan Road and shook also inspected the British Red Cross Amhands with Mr Quek Siak Hong who was in bulance and paused to talk to Mrs Barbara
traditional Chinese apparel. Before Her Royal Bay.
Highness proceeded to Batu Lintang she
Her Royal Highness then carried out an
stopped awhile at the arch at the cross roads of inspection of the Training College, visiting
Rock Road and Carpenter Street.
first the Reception Room w h e r e tea was
Lovely weather and the clean and neat en- served, and then later inspected the recreation
vironments at the Batu Lintang Teachers hut, the sick bay, the carpentry hut, the dormiTraining College presented a perfect setting tories, concert room and a class room before
for the visit of Her Royal Highness the Duchess calling in the Office where Her Royal Highof Kent yesterday morning.
ness signed her name in a specially prepared
The Sarawak Constabulary Band, under page of the College Log book, to commethe baton of Mr A.D. Bisset, played the Na- morate the visit.
tional Anthem immediately after Her Royal
During the inspection tour her Royal HighHighness in a grey and white striped cotton ness was given a special entertainment of
dress and a large white straw hat stepped out Malay dancing and sea-Dayak dancing by the
of the car on arrival at the College grounds at students of the Centre. The Principal, Mr J.K.
10.15 a.m. Her Royal Highness was accom- Wilson, conducted Her Royal Highness on the
panied by His Excellency the Governor and inspection tour and he said afterwards that
attended by Lady Rachel Davidson, and Major Her Royal Highness was very much impressed
Buckle.
with the principle of the Centre in preserving
Contingents of the Girl Guides, the Life- traditional art of the country and also with the
guards, the Boy Scouts, the British Red Cross various native designs and handicraft. Mr
Society (Sarawak Branch) and th Police Wilson told the Tribune that Her Royal HighService Corps stood information in the ness is 'most c h a r m i n g and puts o n e
grounds of the College and Her Royal High- immediately at ease.'
ness then made an inspection of parade of
The following gentlemen were presented
these organisations.
to Her Royal Highness: Mr H. Earnshaw,
The following people were presented to Director of Education, Mr J.K. Wilson, Rev. Fr.
Her Royal Highness: Girl Guides: Mrs Ella A.D. Galvin, Rev. Fr. D.R. Rawlins, Chegu
Leach (Commissioner), Miss Mary Ong, Che Abang bin Said, Mr Wong Syn Ted, Mr John
Nyachi binte Ah, Miss W. Dixen-Lennett, Miss Timban, Chegu Wan Zain.
Melly Carroll; Lifeguards: Major E.C. Willis of
Her Royal Highness and party left the
the Salvation Army; Boy Scouts: Mr R.H. Training Centre at 11.00 a.m. amidst the
Hickling (Chief Commissioner), Mr Y e o cheers of the members of the Voluntary orCheng Hoe, Mr Lee Part, Mr Raymond Reggie ganisations, the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides
Adai, Mr Zainuddin bin Mat; Red Cross: Mrs and the students of the school who sang their
Phyllis Kennedy (Colony President), Mr A.P. school song.
Charles, Miss Zena Zehnder, Mrs Margery
63
Photograph by Atlas & Son
The Duchess inspecting the Girl Guides at Bum Lintang with the Colony Commissioner Mrs D.L. Leach.
Photograph bv Anna' Studio
The Duchess at Batu Lintang with Chief Commissioner Mr R.H. Hickling inspecting the Boy Scouts
64
Duchess Peforms Laying Of Foundation Stone Ceremony
Her
Roval
Highness
laying
the foundation stone of the new
Cathedral Kuching.
Photograph by Anna Studio
The
foundation
Cathedral
of
St.
Stone
Thomas
of
afternoon laid
in a
ceremony
performed
Her
Royal
by
the
spirit o f h u m b l e t h a n k s g i v i n g a n d b u r n i n g
faith that w e a r e g a t h e r e d h e r e this a f t e r n o o n
f o r this c e r e m o n y . T h i s is t h e first act w h i c h
truly inaugurates the celebration of the
C e n t e n a r y o f the D i o c e s e , a n d w e l o o k b a c k
o v e r t h e p a s t 100 y e a r s w i t h h u m b l e
t h a n k s g i v i n g . N e x t S a t u r d a y O c t . 18 is t h e
79th a n n i v e r s a r y , a n d our act t o d a y i g n i t e s t h e
f u s e w h i c h l e a d s directly t o w h a t w e h o p e w i l l
be a g r e a t c e l e b r a t i o n in 1955.
new
was yesterday
graciously
Highness
the
Duchess of K e n t ; w a t c h e d in f a s c i n a t i o n by a
large number of spectators numbering nearly
a thousand.
T h e w e a t h e r w a s ideal and though there
w a s a slight d r i z z l e l a t e r it w a s w e l l past the
performance
of
the
ceremony,
thereby
p r o v i n g the o l d C h i n e s e s a y i n g that " t h e star
We look with affection and w o n d e r at the
of R o y a l t y is a l w a y s b r i g h t " .
a c h i e v e m e n t o f t h e first B i s h o p b e f o r e h e
afternoon
b e c a m e a Bishop, in the b u i l d i n g of our o l d St.
everybody w a s in position and five minutes
T h o m a s ' s C h u r c h i n 1849. W e r e m e m b e r w i t h
b e f o r e the arrival o f H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s a n d
d e e p a d m i r a t i o n t h e faith w i t h w h i c h h e t h e n
His E x c e l l e n c y ,
the procession of Clergy,
b u i l t - b e f o r e t h e r e w a s a n y Christian i n t h e
h e a d e d b y the C h o i r (in their n e w u n i f o r m ) l e f t
land. W e r e m e m b e r w i t h g r a t i t u d e t h e labours
the " P e o p l e ' s C l i n i c " t o t a k e u p position o n the
o f those w h o h a v e s e r v e d h e r e i n s u c c e e d i n g
matted r a i s e d dais.
g e n e r a t i o n s , e x t e n d i n g a n d b e a u t i f y i n g the
By
3.40
p.m.
yesterday
old Church, and filling it with prayer and love.
H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s , in a f r o c k of l i g h t b l u e
and a small hat of the s a m e colour to match,
" O t h e r s b e f o r e us h a v e aimed at a n e w
arrived w i t h H i s E x c e l l e n c y t h e G o v e r n o r a n d
C a t h e d r a l but h a v e h a d t o p o s t p o n e the d a y .
w a s r e c e i v e d b y the L o r d B i s h o p o f B o r n e o
W e , i n our g e n e r a t i o n , a r e d r i v e n t o t h e w o r k :
w h o p r e s e n t e d t h e V i c a r , t h e R e v . S . J.E. P e a c h
firstly a n y r e a l l y a d e q u a t e r e p a i r t o t h e o l d
to Her Royal Highness.
structure a f t e r its w a r - t i m e d a m a g e w o u l d cost
so l a r g e
T h e N a t i o n a l A n t h e m w a s f o l l o w e d b y the
a sum
as
to
be u n e c o n o m i c a l .
S e c o n d l y w e h a v e n o w o u t g r o w n the old
singing o f the first h y m n a n d p r a y e r s w e r e
then said b y the V i c a r . T h e L e s s o n w a s r e a d b y
b u i l d i n g a n d t h e r e is no further r o o m on that
the V e n .
Archdeacon of
site f o r e x t e n s i o n ; w e n e e d m o r e r o o m for the
S a r a w a k . T h i s w a s f o l l o w e d b y the D e d i c a t i o n
g r o w i n g family w h i c h gathers here to worship
of the
God.
A.W.
Stonton,
S t o n e by the
Bishop and a
hymn
followed.
It w a s in faith that M a c - D o u g a l l in 1849 set
his h a n d t o t h e b u i l d i n g o f St. T h o m a s ' s
H i s L o r d s h i p , in his a d d r e s s said " I t is in a
65
of n e w birth, a n d of h o p e , at a p e r i o d in t h e
Church.
I t i s i n f a i t h w e t o d a y set o u r h a n d s t o t h e w o r l d ' s h i s t o r y w h e n t o l o o k f o r w a r d w i t h
t a s k o f b u i l d i n g a n e w C a t h e d r a l ; thi must b e c o u r a g e i s o f t r e m e n d o u s i m p o r t a n c e t o u s all;
l a r g e e n o u g h f o r t h e s e c o n d h u n d r e d years, a n d i t i s w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t p l e a s u r e that m y
a n d i t m u s t k e e p s t e p w i t h t h e o t h e r short visit t o y o u r b e a u t i f u l c o u n t r y g i v e s m e
d e v e l o p m e n t s i n this t o w n o f K u c h i n g a n d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y o f u n d e r t a k i n g this c e r e m o n y
D i o c e s e of Borneo. We are not ignorant of the today.
" D u r i n g the last f i f t y y e a r s w e
m a g n i t u d e o f t h e task; but w e r e j o i c e that w e
have
h a v e t h e g r e a t p r i v i l e g e o f p l a y i n g our part, w i t n e s s e d t h e s p r e a d o f mistrust b e t w e e n
n o t i n p a t c h i n g s o m e t h i n g o l d a n d s o m e w h a t p e o p l e s o f all nations, c u l m i n a t i n g i n t w o w a r s
of a M u s e u m p i e c e , b u t in t h e b u i l d i n g of a w i t h all t h e i r d r e a d f u l c o n s e q u e n c e s , a n d a t
this v e r y m o m e n t t h e g r o w t h o f m a t e r i a l i s m ,
beautiful Cathedral, suitable for our n e e d s
a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e p r o c l a i m i n g t o all w h o
and the forces of evil, threaten man's
l o o k u p o n i t that this G o d i s our G o d f o r e v e r
existance
" W i t h all t h e i r s t r e n g t h m e n o f g o o d w i l l
a n d e v e r , that i n H i m r e s i d e s a l l Truth, all
g o o d n e s s ; a n d that i n t h e Cross, w h i c h i n d u e a r e w o r k i n g t o p r e v e n t t h e r e c u r r e n c e o f y e t
c o u r s e w i l l s u r m o u n t t h e w h o l e e d i f i c e i s our a n o t h e r t r a g e d y of this k i n d ; b u t t h e r e is, I am
certain,
g l o r y and our victory.
only
one
sure
way
out
of
our
" T o H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s w e shall e v e r b e d i f f i c u l t i e s , a n d that is a return to t h e h u m b l e
g r a t e f u l f o r t h e s i g n a l h o n o u r w h i c h s h e has w a y o f faith, w h i c h i s t h e o n l y f o u n d a t i o n f o r
b e e p g r a c i o u s l y p l e a s e d t o b e s t o w u p o n us. I t
our lives.
w a s t h e first R a j a h w h o c a l l e d f o r t h e Christian
" I n E n g l a n d w e are fortunate i n possessing
C h u r c h to c o m e to his land, w h o g a v e to the
a splendid l e g a c y of Cathedrals a n d Churches
C h u r c h this site, a n d w h o e n c o u r a g e d M a c -
b e q u e a t h e d to us by our forefathers; buildings
D o u g a l l in t h e f o r m i d a b l e task of b u i l d i n g a
of great a g e and supreme beauty, they are the
C h u r c h w h e r e i n a t first o n l y a tiny h a n d f u l
w o r k of many hands w h o h a v e adorned and
g a t h e r e d to worship. It s e e m s w h o l l y fitting
a d d e d to t h e m as generation has s u c c e e d e d
that on t h e first visit of a m e m b e r of t h e R o y a l
generation. Their beauty symbolises the faith
Family
in w h i c h our fathers l i v e d and w o r k e d ; h e r e
to
Sarawak your Royal Highness
t o d a y to g i v e us in our
too, y o u r first B i s h o p w o r k e d w i t h t h e s a m e
g e n e r a t i o n t h e e n c o u r a g e m e n t that w e n e e d
spirit o f d e v o t i o n , b u i l d i n g n o t f o r h i m s e l f , b u t
as
f o r t h e g l o r y o f G o d , a n d t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f his
should be here
we
face
our
great
task.
With
that
e n c o u r a g e m e n t , s t r o n g i n t h e f a i t h o f our L o r d
people.
J e s u s Christ, w e w i l l b u i l d h u m b l y , b r a v e l y ,
" I r e j o i c e t h e r e f o r e that I a m a b l e t o b e w i t h
confidently and w e l l upon the stone which I
y o u this a f t e r n o o n , a n d t o w i t n e s s t h e first
s t a g e i n t h e construction o f this g r e a t b u i l d i n g ;
n o w ask your Royal Highness to lay."
O n t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f his a d d r e s s t h e B i s h o p
then invited H e r Royal Highness to lay the
Stone. T h e Contractor, M r William T a n then
h a n d e d o v e r to H e r Royal H i g h n e s s the trowel
w i t h w h i c h she laid the mortar and the
representative of the Architect,
Mr Angell
t h e n h a n d e d t o H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s the m a l l e t
w i t h w h i c h she laid the Stone.
T h e foundation Stone i s e n g r a v e d : " T o the
Glory of God. This Stone W a s Laid by Her
R o y a l H i g h n e s s t h e D u c h e s s o f K e n t C.I.,
G . C . V . O . , G.B.E., on the fifteenth d a y of
O c t o b e r , 1952, A r c h i t e c t s : N e l s o n , G a r t o n &
Co."
Her
Royal Highness
then
graciously
addressed the people.
" T o l a y the foundation stone of a n e w
Cathedral is a great p r i v i l e g e , " H e r Highness
said. "I r e g a r d it as an act of faith, a n d a s y m b o l
66
i t i s m y e a r n e s t h o p e that all C h r i s t i a n s i n this
d i o c e s e , a n d Christians t h r o u g h o u t , t h e w o r l d ,
w i l l u n i t e i n their s u p p o r t o f t h e w o r k w h i c h
w e h a v e i n a u g u r a t e d t o d a y , a n d b y their faith
and
generous
g i v i n g w i l l bring it to
a
triumphant conclusion."
W h e n H e r Royal H i g h n e s s concluded her
address the representative of the Architect, Mr
A n g e l l p r e s e n t e d the silver t r o w e l and the
mallet to H e r Royal Highness.
At the close of the c e r e m o n y the f o l l o w i n g
w e r e presented to Her Royal Highness: T h e
Archdeacon
of
Sarawak,
the Ven.
A.W.
Stonton; the Architect's representative, Mr F.
A n g e l l ; t h e C o n t r a c t o r , M r W i l l i a m T a n ; the
members of the N e w Cathedral Committee;
Messrs. E d w a r d Brandah, H . M . Cockle, N g u i
A h Shin, C h a i A h J a p p , K u e h C h o o S e n g , L e e
Khi Chung, W . G . Morison, Dennis L a w , Y e o
C h e n g H o e a n d Dr. T a n S i m P o h .
Sibu Turns Out Thousands To Welcome royal Visitor.
Natives From Rural Areas Join In Loyalty Demonstation.
N o t for a l o n g t i m e h a d Sibu b e e n s o g a y
f i n e r y a n d the P e n g h u l u s in their w a r dress
and h a p p y a s y e s t e r d a y m o r n i n g w h e n the
a n d h e a d g e a r s w h o w e r e l i n e d u p t o g r e e t her.
population of the Third Division including
A f t e r a brief rest in the R e s i d e n c y H e r
R o y a l H i g h n e s s , in a mustard c o l o u r e d silk
dress w i t h b l a c k spots a n d small hat of the
s a m e colour graciously s h o o k h a n d s w i t h f i f t y
leading representatives of government,
commerce and community who were
p r e s e n t e d t o her b y the Resident.
m a n y f r o m the Rural areas, the L o w e r a n d
U p p e r R e j a n g a n d the C o a s t a l District turned
up to d e m o n s t r a t e their d e v o t i o n a n d l o y a l t y to
the
C r o w n w h e n H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s the
D u c h e s s of K e n t p a i d a f l y i n g visit there.
T h e S u n d e r l a n d aircraft, c a r r y i n g f o r e i g n
H e r Royal H i g h n e s s had a brief conv e r s a t i o n w i t h T e m o n g g o n g K o h w h o told h e r
that h e h a d c o m e a l o n g w a y t o w e l c o m e her.
H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s said that she w o u l d l i k e t o
visit the T e m o n g g o n g ' s h o u s e at K a p i t but unfortunately she h a d not the t i m e to do so. S h e
told h i m also that she h a d w i t n e s s e d I b a n
d a n c i n g at the Astana. Others w h o w e r e
h o n o u r e d w i t h short c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h H e r
R o y a l H i g h n e s s w e r e M r . T e o C h o n g Loh, H a j i
Z a w i e , A b a n g A h m a d , M r . Sirdram, M r . a n d
Mrs. H.P.K. Jacks, Mr. and Mrs. A . J . N .
Richards, M r . Ling C h e e M i n g , Datu and
Datin A b a n g Y a n , M r . a n d M r s . D i c k i e , Dr.
and Mrs. Xavier, Mr. Bumford and Mr. and
M r s . Igantius Klumai.
c o r r e s p o n d e n t s a n d p h o t o g r a p h e r s a r r i v e d at
Sibu e a r l i e r i n the m o r n i n g a n d f o u n d the
l a r g e c r o w d s of officials, r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of
c o m m u n i t i e s , s c h o o l c h i l d r e n a n d the p u b l i c
r e a d y a n d e x p e c t a n t l y w a i t i n g f o r the R o y a l
arrival.
The
G o v e r n m e n t Wharf was decorated
w i t h f l a g s , p l a m s a n d e v e r g r e e n s a n d school
children l i n e d the p a t h that l e d to the R o y a l
car.
A t 10.40 a.m. t h e p l a n e c a r r y i n g the R o y a l
party m a d e a p e r f e c t a n d g r a c e f u l l a n d i n g o n
the r i v e r . S o o n a s p e e d b o a t c o n v e y e d the
party to the p o n t o o n a n d H i s E x c e l l e n c y the
G o v e r n o r s t e p p e d out, f o l l o w e d b y H e r R o y a l
H i g h n e s s a n d the rest of the party. H e r R o y a l
H i g h n e s s in
a
pink
dress
and
T h e tour o f the K a m p o n g s a n d the B a z a a r
t o o k p l a c e after the presentation. U n i o n Jacks,
bunting, palms, e v e r g r e e n s could be seen
e v e r y w h e r e w h i l e a n u m b e r o f arches w e r e
also e r e c t e d . S m i l i n g a n d h a p p y f a c e s g r e e t e d
the R o y a l Party a l o n g the route w h i c h t h e y
passed.
hatless,
p r o c e e d e d to the wharf and the Resident,
Third Division, Mr. D.C. W h i t e was presented
t o her b y the G o v e r n o r . T h e R o y a l e n t o u r a g e
walked
along
the
maited
path
to
the
R e s i d e n c y . H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s p a u s e d a t the
e n t r a n c e to the p a t h l e a d i n g up to the Resid e n c y , to l o o k at the n a t i v e m a i d e n s in all their
Her Royal Highness, wearing the 'tapo' presented to her by the Melanau people in Sibu. is seen with the Penghulus
and men of the Third Division taken on the lawn of the Residency. Sibu yesterday afternoon.
67
H.R.H. Opens New Clinic At Sibu
Witness To Stubborn And Courageous Spirit
Photograph by Anna Studio
Her Royal Highness at the cereony of opening the new wing of the Lau Kheng
Howe Hospitul. Sibu.
people for being honoured with a visit by a
member of the Royal Family.
His Excellency said that this was the first
visit made by a member of the Royal Family
and therefore it was a memorable day in the
history of the town. His Excelency touched on
the many changes of fortunes which Sibu had
undergone and quoted the fire, the slump and
depression and the Japanese occupation
which the people had to face. He spoke also of
the courage and confidence of the people in
the future of the town and of such evidence as
could be seen in the bigger and better projects
undertaken. His Excellency spoke of the
hospital as part of the general plan which
Government was having in helping the people
in the building of the future of the town and of
the encouragement which the visit of Her
Royal Highness would contribute by
graciously consenting to open the new clinic.
The stubborn and courageous spirit of the
people of Sibu in their determination to forge
forward in spite of trials and tribulations was
expressed by Her Royal Highness the Duchess
of Kent when she declared open the new clinic
of the Lau Kheng H o w e Hospital in Sibu
yesterday noon.
The opening ceremony was performed by
Her Royal Highness immediately after a tour
of the kampongs and bazaar was made by Her
Royal Highness, in the presence of the leading
citizens of the Division. On arrival Her Royal
Highness was presented with a bouquet of
orchids by a young Malay boy in traditional
costume, the son of Abang Ali Kaseno.
B e f o r e the o p e n i n g c e r e m o n y , His
Excellency the Governor said in his address
that he would like, on behalf of the people of
Sibu and the Third Division, ask Her Royal
Highness to convey to Her Majesty the Queen
the expression of pride and gratitude of the
68
In that time, as I h a v e heard, y o u h a v e b e e n
a s s a i l e d by a s u c c e s s i o n of d i s a s t e r s that
w o u l d h a v e d a u n t e d the stoutest hearts, but
y o u h a v e not b e e n d i s m a y e d , a n d h a v e f a c e d
e a c h n e w trial, a n d e a c h f r e s h b l o w , w i t h
s p l e n d i d resolution.
I k n o w s o m e t h i n g of the s u f f e r i n g s w h i c h
the p e o p l e s of Sibu, a n d i n d e e d of all S a r a w a k
had to b e a r during the w a r but my short visit
has a l r e a d y s h o w n m e that y o u h a v e put all
that b e h i n d you, and that y o u h a v e set about
the w o r k of r e b u i l d i n g your country w i t h a w i l .
T h i s hospital, a n d its d e v e l o p m e n t , is, I
understand, one of the s c h e m e s to w h i c h
much thought and m o n e y have b e e n d e v o t e d
a n d I can think of no m o r e fitting o b j e c t .
For, after all, g o o d h e a l t h the p r e s e r v a t i o n
of it, and, a b o v e all, the restoration of it, is
s o m e t h i n g of such i m p o r t a n c e in all our l i v e s
that no c o m m u n i t y can a f f o r d to n e g l e c t its
m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s a n d facilities.
I w o u l d l i k e t h e r e f o r e to c o n g r a t u l a t e all
those w h o h a v e b e e n c o n c e r e n e d w i t h the
p l a n n i n g and d e s i g n of this n e w b u i l d i n g , a n d
t o g i v e m y b e s t w i s h e s t o all w h o w i l l w o r k
here.
Her Royal Highness then graciously
a d d r e s s e d the p e o p l e . She said: I h o p e that t h e
citizens of Sibu w i l l c o n t i n u e to g i v e all
possible support to theri hospital, a n d that it
w i l l flourish a n d d e v e l o p a s the y e a r s g o b y .
Photograph by Heddu Morrison
Her Royal Highness at Sibu with (from left to right) son of
Abang Tliairani, Malay Native Officer; son of Mr. Chew Geok
Lim. M.B.E. Chairman Chinese Chamber of Commerce; and
grandson of Penghulu Nanta (Sea Dayak) from Bawang
Assan Lebaa'n. The boys are in traditional costumes.
I n o w have very much pleasure in
d e c l a r i n g o p e n this n e w out-patient d e p a r t ment.
O n the c o n c l u s i o n g o f the a d d r e s s H e r
Royal Highness w a s presented with a g o l d e n
pair of scissors on a silver p l a t e by a y o u n g
I b a n lad i n w a r dress, M a l a n g anak L i a n g o n
behalf of the contractor of the b u i l d i n g M r .
C h e n g Ek Kim. W i t h the pair of scissors H e r
R o y a l H i g h n e s s cut the r i b b o n a n d d e c l a r e d
t h e b u i l d i n g o p e n . A scroll c o n t a i n i n g an
address o f l o y a l t y a n d w e l c o m e w a s p r e s e n t e d
by a y o u n g C h i n e s e b o y also in traditional
dress, C h e w P e n g C h o n g .
Y o u r kind w e l c o m e , on behalf of the
p e o p l e s of Sibu a n d the T h i r d Division, has
greatly touched me.
Y o u m a y be sure that I shall not fail to
d e l i v e r t o T h e Q u e e n your m e s s a g e s o f loyalty
and affection, for H e r M a j e s t y is d e e p l y
i n t e r e s t e d in the w e l l - b e i n g of her p e o p l e s
o v e r s e a s , a n d is a l w a y s a n x i o u s to l e a r n anything a f f e c t i n g t h e m .
H e r Royal H i g h n e s s w a s then c o n d u c t e d
round the n e w C l i n i c b y the M e d i c a l O f f i c e r ,
Dr. Rozalla. T h e n e w clinic w a s built at a cost
of $72,000.
T h e r e is, I am sure, no b e t t e r w i t n e s s to the
stubborn a n d c o u r a g e o u s spirit of the citizens
of Sibu than their c o n d u c t d u r i n g the e v e n t s of
the last t w e n t y - f i v e years.
A f t e r the c e r e m o n y l u n c h e o n w a s s e r v e d
at the R e s i d e n c y .
69
Sarawak Representatives Off For
The Crowning Big Send-Off At The Airport
The picture above shows from left to right.
Dalit Abang Openg.
Mr R.G.Aikman. Mr Chew Geok Lin
and Penghulu Jugah at the Airport yesterday.
T h e H o n o u r a b l e the C h i e f Secretary, M r
the A i r p o r t to s e e the f o u r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s off
R . G . A i k m a n , M r C h e w G e o k Lin f r o m Sibu,
w e r e G o v e r n m e n t Officials and m e m b e r s of
P e n g h u l u J u g a h f r o m Balleh, K a p i t a n d Datu
the C o u n c i l N e g r i a n d friends.
A b a n g O p e n g , District O f f i c e r , K u c h i n g l e f t
T h e party w i l l l e a v e S i n g a p o r e b y B O A C
K u c h i n g A i r p o r t b y M a l a y a n A i r w a y s aircraft
for the U n i t e d K i n g d o m on S a t u r d a y ,
f o r S i n g a p o r e y e s t e r d a y a f t e r n o o n o n their
Sarawak
during
the
Coronation
of
16th
M a y . W h i l e t h e y are i n G r e a t Britain t h e y w i l l
w a y to the United K i n g d o m to represent
b e the guests o f H e r M a j e s t y the Q u e e n .
Her
M a j e s t y Q u e e n E l i z a b e t h II.
H i s E x c e l l e n c y t h e G o v e r n o r has b e e n
H i s E x c e l l e n c y the G o v e r n o r arrived a t the
p l e a s e d t o a p p o i n t M r L.K. M o r s e , R e s i d e n t , t o
A i r p o r t f r o m K u c h i n g just in t i m e to say f a r e -
act t e m p o r a r i l y as C h i e f S e c r e t a r y , a n d Mr
w e l l t o t h e f o u r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s b e f o r e the
D.L.
p l a n e took off.
Secretariat, to act t e m p o r a r i l y as D e p u t y Chief
A m o n g t h e m a n y p e o p l e w h o w e r e there a t
Bruen, Principal Assistant Secretary,
Secretary.
70
England at Coronation Time
by DATU ABANG OPENG BIN ABANG SAPI'EE
Before I begin this note, I should like to
express my sincere thanks to His Excellency
the Governor of Sarawak for nominating me
as one of Sarawak's Representatives to attend
the Coronation of Her Majesty the Queen in
London.
I l e f t Kuching on 14th M a y , 1953 by
M a l a y a n A i r w a y s t o g e t h e r w i t h the
Honourable the Chief Secretary of Sarawak,
Mr R.G. Aikman, C.M.G., Penghulu Jugah
and Mr Chew Geok Lin, M.B.E. We stayed in
Singapore for three nights, as the schedule for
the Comet to fly on the 16th May, 1953, was
amended until 17th May, 1953, owing to some
repairs on the wire service of the aeroplane
having to be carried out. We put in His Excellency the Commissioner General's house
where a nice room and other good things were
provided. We should like to express our sincere thanks to His Excellency for this. We left
Changi airport at 8.30 a.m. on 17th May, 1953
in the Comet and flew up 38,000 feet high, at
an average speed of about 480 miles an hour.
On our way to London we called at Bangkok,
Rangoon and Calcutta. At Calcutta we were
delayed for seventeen hours as we were advised from Delhi not to fly owing to dust storms
near Delhi. At Calcutta we put in the Great
Eastern Hotel. It was very hot at the time. On
the night of the 17th we could not sleep. We
took a bath five times and even then we still
could not sleep until 3 a.m. On 18th May, 1953,
we were asked to go down to Dum Dum airport. At 6.30 a.m. advice was received from
Delhi that the weather was good and the
Comet then flew to Delhi, Karachi, Bahrain
and Rome and we arrived at London Airport at
1 a.m. on 19th May, 1953. There we were met
by Sir Gerald Whiteley, who took us to the
South Kensington Hotel. At 9 a.m. we went to
the Chartered Bank in London to have our
travelling cheques changed. There we met Mr
Marline, the former Manager of the Borneo
Company Limted in Kuching and had lunch at
Veeraswamy's Restaurant in Regent Street.
Mr Aikman then told us to take the opportunity of seeing the country and some interesting places in it, because there might not be a
chance later. We should not stay in London or
in our hotel.
71
In the afternoon, Mr Martine was very kind
and took us all three, Penghulu Jugah, Mr
C h e w Geok Lin and myself to Whitehall
Court, where he introduced us to friends of his
and we went round the city. Later we had
dinner at the Trocadero Restaurant.
On the 20th May, 1953, Mr Aikman very
kindly took us to the Chelsea Flower Show
w h e r e we watched thousands of p e o p l e
attending the Show. It was really very interesting to see a great many kinds of flowers which
we never saw in Sarawak. After this we went
to Harrods Restaurant for lunch where we
found a very good choice of food. There we
also went shopping. The shop is a very fine
building and very large.
On May 21st the Chief Secretary took us to
the Colonial Office where we met Senior Officers and had a talk with them about our visit to
London. One of the Information Office staff
took our photograph in front of No. 10,
Downing Street, and then we had our lunch in
a Chinese restaurant.
On 22nd May, Mr Maritine took us to see
Pascalls' Sweet Factory where we were introduced to the people working there. We saw
about fifteen hundred people working. It was
really very interesting to see this and we were
told that this factory exports sweets and chocolates to many countries all over the world.
The following day Mr M.G. Dickson of the
Education Department very kindly took us to
visit the Tower of London where we had an
opportunity of seeing many very old war
instruments, and buildings and rooms. We
were told that the Tower is a thousand years
old. In the afternoon, Penghulu Jugah and I
went with Mr Aikman to see the cricket match
at Lords cricket ground in which Middlesex
played against Sussex. Mr Aikman went with
us on May 24th to Petersfield, about 70 miles
from London. There we met Mr Spurway, the
former Conservator of Forests in Sarawak. He
took us to Alton village where we had lunch at
the Swan hotel, and we went on to Mount
Wood to see the Forest Reserve. There we saw
many people spending a day's pleasure trip.
Mr Spurway took us on to is cousin, Mr Wayter
who has a thousand acres of grazing land at
Lanham. We saw a large number of cattle and
poultry on this estate and Mr Wayter took us
round the estate in his car and we saw about
twenty people w h o work with him. We visited
the mill in his garden and w e r e taken to his
house and had tea in the garden which is
really very fine. His w i f e is a very nice woman
and she seemed to be very pleased to meet us
men from Sarawak. After tea we returned to
Stoner Hill to meet Mr Aikman at his sister's
house, and there we w e r e introduced to his
sister and brother-in-law. Here again is a very
nice place. We had drinks in the garden until
nearly 7 p.m. and then we returned to London
by train.
On the next day we had a tour of London in
the Underground train.
On M a y 26th after breakfast we went to
John Barker & Company, and in the afternoon
we accepted an invitation from the Imperial
Institute, w h e r e we met Sir George Beresford
Stooke w h o left Sarawak nearly thirty years
ago. We w e r e taken round to see the Sarawak
Court, etc. In the evening, Mr Aikman took us
to see the Ice Revue which was very interesting to us and something we never saw in our
life in Sarawak.
O n 27th M a y w e a t t e n d e d the
C o m m o n w e a l t h Parliamentary Association
lunch in Westminster Hall. We met Members
of Parliament and Members of the Legislative
Councils of the C o m m o n w e a l t h . Mr D.C.
White, Resident, Third Division was also with
us. H e r Majesty the Queen was present at the
party. In the afternoon we w e r e invited to a tea
party at Mr Dawson's house — the former
ChieSecretary of Sarawak. Later Mr Dawson
took us to see Derry & Toms' Garden on the top
floor of the building. This was very strange to
us because not only is the garden on the top of
the building, but there is also a fish pond and a
stream similar to up-river streams in Sarawak,
with rocks and sand.
On the following day we went round the
town i n ' t h e morning and in the afternoon
a t t e n d e d the B u c k i n g h a m Palace garden
party with Mr Dennis White and Mr W e e
K h e n g Chiang and Mr Ong K e e Hui, and
there we met Mr and Mrs Cromwell, Mr and
Mrs Hickling and many other people. We
understood about five thousand people w e r e
there in all.
On M a y 29th we w e n t to the Houses of
Parliament and in the afternoon to the Secretary of State's cocktail party at Claridges hotel.
At this party we met the Sultans of the Malay
States, the Sultans of'Bahrain and Lahej and
72
many other representatives from all over the
world.
For M a y 30th the programme for our visit to
the country had been fixed, and it was very
unfortunate that our friend Mr C h e w Geok Lin
was not well and unable to accompany us. He
was left behind in the hotel. Penghulu Jugah
was taken by Mr Freeman to Cambridge and I
w a s taken by Mr Dickson to O x f o r d . Mr
Dickson and I left Paddington Station by train
and c h a n g e d i n t o an u p r i v e r l a u n c h at
Abingdon. It was very strange to me when the
launch was about to reach the rapids. I heard
the noise of a w a t e r f a l l and I asked Mr
Dickson: " W h e n we reach the rapids do we
have to use other transport?" Mr Dickson said:
" N o , there will be a lock." When we reached
the bottom of the rapids, I saw there w e r e two
gates. As soon as the launch was inside the
gate, the water came in from the other gate
until it was level and then the launch moved
out and w e n t straight upriver. We passed
three locks altogether b e f o r e w e reached
Oxford. In Oxford, I was taken by Mr Dickson
to the colleges and he pointed out to me the
place where he stayed while he was a student.
This was very interesting to me. I was lucky to
be with Mr Dickson and it was very kind of
him to take me to this place.
On Sunday, 31st M a y , Mr C h e w Geok Lin
and I went with Mr Aikman to see the London
Zoo. This again was very interesting to us and
we w e r e very much impressed, because we
saw a large number of living animals of many
kinds. In the afternoon we attended a party at
Hatfield House where Her Majesty the Queen
Mother was present.
O n June 1st, M r A i k m a n , M r W h i t e ,
Penghulu Jugah, Mr C h e w Geok Lin and I
went to see H.H. the Rajah and H.H. the Ranee
both of w h o m are w e l l and s e e m e d v e r y
pleased to see us.
June 2nd was Coronation day. At about
5.30 a.m. we got up and after our early breakfast we left the South Kensington hotel and
reached Westminster A b b e y at 6.40 a.m. We
w e r e really very lucky, because our adssion
card was at Entrance No. 10 and we w e r e able
to see Her Majesty the Queen at her Crowning
from the beginning to the end. At about 10.30
a.m. the Royal family arrived in the A b b e y and
at 11.20 a.m. Her Majesty came. She is very
handsome and young queen and she wore a
large number of diamonds. T h e ceremony
went on until 3 p.m. We got out at 3.30 p.m.
and had our buffet in Westminster Hall. Then
we went out and saw the Procession passing
Westminster Hall on the way to Buckingham
Palace. We saw a large number of soldiers who
took part in the Procession, and some these are
able to play as a brass band on horseback,
blowing trumpets and beating drums. It also
impressed us very much that there were so
many hundreds of thousands of people and so
many thousands of cars and yet the police on
duty did not have even a piece of wood in their
hands, let alone a pistol or a gun. There were
no accidents and no trouble at all. The policemen are really very good and kind to the
people. Whenever they saw we were losing
our way, they'came to us at once to find out
from us whether we had lost our way or our
friends. I f - w e said that we were lost they
pointed out to us the proper road to go. It was
also very interesting to see such wonderful
fireworks on the night of the coronation as we
never saw in our life.
After the Coronation, we also visted the
sea-side at Brighton where we met Mr Smith;
the father of Mr P.B. Smith, District Officer,
Lundu. Mr Smith was very kind and took us to
his house near the beach, where there was a
very lovely view. We had lunch at the Albion
Hotel and after lunch we were taken by Mr
Smith on a tour.
Later on in London we were taken to see
the London Times by Mr Aikman's brother-inlaw. This was most interesting and we were
informed that their press can produce 35,000
newspapers in one hour. There are about
2,000 people working there.
We also went to Lambeth Palace and to the
Sarawak Association cocktail party where we
met old Sarawak officers who seemed very
pleased to see us. While in London we met
several students notably Sarawak students Mr
Ahmed Zaidi, Mr Teo Choon Huat, Mr Lee
Hun Hoe son of Mr Lee Swee Hock, Abang
Kiprawi and Mr Ngui Chong Jin.
We left London Airport on the 7th June at
9.30 a.m. on our return to Kuching and called
at Rome, Cairo, Basra, Karachi, Bombay and
Colombo. Singapore was reached at 9.20 p.m.
on the 9th and we stayed at His Excellency the
Commissioner General's house until the
morning of June 11th when we left Kallang
Airport at 6.30 a.m. and arrived in Kuching at
9.30 a.m.
73
Grand Coronation Tuba Fishing
Craft of all types swarm the Sarawak River 1217153 morning to join the fun of
the Coronation Tuba Fishing.
O n e of the latest events seld o m s e e n h e r e , the G r a n d
Coronation Tuba Fishing, as it
was called, took place on
Sunday, 12th July, in the main
Sarawak River. This was considered by many to be a superb
finale to the long series of joyous celebrations of a revered
monarch, whose coronation
happened the previous month.
T h e last tuba fishing ever
allowed in the Sarawak River
happened about 23 years ago,
during the reign of H.H. the
Rajah, and it was an occasion
still remembered by old Malays
and domiciled people here. But
during the Japanese occupation
period sporadic tuba fishing,
w i t h or w i t h o u t permission,
w e r e held mainly in the ulus of
the various rivers and streams in
this Colony. It was also learnt
that sometime the Japs even
tried to fish by using hand-gre-
nades and bombs, both methods quite dangerous to use to
the uninitiated.
Early before dawn yesterd a y o v e r a thousand boats,
ranging from fast, streamlined
s p e e d - b o a t s to the flimsy,
shallow prahus (dugouts),
c o n g l o m e r a t e d at the river,
mainly at the lower end of Pasir
Paroh stretching for about a
mile from there to the Matang
suspension bridge. Each boat
had a coloured flag stuck on its
bow and it carried from two to
15 occupants, depending on the
size of the craft. It w a s the
greatest gathering of fishermen
ever seen here, thousands of
spectators lined both banks of
the river to catch glimpses of the
fish and to watch the boats
making the attempt to catch all
sorts of fish. Some even brought
nets tied to long poles to swoop
up small fish that might float
near the banks.
74
When asked, a young Malay
amateur fisherman of the local
k a m p o n g s said:
I had a
successful morning. I was about
half a mile away from the official starter of the fishing and
when the two-gun signal was
given and crackers fired I was
ready with three kinds of
fishing e q u i p m e n t — a long
p o l e net ( c h e l e d o k ) , a l o n g
spear (tamburin) and a threeprong spear (srampang).
According to adat' the headmen and officials of the fishing
were the first to catch any fish
that might c o m e up 20 to 30
minutes after the tuba extracted
juice was thrown into the water.
T h e fish of m a n y kinds the
majority of which w e r e Ikan
Bulu, Sharks, Ikan Sembilang,
Ikan T e l a n g , K i t a n g (Sting
Rays), Ikan Yu, Ikan Parang and
so on. I got about 30 to 40 catties
of the mixed varieties. But some
of my f r i e n d s a n d r e l a t i v e s
s p e a r e d o r c a u g h t b i g fish
weighing from 10 to a picul in
w e i g h t . T h e fish, l a r g e and
small floated up to the surface at
continuous intervals in all parts
of the river. Most of these were
still wriggling when speared or
c a u g h t in the n e t s as t h e y
appeared to be stupefied rather
than dead. When there was a
good catch the spectators on the
banks or in the boats roared and
shouted in approval.
Some of the participants in
the fishing used ingenious methods of catching and paddling
their boats simultaneously.
T h e y t i e d t h e n e t s to the
paddles and when there was no
fish they used the paddles instead. In the early morning two
small outboats collided when
they attempted to get into the
nets the same fish seen by both.
T w o persons w e r e thrown into
the water but they were none
the worse for the soaking. The
weather w a s fine throughout
the day and it was a glorious
event seen for the first time by
many of the local people.
MASS PARADE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN
Coronation Day b e g a n with a Mass Parade
o f school c h i l d r e n ; a n d s o m e f i v e thousand
strong, r e p r e s e n t i n g t w e n t y - o n e schools a n d
under the c h a r g e of n i n e t y teachers, took part
i n a m a r c h past w h i c h w a s o v e r t h r e e miles
long.
uniform w a s a Coronation m e d a l l i o n specially
A f t e r 7.00 p . m . c h i l d r e n f o r p a r t i c i p a t i n g
of t h r e e v e r s e s of the N a t i o n a l A n t h e m in
arrived
at the padang.
While
the
C o n s t a b u l a r y B a n d p l a y e d the R o y a l Salute,
the s c h o o l c h i l d r e n j o i n e d i n the mass s i n g i n g
English, C h i n e s e , M a l a y a n d D a y a k . H i s E x -
contingent
c e l l e n c y t h e n i n p s e c t e d the d i f f e r e n t contin-
under a distinctive banner.
gents and called for three cheers for the
to
assemble
S c h o o l padang.
g r o u p e d itself
P r o m p t l y at 8 a.m., His E x c e l l e n c y the
Governor
St.
schools b e g a n s
Thomas's
m a d e f o r the o c c a s i o n .
Each
on the
Queen.
P i n n e d on the b r e a s t of e a c h c h i l d in school
75
76
The St. Joseph School
His
Excellency the Governor,
Sir Anthony Abell,
K.C.M.C.
was at the Saluting Base on 2nd June 1953.
The school children Mass Parade look about fifty minutes to pass through the Saluting Base.
A t 8.30 a.m., H i s E x c e l l e n c y l e f t for the
School contingent.
Saluting B a s e at t h e h e a d of the steps f a c i n g
T h e school children t h e n r e t u r n e d t o the
the M u n i c i p a l padang, R o c k Road, and took
M u s e u m grounds w h e r e they participated in
the salute as g r o u p a f t e r g r o u p of children
a n o p e n - a i r n o n - d e n o m i n a t i o n a l p r a y e r ser-
m a r c h e d past, l e d b y the C o n s t a b u l a r y B a n d
vice.
and the Batu L i n t a n g T r a i n i n g C e n t r e a n d
77
St.
St.
Mary's School
Thomas's School
Chinese School
78
The various schools march past the Saluting Base.
79
The Open Air Non Denominational Prayer—Meeting
Arrival of His Excellency at the Museum Ground.
The National Anthem
God Save The Queen'.
80
The "mixed congregation" of school children who intended the open air non
denomination prayer meeting
on the Museum Ground after the Mass Parade on Coronation Day.
C h i l d r e n o n arrival a t the M u s e u m G r o u n d
w e r e d i r e c t e d b y t h e S t e w a r d t o their p l a c e
a c c o r d i n g l y . A l l their b a n n e r s a n d f l a g s h a d
b e f o r e His
Excellency departed with
the
o f f i c i a t i n g priest.
T h e occasion was befitting,
concluded
b e e n carried a n d p l a c e d a g a i n s t the w a l l s of
w i t h a s p e e c h b y M r E a r n s h a w w h o g a v e his
the m u s e u m b u i l d i n g .
thanks to all teachers and c h i l d r e n f o r the e x -
T h e C o r o n a t i o n o p e n air s e r v i c e started at
c e l l e n t ' M a r c h Past'. He said that it turned out
9.30 am, 2nd J u n e 1953, in c o o l w e a t h e r on the
t o b e better than h e h a d thought, m o r e o v e r ,
m u s e u m g r o u n d . I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r the arrival
he h o p e d that t h e y w i l l think of the g r e a t e v e n t
of His E x c e l l e n c y the G o v e r n o r a h y m n w a s
— the c r o w n i n g of H e r M a j e s t y the Q u e e n
sung
w h i c h took p l a c e at 7.30 pm last night. Mr
by
the
Christians
followed
up
by
Christian p r a y e r a n d later p r a y e r in Islam a n d
E a r n s h a w said that h e w o u l d l i k e e v e r y o n e t o
Buddhistism t h e n f o l l o w e d . T h e s i n g i n g o f the
b e o f g o o d c h e e r s a n d think o f the h a p p y
A n t h e m n ' G o d S a v e the Q u e e n ' w a s held
occasion.
81
Part of St. Teresa's School contingent for Fancy Dress Competition.
w e r e a k i n g w i t h his b e a u t i f u l q u e e n a n d her
T h e j u d g i n g of the school children's F a n c y
retiue.
Dress a n d D e c o r a t e d V e h i c l e s C o m p e t i t i o n ,
w h i c h w a s p o s t p o n e d f r o m 3rd to 5th June,
In the d e c o r a t e d bicycles and tricycles
o w i n g t o b a d w e a t h e r , w a s carried out at-5
section the First P r i z e w a s a w a r d e d to St.
p.m. on St. T h o m a s ' S c h o o l padang. T h e First
Joseph's and two Second Prizes w e r e respec-
P r i z e w a s a w a r d e d t o the C h u n g H w a M i d d l e
t i v e l y to St. T h o m a s ' S c h o o l a n d Batu L i n t a n g
S c h o o l for e x h i b i t i n g the best in f a n c y dress
Training
( S e n i o r s e c t i o n ) , w h i l e St. Joseph's and St.
School N o . 1 w o n First P r i z e f o r the lanterns
T e r e s a ' s S c h o o l e a c h w o n a S e c o n d Prize. T h e
w h i l e the First P r i z e for the b e s t b a n n e r s w e n t
c h i l d r e n o f the C h u n g H w a School t e a m w o r e
to St. T e r e s a ' s .
Centre and School.
Chung Hwa
silk c o s t u m e s a n d w e r e m a d e up to represent
W h e n the j u d g i n g w a s o v e r , t h e school
t h e m y t h i c a l C h i n e s e f i g u r e s o f the " E i g h t
children, still in f a n c y dress a n d c a r r y i n g lan-
F a i r i e s C r o s s i n g the S e a " ;
a n d supporting
terns, m a r c h e d in procession t h r o u g h the main
characters w e r e p r o v i d e d by a quintette to re-
streets. H u g e c r o w d s turned out t o w a t c h the
s e m b l e a q u e e n a n d her maids. T h e b o y s of St.
p a g e a n t , a n d as the e v e n i n g d e e p e n e d into
Joseph's
became
night a n d the lanterns w e r e lit, the m o v i n g sea
armour,
representing
mediaeval
a
knights in
scene
from
of lights p r e s e n t e d a most m e m o r a b l e spec-
S h a k e s p e a r e ' s " H e n r y V " . St. T e r e s a ' s girls
tacle.
82
The Fancy Dress and Decorated Vehicles Competition walk in procesion
83
through Kuching town.
The School Children Fancy Dress Competition
The various school children in a procession whom are all constestants in the Fancy Dress Competition.
The King and Queen and their page boys together with the Queen's maids of St.
Teresa's School.
The St. Joseph's School contingent of their Fancy Dress Competition.
85
A Most Colourful Pageant
T h e L a n t e r n a n d F a n c y Dress Procession
V " ; b e h i n d w h i c h c a m e a party o f g r o t e s q u e
of the K u c h i n g schools last Friday e v e n i n g ,
black masked figures belived to be execution-
w h i c h started at a b o u t 6 p.m. and w e n t round
ers w h o e v e n c a r r i e d t w o h e a d s ; this " i t e m "
the t o w n t w i c e , w a s a v e r i t a b l e c a v a l c a d e of
w a s f o l l o w e d b y a n o t h e r f r o m St. T h o m a s ' s
colours a n d p r e s e n t e d a p a g e a n t s e l d o m seen
S c h o o l in w h i c h a t r o u p e of c h i l d r e n w o r e
in this t o w n . It r e s e m b l e d in s o m e respects the
c o s t u m e s of m a n y races l e d by a s m a l l b o y on
e n d l e s s v a r i e t i e s a n d surprises of a miniature
a black horse; then f o l l o w e d a l a r g e conglom-
M a r d i G r a s p r o c e s s i o n , a n d must h a v e b e e n
e r a t i o n o f g a u d i l y - d r e s s e d f i g u r e s i n the
t a k e n s o m e w e e k s o f c a r e f u l p l a n n i n g and
national d r e s s e s of all r a c e s in t h e w o r l d ; the
p r e p a r a t i o n s to m a k e it such a success.
M a l a y schools e v e n put u p t w o s m a l l tanks;
main
a n d f i n a l l y the last a n d the w i n n e r of the Fan-
streets o f the t o w n must h a v e b e e n i m p r e s s e d
cy Dress C o m p e t i t i o n - a party of C h u n g H w a
by t h e c r e d i t a b l e displays put up by s o m e of
M i d d l e S c h o o l c h i l d r e n d r e s s e d i n a n c i e n t silk
the K u c h i n g schools, the most n o t e w o r t h y of
costumes from a
w h i c h w e r e a party of St. T e r e s a ' s school girls
w h i c h i s e n t i t l e d " E i g h t Fairies C r o s s i n g T h e
dressed as a q u e e n w h o was accompanied by
S e a " ( t h e s e f a i r i e s a r e s u p p o s e d t o l i v e i n the
t w o P a g e B o y s a n d six b e a u t i f u l girls a s M a i d s
utmost h a p p i n e s s in p a r a d i s e ) a n d at the rear
o f H o n o u r ; this w a s i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w e d b y
of these w a s a q u i n t e t t e of b e a u t i f u l girls dres-
a p a r t y of girl d r e s s e d as Scottish m a i d s in
s e d to r e s e m b l e a q u e e n w i t h her m a i d s .
The
c r o w d s w h i c h j a m m e d the
C h i n e s e historical play
traditional kilts; then right b e h i n d this party
B e f o r e the start of the L a n t e r n Procession,
w a s a n o t h e r o n e f r o m the S t J o s e p h ' s School,
the F a n c y Dress a n d D e c o r a t e d B i c y c l e s w e r e
w h o w e r e d r e s s e d a s K n i g h t s i n A r m o u r rep-
l i n e d up in the St. T h o m a s ' s S c h o o l a n d St.
resenting a scene from Shakespeare's " H e n r y
M a r y ' s School respectively for j u d g i n g .
86
The lantern procession as seen along Carpenter Street
87
Representing the mythical Chinese figures of the
-Eight Fairies Crossing the Sea
and supporting characters
provided by v quintette to resemble a queen and her maids by the children of the Chung Hwa Middle School.
Chung Hwa School No. 1 won First Prize for the lanterns competition.
88
Coronation Celebrations in Kuching
The Lorry Decoration by the Kuching Chinese General Chamber of
HIS EXCELLENCY'S
MESSAGE.
Coronation
commenced
a f f i r m our l o y a l t y a n d h u m b l e
duty
30th
in
this
solemn
and
ancient ceremony at which
Week
on
May
with a stirring m e s s a g e f r o m
our
young
and
beautiful
Q u e e n w i l l d e d i c a t e her l i f e t o
the s e r v i c e of her p e o p l e .
His E x c e l l e n c y the G o v e r n o r .
I h o p e that e v e r y o n e in
I t reads: " T h e w e e k f r o m 30th
S a r a w a k will be able to take
M a y to 6th June, 1953, w i l l be
a n a c t i v e a n d e n j o y a b l e part
a m e m o r a b l e w e e k in our
in our local c e l e b r a t i o n s . But I
lives; a w e e k of r e j o i c i n g a n d
w a n t y o u all t o r e g a r d this
thanksgiving.
Elizabeth our
great occasion as b e l o n g i n g
Queen is to be c r o w n e d in
particularly to the youth of the
Westminster
Abbey
in
Commerce.
he
country.
We want them to
heart of our g r e a t C o m m u n i t y
look back upon these June
g a t h e r i n g . S o m e m a y not b e
of N a t i o n s ,
before a great
d a y s of 1953 w i t h e x c i t e m e n t ,
used
Assembly
of
wonder
urban ways.
the
most
and
enchantment.
to
our sophisticated
Let us m a k e
distinguished figures in the
L e t it be a l a n d m a r k in their
them
world of t o d a y .
l i v e s as it w i l l be in history.
them hospitality
A m o n g the
Royalty and
welcome
and
show
and
kind-
T h e r e a r e others too w h o
ness so that t h e y w i l l return to
the
d e s e r v e s p e c i a l consideration
their distant h o m e s with a
celebrities o f m a n y l a n d s w i l l
- the visitors to the t o w n s of
d e e p feeling of kindship and
sit t h e
Sarawak - people who have
the h a p p i e s t m e m o r i e s of this
travelled long
g r e a t occasion.
Nobility
and
among
President
members
of
Negri.
They
invited
to
our
and
two
Council
have
been
represent
people of S a r a w a k and
distances to
join our h a p p y throng and
A n d a m i d all the e x c i t e -
the
g i v e t o our c e l e b r a t i o n s the
m e n t a n d m e r r i m e n t , the dis-
to
c h a r a c t e r of a g r e a t f a m i l y
p l a y a n d the glitter let us all
89
find time to remember what
the Q u e e n said in her
C h r i s t m a s b r o a d c a s t to us " Y o u w i l l be k e e p i n g it as a
h o l i d a y : but I w a n t to ask y o u
all, w h a t e v e r y o u r r e l i g i o n
m a y b e , t o p r a y f o r m e o n that
d a y - to p r a y that G o d m a y
g i v e m e w i s d o m a n d strength
to carry out the solemn
p r o m i s e s I shall be m a k i n g ,
a n d that 1 m a y f a i t h f u l l y s e r v e
H i m a n d you, all the d a y s of
my life."
ALL-COMMUNITY
PROCESSION
T h e most colourful of the
celebration pageantry and
the c u l m i n a t i o n of the united
efforts and preparations for
m a n y w e e k s past of all
c o m m u n i t i e s , the procession
of lanterns and decorated
floats d r e w a r e c o r d c r o w d of
f i f t e e n thousand. N o t since
the Centenary Celebrations
i n K u c h i n g h a v e the inhabitants a n d visitors w i t n e s s e d
such s p l e n d o u r . It w a s a
g l o r i o u s s h o w of l o y a l t y a n d
a f f e c t i o n f o r H e r M a j e s t y the
Queen.
L o n g b e f o r e the a p p o i n t e d
time (7.30 p.m.) for the
procession, huge crowds
l i n e d the streets and p a c k s all
a v a i l a b l e s p a c e a l o n g the
route. In addition to the
t o w n s f o l k , t h e r e w e r e visitors
o f all races w h o c a m e f r o m
distant parts to see the
procession. T h e i r v a r i e g a t e d
d r e s s e s a n d c o s t u m e s stood
out in b o l d relief against the
d r a b b a c k g r o u n d of buildings
and formed an effective
d e c o r a t i v e s c h e m e . For a
short spell it w a s f e a r e d that
rain w o u l d ruin the s h o w , but
apparently the gods w e r e
c o n d e s c e n d i n g , f o r the Sky
c l e a r e d at 8.30 p.m., a l l o w i n g
t h e procession to b e g i n .
Altogether some fifty
organisations representing
A Symbol of the Coronation of Her Majesty with a Malay girl representing the
Queen silting on her throne and beside whom also sal a Malay man who was
said to represent the Duke of Edinburgh. Standing by the raised dais were two
figures dressed in the fashion of the Queen's Yeoman of the Guard.
the M a l a y , D a y a k , Chinese,
European,
Indian
and
Javanese communities took
part in the procession, with
a b o u t f i f t y d e c o r a t e d floats,
v e h i c l e s a n d m o b i l e tableaux.
O u t s t a n d i n g a m o n g the
tableaux may be mentioned
the M a l a y boy and girl
dressed as the Q u e e n and her
Consort, w i t h t w o m e m b e r s ol
the Q u e e n ' s Y e o m e n of the
Guard, the g l e a m i n g C h i n e s e
Unicorn and the w r i g g l i n g
y e l l o w dragon chasing a
fireball. A y o u n g and smiling
girl m a h o u t on a w h i t e
e l e p h a n t , w h o w a v e d her
g o a d as she passed His
E x c e l l e n c y ' s stand, the Indian
m a r i o n e t t e p l a y e r s and the
snowy white dove with
electrically lit orbs for e y e s to
represent P e a c e , w e r e other
n o t e w o r t h y attractions.
JOINT MUSEUM AND
BRITISH COUNCIL
SPECIAL
CORONATION
EXHIBITION AND
FILM SHOW.
90
A
Joint
British
Museum
Council
and
Special
C o r o n a t i o n E x h i b i t i o n in the
Sarawak
Museum
informally
opened
was
by
His
E x c e l l e n c y t h e G o v e r n o r at 11
a.m.,
on
30th M a y .
extremely
Some
interesting
old
B r o o k e d o c u m e n t s f r o m the
Museum archives w e r e on
display
together
with
fine
portraits a n d p h o t o g r a p h s of
the
Royal
Exhibition
Family.
was
The
open
from
9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p . m . each
day during Coronation W e e k
and p r o v e d v e r y popular. In
a d d i t i o n t h e r e w a s a special
f i l m s h o w e a c h d a y at 10.30
a.m.
and
4.30
p.m.
for
o r g a n i s e d p a r t i e s of visitors to
the
Exhibition.
selected
for
The
the
films
ocassion
i n c l u d e d "British M o n a r c h y "
a n d a c o l o u r e d f i l m of the
Brunei Coronation,
together
w i t h a r e c o r d e d filmstrip talk
on
the
meaning
Coronation
by
the
of
ceremony
the
given
Archbishop
Canterbury.
of
This enterprising model of the Royalist links Sarawak's past history with the present.
The
celebrations
honour
of
Her
E l i z a b e t h II,
nation
were
during
Week
in
perhaps
in
Majesty,
Coro-
Kuching,
the
most
stupendous that this c o u n t r y
programme,
well-planned
g r e a t occasion point to the
a n d e v e n l y s p a c e d through-
f a c t that H e r M a j e s t y is our
out
the
week,
Queen",
as
w i t h w h i c h all c o m m u n i t i e s ,
C o m m o n w e a l t h of N a t i o n s of
w h i c h w e a r e a part.
schools,
organisations
individuals
the
"undoubted
m u c h as s h e is the H e a d of the
churches,
extent
variety of
the
e n t h u s i a s m a n d spontaniety
has e v e r w i t n e s s e d . Both t h e
and
and
and
public
private
celebrated
91
this
AGRI-HORTICULTURAL SHOW
The
Coronation
Agri-Horticultural Show held
u n d e r the joint auspices of the Floricultural Improvement
S o c i e t y a n d the D e p a r t m e n t s
of A g r i c u l t u r e a n d Forestry,
on
30th
May
at
the
Maderasah Melayu, was an
u n q u a l i f i e d success.
The Maderasah Melayu
was gaily decorated with
flags and bunting, while
m u l t i - c o l o u r e d lights lent an
a d d e d air of festivity to the
occasion.
T h e S h o w w a s o n e o f the
m o s t s p e c t a c u l a r t o b e org a n i s e d since the W a r . It w a s
e s t i m a t e d that nearly four
thousand spectators passed
t h r o u g h the portals of the
s c h o o l to relish the k a l e i d o s c o p i c array of rare plants and
e x h i b i t s h o u s e d in the building.
In t h e Floricultural G r o u p
there w e r e hundreds of
f l o w e r s of the herbaceous
g r o u p , shrubs a n d ferns, orchids in profusion, b o t h local
a n d exotic, a n d aquatic plants
in their little aquaria. In the
Agricultural Group there
w e r e nearly one hundred
e x h i b i t s o f f o o d crops, products for the market and
home preserves. T h e Livestock S e c t i o n c o n t a i n e d e x h i b i t s of w h i t e p i g s , a
H e r e f o r d bull with some
Scindhi cattle and Saanen
goats. T h e most striking of the
Agriculture Department's
entries w e r e m o d e l s o n disp l a y illustrating p a d i irrigation, anti-soil erosion and
m o d e l s of s m o k e - h o u s e s and
a c o p p e r kiln.
T h e s p l e n d i d collection o f
the b e s t t i m b e r s p r o d u c e d in
our forests, e x h i b i t e d by the
F o r e s t D e p a r t m e n t for the
first t i m e since the War, e x -
The Lorry Decoration depicting the Coronation Crown contributed by the
Foochow Association. Her Majesty the Queen's portrait by the Kuching
Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.
cited much
comment.
favourable
A m o n g the highlights of
the S h o w should be ment i o n e d the paintings of local
HIS EXCELLENCY
VISITS THE LEPER
SETTLEMENT
A c c o m p a n i e d b y the Di-
orchids by Mr C.J.H. Blake of
rector of
K u c h i n g , w h i c h w e r e much
Dr. W . G l y n E v a n s , a n d the
Medical
Services,
a d m i r e d b y the s p e c t a t o r s .
Private Secretary,
P e r h a p s the most unusual en-
Urquhart,
tries w e r e those of cardinal
v i s i t e d the L e p e r S e t t l e m e n t
creepers
quamoclit)
a t 13th M i l e R o c k R o a d , t o
submitted by Mr Kho Leng
t a k e part in t h e s e t t l e m e n t ' s
G u a n w h o trained them to
coronation celebrations.
(ipomoea
His
Mr I.A.N.
Excellency
g r o w around metal frame-
H i s E x c e l l e n c y s p o k e to a
w o r k to r e p r e s e n t a floral
n u m b e r o f i n m a t e s w h o had
C r o w n , two dragons and a
gathered
rotary w h e e l . M r K h o ' s e x -
then the p a r t y m o v e d on to a
hibits attracted a l a r g e c r o w d
p l a t f o r m w h e r e a d d r e s s e s of
and he is to be congratulated
loyalty to the Q u e e n w e r e
for his p a t i e n c e and ingenuity
p r e s e n t e d b y t h e staff a n d in-
in
mates.
producing
ordinary
yet
specimens.
such
extra-
very
lovely
welcome
him;
In a m o v i n g r e p l y H i s Excellency
92
to
spoke
of
a
great
This wavy yellow dragon carried by sixteen persons chasing after the fireball.
A
brotherhood
thrilling
of
the
performance
of two
British
the
Commonwealth
of
Nations
and e x p l a i n e d
the
green
lions from
Chinese
Commerce
on
the
Kwong
Chamber
Friday,
of
Wui
the
Siu
association.
Chinese
enjoyed,
he
5th
w a r n e d that t h e y w e r e a p t t o
signifi-
June, at w h i c h His Excellency
take for granted these advan-
cance o f t h e C o r o n a t i o n c e r e -
t h e G o v e r n o r w a s the g u e s t o f
tages and think nothing of
mony. H e n e x t p a i d a w a r m
honour. S p e a k i n g on behalf
them. It w a s good, therefore,
tribute to the Supt.
of the
Chinese community,
that t h e y s h o u l d s o m e t i m e s
had
M r T a n B a k L i m , O.B.E., said
remind themselves of them,
work
that in S a r a w a k , as i n d e e d in
on great occasions like the
among lepers in W e s t Africa.
all c o u n t r i e s of the British
present,
His E x c e l l e n c y e n d e d b y p r e -
C o m m o n w e a l t h , the C h i n e s e ,
a n d g r a t i t u d e . H e t h e n said
senting
that i n S a r a w a k t h e C h i n e s e
MacGregor
much
who
Mr H.
had
experience
of
with
thankfulness
dis-
i n c o m m o n w i t h o t h e r races,
c h a r g e to a n u m b e r of in-
e n j o y e d a f o r m of g o v e r n m e n t
community
mates a n d by g o i n g on a tour
d i s t i n g u i s h e d f o r its b e n e v o -
p l a y its part in the p r o g r e s s of
of i n s p e c t i o n of the settle-
l e n c e , a n d also f o r the strict
the country side by side with
ment.
maintenance
and
all o t h e r r a c e s f o r t h e c o m m o n
Rule,
g o o d , a n d that this w a s , m o r e
encouraged,
than a n y t h i n g e l s e , t h e b e s t
certificates
of
order.
CHINESE
COMMUNITY'S
CORONATION DINNER
A d i n n e r to c o m m e m o r a t e
the C o r o n a t i o n w a s g i v e n b y
the C h i n e s e C o m m u n i t y a t
of
law
U n d e r British
education
was
would
always
the p r i n c i p l e s of l i b e r t y a n d
w a y in w h i c h the
f r e e d o m w e r e cherished, and
could express their d e v o t i o n
justice w a s administered with
a n d l o v e t o H e r M a j e s t y the
an impartially unknown in
Q u e e n a n d their l o y a l t y t o t h e
m a n y f o r e i g n lands. R e f e r r i n g
C r o w n . Replying on behalf of
to the inestimable benefits
himself a n d all the guests, H i s
93
Chinese
"As
h a v e all, I think, f e l t an up-
w h i c h b e c o m e a part of our
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the Q u e e n I
lifting of the spirit a n d a g r e a t
lives. T h e
E x c e l l e n c y said in part:
w o u l d l i k e t o thank y o u most' a n d m o v i n g s e n s e o f unity
s i n c e r e l y for y o u r gracious under the inspiring leader-
Queen
dedicated
herself to t h e s e r v i c e of her
p e o p l e ... w, too, t a k e our oath
e x p r e s s i o n of l o y a l t y to the
ship o f H e r M a j e s t y . During
t o b e f a i t h f u l a n d true a n d t o
uphold
course
of
this
week
the
young
Queen
C r o w n a n d f o r y o u r support
the
f o r t h e i d e a l s f o r w h i c h our
throughout Sarawak w e h a v e
throughout her reign and do
f a m i l y of nations stand; l o y a l -
s e e n m a n y a n d d e e p l y sin-
our b e s t to m a k e of this c o u n -
ties, M r C h a i r m a n , o f w h i c h
cere
expressions of loyalty
try a n d the w o r l d a k i n d l i e r
y o u and the Community you
f r o m p e r s o n s for e v e r y rank
and happier p l a c e in w h i c h to
represent h a v e g i v e n abun-
a n d d e g r e e , o f e v e r y race a n d
d w e l l ..."
dant p r o o f o v e r the years. W e
r e l i g i o n . T h e s e are p r i v i l e g e s
The Coronation Of Queen Elizabeth
Trumpets And Guns To Signal Crowning
2nd June, 1953.
By Ranald Macklurkin
( N o t e : A l l times in this story
a r e B S T ( o n e hour a h e a d of
G M T a s times a r e part o f the
story.)
London:-(Reuter)-Trump e t s in E n g l a n d ' s historic
Westminister A b b e y and
g u n s f i r e d f r o m the T o w e r o f
L o n d o n w i l l signal the
crowning to-day of Queen
E l i z a b e t h II.
W h e n the trumpets
sound and the guns fire,
those i n the A b b e y a n d the
millions outside w h o w i l l b e
l i s t e n i n g t o the c e r e m o n y b y
radio and seeing it on
t e l e v i s i o n w i l l k n o w that the
c r o w n o f St. E d w a r d h a s
b e e n p l a c e d o n the h e a d o f
the Queen. T h e y will know,
too, that she is t h e n h a l f w a y
through a long ceremony
w h i c h f r o m start to finish w i l l
last t w o a n d a half hours, and
that she is henceforth
" E l i z a b e t h the Second, by
the G r a c e of G o d , of the
United Kingdom of Great
Britain
and
Northern
Ireland, and of her other
Realms and Territories
Queens,
Head
of the
Commonwealth, Defence of
t h e F a i t h , " the f o r t y first
The Westminster Abbey, the place where the Coronation Ceremony will take place
today.
the
officials, visiting K i n g s and
T h r o n e s i n c e the N o r m a n ,
Sovereign
to
ascend
Q u e e n s , n a t i v e rulers f r o m
W i l l i a m the C o n q u e r o r .
the
It w i l l be the s u p r e m e
Queen's
realms,
m o m e n t of the Coronation,
watched
which
people.
will
be
followed
d u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n by a
Coronation
overseas
and w h i c h will be'
by
millions
Throughout
the
of
early
procession
m o r n i n g h o u r s ' of J u n e 2,
through London two miles
p e o p l e f r o m all part of Britain
l o n g , in w h i c h thousands of
a n d a b r o a d w i l l b e g i n t o line
troops f r o m e v e r y part of the
the route f r o m B u c k i n g h a m
Commonwealth
Palace
will
take
to
part, in w h i c h w i l l ride the
Abbey
to
Prime
leave
the
Ministers
Commonwealth,
94
of
the
State
Westminster
see
the
Palace
Queen
in
the
g o l d e n C o a c h o f State. T h e y
will have come through the
darkness and the dawn by
underground trains, steam
trains, coaches, omnibuses
and on foot, many of them
with tickets for seats on the
route, the majority of them
ready to stand for hours
packed shoulder to shoulder
see the procession.
Thousands of the women
spectators who will line the
route will be wearing special
dresses with a patriotic motif
of red, white and blue.
T h e y w i l l have a long
wait, for not until 0840 will
the first cars, carrying some
members of the British Royal
Family, leave Buckingham
Palace for the Abbey.
Ten minutes later, a long
procession of more than 70
limousines will drive out of
the p a l a c e g a t e s b e a r i n g
foreign Royalty and other
foreign representatives.
The first glamorous touch
of the day's spectacles will
come at 0915 when the first
procession appears from the
Palace courtyard. In it will
ride rulers f r o m Britain's
tropical colonies and
protectorates in native dress.
Among them will be 6th tall
Queen Salote of the Tonga
Islands, in the Pacific, who
has been the guest of Queen
Elizabeth at Buckingham
Palace since she arrived in
Britain and the Sultan of
Zanzibar, Johore, Selangor,
Kelantan, Perak, Brunei and
Lahej.
Then, in fairly quick
succession, will come some
of the leading personalities
in the day's pageantry.
A new procession of nine
carriages from the Palace
will carry to the Abbey the
prime M i n i s t e r s of the
Commonwealth, including
Sir Winston Churchill.
Next will come carriages
containing the Princes and
P r i n c e s s e s of the B l o o d
Royal, among them the
Queen's aunts and cousins,
followed by Queen Mother,
with Princess Margaret, the
Queen's sister, seated at her
side in a carriage which will
d r i v e t o the A b b e y f r o m
Clarence House, the Queen
Mother's residence.
B y 1020 t h e c r o w d s
packed around Buckingham
Palace and the long w i d e
drive of The Mall will hear
the roll of drums and the
blare of brass as bands of the
Guards strike up to l e a d
Queens Elizabeth's own
procession from Palace to
Abbey.
One single officer,
C o l o n e l B.J.O. Burrows,
Inspector of Trooping at the
War O f f i c e , will lead this
procession on horseback.
Behind him will follow four
m o u n t e d troopers of the
H o u s e h o l d C a v a l r y , and
f o l l o w i n g this simple
beginning, 1000 Guardsmen
and a cavalcade of Admirals,
F i e l d Marshals, Generals
and Air Marshals, some on
horse-back, some walking,
some in landaus.
Behind them, drawn by
eight Windsor Greys from
the Royal Stables will come
the Queen in her 192 yearsold coach, with its figures of
g i l d e d palm trees and
s e a g o d s rising from each
corner of the s w i n g i n g
undercarriage.
T h e Queen will wear a
r o b e of crimson velvet, a
diadem on her head, and by
her side will sit her husband,
the D u k e of E d i n b u r g h ,
wearing the gold-braided,
blue uniform of an Admiral
of the Fleet.
D o w n the broad, gaily
decorated Mall, the w i d e
avenue which leads to the
95
v e r y heart of Londoii, the
procession will pass under
four spectacular arches of
tubular steel, surmounted by
dancing lions and unicorns.
H u g e coronets w i l l h a n g
from th 65-foot arches,
looking as though they were
h a n g i n g i n air w i t h o u t
support.
Behind w i l l r i d e more
h o r s e m e n - t h e Lord H i g h
Constable, F i e l d Marshal
Viscount Alanbrooke; the
Queen,s Master of the Horse,
the Duke of Beaufort; The
Captain of the Yeomen of the
Guard; and others.
Then will follow the
Royal Standard and, riding
i m m e d i a t e l y b e h i n d it as
personal aides-de-camp to
the Queen, her uncle, the
Duke of Gloucester, and Earl
Mountbatten of Burma. At
the e n d of the g i l t t e r i n g
parade will follow eguerries
to the Queen and two more
divisions of the Sovereign's
Escort.
The procession will pass
from The Mall into Trafalgar
Square, dominated by thfe
column and statue of
Admiral Lord Nelson, where
even the high rooftops will
be crammed with spectators,
down Northumberland
Avenue to the Embankment
along the River Thames.
There,
along
the
w a t e r f r o n t , ships w i l l be
flying almost every flag ever
seen on the oceans of the
world.
Then just as Big Ben, the
clock
on
Houses
of
Parliament, is striking 11
o'clock, the golden coach
will halt outside Westminster
Abbey.
From early morning,
7,000 guests will have been
arriving at the Abbey, where
English monarchs have been
c r o w n e d f o r 900 y e a r s .
Statesmen, poets, peers and
peeresses will have stepped
from the constant f l o w of
cars; men and w o m e n in
striking native garb from
every
part
of
the
Commonwealth will have
mingled with thousands of
Britons in their Court Dress
of silk velvet breeches with
buckled shoes, silken hose
and their ladies in silks and
ermine.
Queen Elizabeth will
step from her coach on to a
blue carpet running from the
N a v e of the A b b e y to the
entrance of a £50,000 annexe
of white timber and pillars of
tubular steel specially built
for the Coronation.
Flowers f l o w n from all
parts of the Commonwealth
w i l l be b a n k e d in the
A n n e x e , w h e r e a line of
s c u l p t u r e d mythical and
heraldic animals look on the
s c e n e of p a g e a n t r y . T h e
"Queen Beasts," as they are
c a l l e d , i n c l u d e fabulous
monsters such as the Griffin,
with the head of an eagle,
the body of a lion and the tail
of a serpent.
T h e Duke of N o r f o l k ,
E n g l a n d ' s Premier Duke
who, as Earl Marshal, has
been the chief planner of the
coronation, will meet the
Queen at the entrance to the
Annexe.
And in the entrance hall,
flooded with rainbow light
from the coloured glass of
the windows, the Queen will
be r e c e i v e d by high
c e r e m o n i a l o f f i c e r s , the
Lords w h o w i l l carry the
Regalia, and the Arcbishops
of Canterbury and York.
T h e Q u e e n , w i t h tne
Duke of Edinburg, will pass
between a guard of honour
of the Queen's Company,
Grenadier Guards, e v e r y
man in it over six feet three
inches in height, and will go
on to a robing room in the
Annexe, its floor covered her
in gold carpet, to complete
her robing for the big
ceremony still to come.
In the vestibule, at 1115,
she will join the procession
which has meanwhile been
f o r m i n g . Six M a i d s o f
honour, daughters of British
Dukes and Peers, w i l l
arrange themselves, three on
each side, to carry the long
train which flows from the
Queen's robe.
A n d from this point
b e g i n s the C r o w n i n g
Ceremony from which the
Queen, two and a half hours
l a t e r , w i l l e m e r g e as a
crowned monarch.
Slowly and solemly the
Procession moves into the
A b b e y through the West
Door.
At its head are the Royal
Chaplains followed by the
representatives of the Free
C h u r c h e s and r e l i g i o u s
dignitaries of Westminster.
Behind them, like figures on
a pack of'playing cards in
their gold and velvet tabards
(tunics) come the Heralds
and the Kings of Arms, ceremonial officers in attendance
on the Sovereign.
Standard Bearers carry
the flags of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The
Union Standard is borne by
Captain J.L.H. Dymoke, the
Queen's Champion, whose
ancestors used to appear fully armed on horse-back at
the Coronation Banquet and
challenge to fight anyone
who disputed the Monarch's
right to the Crown. This custom has now died out and the
right to carry a Standard has
been given to the Dymoke
family as a compensation.
Carrying the Royal Standard is one of Britain's out-
96
standing soldiers, Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery
of Alamin.
In another section of the
Grand Procession walk the
Prime Ministers of the Comm o n w e a l t h nations, preceded by their High Commissioners carrying the flags
of their countries.
F i f t e e n t r u m p e t e r s in
mediaeval uniform, gold and
crimson bannerets hanging
from their instruments,
sound a fanfare as the Queen
herself is due to enter the
Abbey.
As the brassy notes break
off, the choir of 202 men, 20
women and 178 boys sing
the anthem from Psalm 122;
Through the body of the
Church walks the Queen,
into and through the Choir,
where she is acclaimed by 40
Queen's Scholars of Westminsters School chanting
" V i v a t Regina Elizabetha,
Vivat! Vivat! Vivat!", on to a
raised platform called the
C o r o n a t i o n T h e a t r e , oarp e t e d i n g o l d , p a s t her
Throne to her Chair of Estate
to the right of the Altar, in
w h i c h i c h , a f t e r short
prayers, she sits.
The Bible is placed upon
the Altar.
One by one, the objects of
the Regalia are brought by
the Lords, who carry them in
procession, to the Dean of
Westminster, Dr Alan Don.
He places them on the Altar.
Then, as the last bars of
the anthem die away, the
Q u e e n m o v e s to the oak
Coronation Chair in which
all monarchs of England
have b e e n crowned since
1308
Standing beside it, a slim
figure under the arching roof
of the old Abbey, she waits
w h i l e the A r c h b i s h o p of
Canterbury, the V e r y Re-
verend Geoffrey Fisher, Primate of the Church of England, goes slowly and gravely in turn to each of the corners of the Theatre.
A f t e r the R e c o g n i t i o n
Ceremony the Bible is then
presented to the Queen by
the Right Rev. George Jeffrey, M o d e r a t o r of the
General A s s e m b l y of the
Church of Scotland. It is the
first t i m e the S c o t l a n d
Church, which is Presbyterian and differs in its ritual
from the Chuch of England,
has had its place in this ceremony.
As the Queen receives
the Bible, the Archbishop of
Canterbury speaks:
"Our Gracious Queen, to
keep Your M a j e s t y ever
mindful of the Law and the
Gospel of God as the rule for
the whole life and Government of Christian princes we
present you with this Book,
the most valuable thing that
this world affords."
The atmosphere, amid
the blue and g o l d fabrics
draping the Coronation
Theatre, changes to one of
devotion and deep religious
feeling as the Communion
Service begins.
The v o i c e or the great
choir, with an orchestra of 60
o f B r i t a i n ' s b e s t instrumentalists and the
famous organ of the Abbey
sonorously in the b a c k ground, soar in a psalm:' 'Behold, O God our defender:
and look up on the face of
thine Annotated."
The Queen and her people kneel as the Archbishop
prays.
And as the mass voices
rise in a great "Hallelujah,"
Elizabeth rises f r o m her
knees. The Lord Chamberlain and the Mistress of the
Robes gently draw from her
shoulders the heavy robe she
was worn till now.
The young Queen walks
slowly to the plain, 650-yearold Coronation Chair with its
high back and the Stone of
Destiny tucked under the
seat.
As she seats herself
a b o v e the rough block of
read sandstone, on which the
old kings of Scotland were
crowned, four Knights of the
Garter, England's highest
Order of chivalry, hold over
her a canopy of Cloth of
Gold.
Clad a mantles of blue
velvet with surcoats of crimson they screen the Queen
from the on-lookers while
the Archbishop of Canterbury anoints her in form of a
cross with holy oil.
The Dean of Westminster, Dr Alan Don, stands beside the Archbishop pouring
the scented amber oil from
the Ampulla, a golden receptacle in the form of an
e a g l e with outstretched
wings, into the Spoon, also of
gold, with four pearls set in
the handle, 700 years old and
the most ancient vessel used
during the ceremony.
The Archbishop dips his
fingers into the oil which is
made from a 17 th Century
formula and contains oils of
orange flower, roses, cinnamon, jasmin, sesame and
flowers of benzoin.
In the deep silence his
voice intones as he anoints
both the Queen's palms.
N e x t , the Sceptre with
the Cross, emblem of regal
power and justice, is put into
the Queen's right hand as
she sits erect. It is three feet
long, of gold, with the lower
end richly jewelled. From
the upper end, among a cluster of stones, gleams the
great, twinkling Star of Afri-
97
ca cut from the world's biggest diamond, the Cullinan,
found in South Africa near
the beginning of the Century.
Into the Q u e e n ' s left
hand the Archbishop places
the Rod with the Dove, symbol of equity and mercy.
This is also of gold, surmounted by a cross on which
stands a d o v e w i t h outstretched wings. It was made
in 1661 for the Coronation of
King Charles II.
"Be so merciful that you
be not too remiss; so execute
justice that you forget not
mercy. Punish the wicked,
protect and cherish the just,
and lead your people in the
w a y w h e r e i n they should
go", the Archbishop adjures
the Queen, as he places it in
her hand.
It is nearing 1330. T h e
ceremony has gone on for
nearly 90 minutes, and the
atmosphere is tense as the
supreme moment of the
crowning approaches.
There is a rumble and the
clatter of fget against woodwork as the A b b e y guests
rise.
The Archbishop, standing before the Altar, takes up
St. Edward's Crown from the
A l t a r , then l a y s i t d o w n
again, saying:
"O God the Crown of the
faithfully: Bless we beech
thee this Crown, and so sanctify thy servant Elizabeth
upon whose bead this day
thou dust place it for a sign of
royal majesty, that she may
be filled by thine abundant
grace with all pricely virtues".
Slowly the Archbishop,
with his Bishops behind him,
walks over the gold carpet,
the Dean of Westminster beside him holding the Crown,
a circlet of gold studded with
diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
sapphires and pearls, and
two gold arches holding an
orb and a cross rising from
the rim.
Carefully, reverently, the
Archbishop takes the crown.
T h e r e is a moment of
almost breathless silence as
he places it on Elizabeth's
head.
Then the stillness is shattered, suddenly, by the cry
from 7,000 voices echoing to
the high roof of the ancient
shrine:
"God save the Queen."
Again and again the cry,
fervent and emotional, rings
out from the princes, from
the dukes, the peers and
their wives, the great statesmen of the Commonwealth,
the commoners:
" G o d save the Queen."
Outside the Abbey, at the
v e r y s e c o n d the C r o w n
touches the h e a d of the
y o u n g Q u e e n , guns roar
f r o m the o p e n spaces of
H y d e Park and from the
Towers of London and the air
shakes with the cheers of the
patiently waiting crowds.
I n s i d e th€ A b b e y the
trumpets blow a triumphant
fanfare. Hundreds of whitegloved hands suddenly rise
as the princes and princesses, peers and pesresses put
on their coronets and caps.
And then the cries in the
A b b e y d i e a w a y a s the
Archbishop's calm, solemn
voice is heard:
"God crown you with a
crown of glory and righteousness, that having a right
faith and manifold fruit of
good works, you may obtain
the crown of an everlasting
kingdom by the gift of him
whose kingdom endureth for
ever. Amen."
T h e choir sings: " B e
strong and of a good cour-
a g e : K e e p the commandment of the Lord thy God,
and walk in his ways.
T h e Q u e e n has b e e n
anointed and crowned, and
now the Archbishop blesses
her, with the Abbey guests
loudly intoning " A m e n " at
intervals as he does so.
U p t o this p o i n t the
Queen has for the most part
had her back to the congregation. N o w she rises
from the Coronation Chair
and, f o l l o w e d by the
Archbishop, the Great Officers of State, and the Lords
who have borne the Begalis,
she walks to a raised Throne
in the centre of the Theatre.
The churchmen and the
peers around her lift her into
the
Throne
as
the
Archbishop exhorts her:
"Stands firm, and hold
fast from henceforth the seat
and state of royal and imperial dignity, which is this d a y
delivered unto you..."
N o w follows another
great moment of the dramap a c k e d ceremony as the
newly crowned Queen receives the Homage of the
princes and peers.
The Archbishop of Cant e r b u r y and the other
Bishops first kneel round the
Throne swearing to be
" f a i t h f u l and t r u e . " T h e
Queen holds out her right
hand and the Archbishop
kisses it.
Then the Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth's husband,
with a robe of red velvet "pow e r e d " with four bars of
ermine, comes from his seat
at the side of the throne.
He takes of his coronet
and kneels b e f o r e the
woman who is his wife but
also his Queen. Placing his
hands between those of Elizabeth he pledges clearly
that.
98
"I Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, do become your liege
man of life and limb, and of
earthly worship; and faith
and truth I will bear unto
you, to live and die, against
all manner of folks. So help
me God.:
Rising from his knees he
touches the Crown, then,
bending, kisses the Queen's
left cheek.
It is a breath-taking moment.
The Duke of Gloucester,
the Queen's uncle, and the
y o u n g Duke of Kent, her
cousin, come to the Throne,
to pledge themselves similarly. Then the seni- or peer
of each degree, a duke first
followed by a marquess, an
earl, a viscount and a baron,
to the Queen's feet one by
one to promise that they will
be "her liege men".
Each touches the Crown
as a symbol that he and all of
his rank will be ever ready to
support it. A n d each kisses
the Q u e e n ' s r i g h t hand,
w h i l e the choir sings
anthems.
A s the last n o b l e m a n
p a y s his h o m a g e , drums
beat, the trumpets blare and
the congregation shouts.
" G o d save Queen Elizabeth.
" M a y the Q u e e n l i v e
forever."
T h e giant organ plays
and the greatest choir the
world has ever known - a
choir numbered in millions
and spread throughout every
city, town and village of the
nation - sings.
" A l l people that on earth
do dwell, "Sing to the Lord
with cheerful voice;
"Him serve with fear, his
praise forth tell;
" C o m e y e b e f o r e Him
and rejoice."
For it is not only those in
Sceptre and the Rod, leaves
Q u e e n and the D u k e of Edin-
the A b b e y w h o w i l l s i n g this
h e r T h r o n e and, w i t h t h e f o u r
burgh, draws a w a y from the
hymn. At the suggestion of
S w o r d s carried b e f o r e her,
A b b e y t o t a k e u p its p l a c e i n
the A r c h b i s h o p of C a n t e r -
passes through the Theatre
the t w o miles long proces-
bury, p e o p l e w a t c h i n g t h e
o u t of s i g h t to a part of t h e
sion.
ceremony on their televison
A b b e y c a l l e d t h e Recess.
I t i s t o b e g a y , thrilling
T h e r e the Robe Royal is
parade, full of music from
homes and singing the old
t a k e n o f f a n d i n its p l a c e s h e
2,000 b a n d s m e n i n 4 7 m a r -
hymn.
is a r r a y e d in a r o b e of p u r e
ching bands, full of colour in
silk
t h e startling rirmson tunics
sets w i l l b e s t a n d i n g i n their
As the g r e a t chorus re-
purple
velvet richly
sounds t h r o u g h t h e A b b e y ,
embroidered
the Q u e e n d e s c e n d s f r o m
national e m b l e m s of the Un-
her T h r o n e t o t h e s t e p s o f t h e
ited K i n g d o m - the English
Altar w h e r e , l a y i n g a s i d e h e r
rose
and
with
oak-leaves,
the
the
o f t h e soldiers, e x c i t e m e n t i n
t h e p r a n c i n g o f t h e horses.
A t its h e a d w i l l a g a i n b e
t h e solitary f i g u r e o f C o l o n e l
Crown, the Sceptre and the
Scottish thistle, the W e l s h
Bert Burrows,
Rod, she k n e e l s t o o f f e r t h e
l e e k a n d t h e Irish s h a m r o c k .
had led the Queen's proces-
Bread a n d W i n e f o r t h e C o m -
N o w she w e a r s the Impe-
w h o earlier
sion to the A b b e y .
rial state C r o w n , m u c h l i g h t -
O n a g r e y c h a r g e r , this
e r a n d m o e c o m f o r t a b l e than
Englishman w h o joined the
tion an o f f e r i n g - r e c e i v e d
t h e C r o w n o f St.
Edward,
N e w Zealand A r m y as a gun-
from her by the A r c h b i s h o p
w h i c h w e i g h s seven pounds.
ner, a n d w h o s e f a m i l y l i v e d
of C a n t e r b u r y . T h i s t a k e s t h e
T h e Grand procession is
form, traditionally, of " a n
m a r s h a l l e d again, and the
1914-1918, w i l l a g a i n b e f o l -
ingot or w e d g e of g o l d of a
Q u e e n , holding the Sceptre
l o w e d b y four State T r o o p -
pound w e i g h t , " and an A l t e r
in her right hand and the Orb
ers, b e h i n d t h e m this t i m e
Cloth.
in her left, passes from the
will come
A b b e y w h i l e the assembly
a r r a y o f troops, c a r r i a g e s a n d
munion.
She then m a k e s her obla-
The Queen kneels again.
N o w , o n his k n e e s b e s i d e
her, is t h e D u k e of E d i n burgh,
for
Archbishop
A f t e r t h e Q u e e n has h a d
New
Zealand
during
a long winding
bands which will take 45 min u t e s to pass a g i v e n p o i n t .
the
a short rest a n d has l u n c h e d
For bands w i l l f o l l o w b e -
Cantebury
w i l l c o m e the m o m e n t for
hind Colonel Burrows and
whom
of
sings the National Anthem.
in
w h i c h the hundreds of p e o -
his t r o o p e r s a n d t h e n the
"... m u l t i p l y t h y b l e s s i n g
p l e t h r o n g i n g the g a y streets
procession proper h e a d e d by
upon this thy s e r v a n t P h i l i p
of London have been waiting
c o n t i n g e n t s of police,
w h o w i t h all h u m b l e d e v o -
so patiently e v e r since early
men,
soldiers
and sailors
tion o f f e r s h i m s e l f f o r thy ser-
morning.
from Britain's
Colonies -
says a p r a y e r :
vice in the dignity to w h i c h
air-
Still c r o w n e d a n d car-
f r o m the S o l o m o n Islands,
r y i n g the Sceptre and the
from M a l a y a , from the W e s t
all
O r b , t h e Q u e e n w i l l later e n -
I n d i e s , f r o m t h e sub-tropics
dangers, g h o s t l y a n d b o d i l y ,
ter a g a i n h e r g o l d e n c o a c h
of West Africa.
m a k e h i m a g r e a t e x a m p l e of
for her procession through
virtue a n d g o d l i n e s s , a n d a
t h e streets o f L o n d o n .
thou has c a l l e d h i m .
"Defend
him
from
blessing t o t h e Q u e e n a n d t o
her P e o p l e s ..."
W h i l e s h e is l u n c h i n g a
g r e a t p r o c e s s i o n w i l l b e lin-
T h e n the
might of the
Commonwealth will follow,
led by
detachments
from
Southern Rhodesia, O n e b y
The Communion service
i n g u p t o m o v e off a l m o s t a s
o n e t h e y w i l l m a r c h past t o
marks the e n d o f t h e C o r o n a -
soon as the C r o w n i n g Cere-
the cheers and the flags of
tion rites.
m o n y ends. Carriages w h i c h
t h e spectators - t h e m e n a n d
will
important
w o m e n of C e y l o n , Pakistan,
takes the S c e p t r e a n d t h e
guests w h o h a v e seen the
South Africa, N e w Zealand.
Rod
her
A b b e y Service will begin to
Throne, w h i l e the D u k e of
p i c k t h e m u p a n d t a k e their
by
Edinburgh,
places in the procession from
head, with policemen from
ceives
T h e Q u e e n re-
back
and
her
returns
Crown,
to
wearing
his
coronet, returns to his p l a c e .
While the choir sings the
"Te Deum"
crowned,
- the Queen,
still h o l d i n g t h e
carry
the
1415 o n w a r d s .
A t 1450 c o m e s the g o l d e n
splash of colour w h e n the
C o a c h of State, c a r r y i n g t h e
99
Australia will follow, l e d
Brigadier
Papua
and
among
her
Then
D.A.
New
Guinea
contingents.
Canada,
romantic
White-
with
Mounted
her
Police
riding in front of marching
m e n w h o h a v e fought i n
Korea.
Led by four more bands,
the sailors, soldiers and airmen of Britain herself will
come into view, the Royal Air
Force leading.
The wild skirl of the bagp i p e s w i l l h e r a l d the
approach of the Scottish regiments, with kilts swinging
as they march.
Oddly- but yet not incongruous in this great cavalcade of an Empire and Commonwealth on the day of its
Queen's crowning - there is a
p i p e band f r o m Pakistan
among the Scots, and one
formed from the Brigade of
Gurkhas, the fierce, loyal
fighters from the Indian subcontinent.
A n d after the servicemen
follow the carriages of the
Sultans.
T h e n an escort of
mounted military police and
more carriages - this time
bearing the Commonwealth
prime Minsters.
Each Prime Minister, exc e p t Mr N e h r u , has a
mounted escort from his own
country behind his carriage.
Last of the Prime Ministers is Britain's own Sir Win-
ston Churchill with Lady
Churchill beside him and an
escort of Husars riding behind.
Cavalry, carriages carrying members of the Royal
Family - the Earl and Countess of Athlone, Princess
Marie Louise, The Duchess
of Kent with the Duke and
her other son and daughter,
the Princess Royal, aunt of
the Queen; Queen Elizabeth
the Q u e e n M o t h e r , w i t h
Princess Margaret beside
her, riding in the Irish State
Coach, one of the famous
Royal carriages,A l o n g p a r a d e of
mounted officers;
Marshals of the Royals
Air Force and Admirals go
past-some in carriages, some
on horse-back.
So the procession will go
on.
Four heroes of the last
war will come riding four
abreast
Field Marshal Sir
Claude Auchinleck, Field
Marshal Earl Alexander of
Tunis, Field Marshal Lord
Ironsie, and Field Marshal
Viscount M o n t g o m e r y of
Alamein.
Then the Queen's coach
at last draws into view, preceded by escorts of Colonial
100
and Commonwealth officers
and colourful Y e o m e n of
Guard.
Following is the Royal
Standard, the Queen's officals and aides-de-camp, and,
last of all the jingling divisions of t h e S o v e r e i g n ' s
Escort.
The Huge procession will
w i n d on a c i r c u l a r route
round the centre of London.
A b o u t 10,000 s e r v i c e
men and women in the parade; including 2,500 from the
Colonies and Commonwealth will be in it.
It will take one hour and
40 minutes for the Queen's
coach to travel the five miles
of the route.
The great parade will end
at Buckingham Palace at
1630, when the Queen and
the Duke of Edinburgh will
come out on to the Palace
balcony to w a v e to the cheering crowds outside and to
watch a fly-past of the Royal
Air Force.
T h e c e r e m o n y and
Pageantry of an historic day
is over-but the rejoicing goes
on as Londoners dance in the
streets and make merry until
the small hours of the
morning.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in her Coronation Gown, whieli was designed by Norman Hartnell.
101
Her Majesty the Queen and members of the Royal Family. The photograph was taken in the Throne Room at
Buckingham Palace. In this delightful group are: left to right (front row) H. R. H. Princess Alexandar of Kent. H. R. H.
Prince Michael of Kent. H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent. H.R.H. Prince Margaret. Her Majesty the Queen, wearing the
Imperial State Crown. H. M. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. H.R.H the Princess Royal. H.R.H. the Duchess of
Gloucester and her two sons Prince William and Prince Richard. Behind Her Majesty are the three Royal Dukes, left to
right. H.R.H. Duke of Gloucester. H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince Consort, and H.R.H. the Duke of Kent.
Part of the Commonwealth and Colonial contingents taking part in the Coronation procession en route from Westminster
Abbey to Buckingham Palace.
102
Perayaan2 Hari Kemahkotaan Di-Kuching
P e r a y a a n 2 b a g i mera'ikan upachara Hari
Hari Kemahkotaan. Di-tepi jeraya2 dalam
kawasan pasar telah di-gantong d e n g a n
lampo electric y a n g berwarna warni dan
bendera2 l a m b a n g diraja dan tanglong2
k e m a h k o t a a n y a n g berlukis d e n g a n g a m b a r
Baginda Q u e e n dan D u k e of Edinburgh.
Dapat-lah pula di-saksikan p e m a n d a n g a n 2
y a n g e n d a h d e n g a n a n e k a w a r n a d a n sulohsulohan p a d a b a n g u n a n 2 K e r a j a a n , g u d a n g 2
k o m p e n i , rumah2 persekutuan, k e d a i 2 d a l a m
pasar, d a n tidak pula k e t i n g g a l a n m a s j i d 2 d a n
g e r e j a 2 , serta d i - t a m b a h pula d e n g a n pintu2
gerbang yang elok berpasang dengan lampo
e l e c t r i c d i - s a g e n a p k a m p o n g itu. M a k a
Bandar Kuching pada malam2 perayaan
tersebut ada-lah t e r a n g b e n d e r a n g salurohnya. D a r i j a o h diluar b a n d a r d a p a t - l a h di-lihat
k a w a s a n b a n d a r itu bersinar-sinaran sa-olah2
padang terbakar, entah demikian-kah
g e r a n g a n - n y a p e m a n d a n g a n y a n g di-saksi
o l e h W a n U m p o k d a n W a n M a l i n i kutika a n a k
R a j a S u r a n itu t u r u n d i - B u k i t S a g u n t a n g
saperti di-cherita d a l a m S e j a r a h M e l a y u itu.
Kemahkotaan Seri Baginda Q u e e n Elizabeth
Y a n g K e d u a itu t e l a h d i - l a n s o n g k a n b u a t
B a n d a r K u c h i n g s a - l a m a satu m i n g g u p e n o h ,
mulai' d e n g a n r a s m i - n y a d a r i p a d a 3 0 M a y sehingga 6 June, dan tamat-nya pun berbetolan
pula d e n g a n S a m b u t a n H a r i j a d i Seri B a g i n d a
sendiri.
Di-kampong2
pada
sa-minggu
dua
t e r d a h u l u d a r i p a d a m i n g g u p e r a y a a n itu
d a p a t - l a h di-lihat m u r i d 2 s e k o l a h telah m u l a
g a g a u d e n g a n persediaan mereka. Dapat-lah
di-perhatikan
betapa
giat
dan
gembira
kanak2 itu m e m e n o n g b a g a i m a n a h e n d a k
m e m b e n t o k t a n g l o n g 2 d a r i p a d a kertas w a m a
dan b a t a n g 2 b u l o h y a n g telah d i - b a h a g i
k a p a d a m e r e k a itu — m a u b e r u p a b i n t a n g kah, atau i k a n atau k a p a l t e r b a n g ? — s u p a y a
dapat m e n g a l a h k a n b u a t a n 2 r a k a n m e r e k a
y a n g lain. I b u b a p a j u g a t i d a k k h a l i d a r i p a d a
runsing
kerana
a n a k 2 m e r e k a itu telah
menuntutkan supaya dapat pakaian uniform
baharu g a n t i y a n g t e l a h l u r c h w a m a k e r a n a
mereka
telah
bahagian
khayal
akan
mengambil
dalam temasha2 yang
di-untok
utama-nya buat P e m u d a dan Pemudi bagi
mera'ikan pertabalan Baginda Q u e e n yang
j u g a m u d a julita y a n g m e n j a d i Ratu p a d a
zaman mereka. Sambil menantikan ketibaan
H a r i K e m a h k o t a a n itu b u d a k 2 itu j u g a m e n g hafalkan l a g u k e b a n g s a a n y a n g akan din y a n y i b e r a m a i - r a m a i p a d a hari y a n g b e r sejarah itu. P e r m a i n a n m e r e k a y a n g biasa itu
tertinggal lansong;
kadang2 mereka ber-
duyun p e r g i k a - s e k o l a h m a s i n g 2 k e r a n a b e r m a c h a m l a t e h a n y a n g p e r l u atau bersiar2 k a pasar d a n d i - k a m p o n g k e r a n a m e l i h a t a n e k a
p e r s e d i a a n itu. A h ! d a p a t - l a h d i - p e r h a t i k a n
ayer
muka
mereka
yang
penoh
dengan
g e m b i r a d a n k e s u k a a n w a k t u m e l a l u ' i pintu
g e r b a n g atau m e l i m p a s b a n g u n a n y a n g terhias.
Walau pun pada mula-nya chadangan2
t e n t a n g p e r s e d i a a n d i - k a m p o n g 2 itu t i d a k
b e r k e h e n d a k k a n t e n a g a t e r u s dari a n a k 2
kampong
salain
daripada
dengan
jalan
kutipan, t e t a p i d i - b e l a k a n g dari itu pula T u a 2
K a m p o n g serta anak2
telah
di-kerah
gerbang
dan
juga
kampong
mendirikan
perhiasan
sakalian
pintu2
dalam kampong
masing2.
A p a b i l a sampai 30 M a y m a k a musta'id-lah
P a d a tiap2 m a l a m pula dalam m i n g g u
t e r m a ' a l u m itu t e r d e n g a r - l a h r i o h r e n d a h
bunyi kaki orang2 lalu lalang di-jeraya2
d a l a m pasar d a n k a m p o n g , tetapi d i k a w a s a n
pasar-lah tempat orang2 bergumpol p e n o h
sesak d i - s a g e n a p j e r a y a d a n l o r o n g , s a h i n g g a
gerak peijalanan pun menjadi berlambatan.
D i - s a p a n j a n g m i n g g u itu telah d i - a d a k a n
b e r m a c h a m permainan, p e r t u n j o k a n , isti'adat
rasmi dan layanan. Pertunjokan sarempak
b a g i Bunga2, T a n a m a n d a n K e h u t a n a n telah
di-adakan di-Medarasah Melayu; Lomba
Kuda di-Padang Sarawak Turf Club;
P e r t u n j o k - k a n Surat2 b e r s e j a r a h d i - r u m a h
M u s e u m ; satu m a j h s D a n c i n g b e r u p a international di-Sarawak Club; Pertandingan
chontoh2 k a p a l t e r b a n g d i - P a d a n g M a t a m a t a ;
P e r t a n d i n g a n Basketball d i - g e l a n g g a n g p e r m a i n a n H a p p y W o r l d . Jamuan d a n h i b o r a n
b a g i o r a n g 2 sakit kusta d i - B a t u T i g a Belas d a n
o r a n g 2 d z a ' i f p u n t i a d a j u g a di-lupa, d a n
m e r e k a telah di-layan d e n g a n j a m u a n t e h d a n
pertunjokan w a y a n g gambar dan kumpolan
o r a n g 2 s a k i t kusta p u n d a p a t m e n d e n g a r
l a g u 2 m e r d u dari P e n c h a r a g a m S a r a w a k
Constabulary. M u r i d 2 dari sakalian s e k o l a h
pula b e r g i l i r p a d a tiap2 hari d a l a m s a m i n g g u
itu di-hibor d e n g a n p e r t u n j o k a n w a y a n g
g a m b a r p a d a t i g a buah p a n g g o n g ia-itu R e x ,
S y l v i a d a n Lilian.
segala persediaan dan perhiasan m e n y a m b u t
103
Kemudian-nya tiba-lah 2 June ia-itu Hari
Keamasan, Hari Bertuah dan bersempena,
Hari terchatit-nya lagi Sejarah British dengan
peridaran zaman baharu — Zaman Elizabeth
yang di-perchaya akan memuleh samula
kuasa dan kema'amoran British di-'alam ini.
Dinihari lagi, adek2 atau anak 2 sekalian
telah bangun dan mandi — dingin pun ditahan j u g a — berhias dan memasokkan
pakaian uniform mereka. A d a yang tiada
berselira lagi hendak makan atau minum
pada pagi itu kerana fikiran-nya telah tertumpu atau melayang nun di-Padang Sekolah St, Thomas. Terpaksalah kakak atau mak*
itu memujok mereka makan supaya jangan
kena k e b u l o r a n dan. k e p e n i n g a n dalam
temasha yang akan di-hadziri mereka ia-itu
upachara pereksaan murid2 dari semua sekolah oleh Yang Terutama Tuan Governor dan
di-iringi kemudian itu dengan baris kehormatan melimpas Tuan Governor di-hadapan
Gudangubat Peoples Clinic. Wah! bukan kepalang ramai peninjau bergumpol di-situ
kerana hendak menyaksikan upachara itu.
Dengan suara yang gemuroh sarempak dengan bahasa masing2 dan di-temani pula
oleh pencharagam, murid2 itu menyanyi-kan
lagu kebangsaan. Satelah kena panas pagi itu
waktu pereksaan, wajah murid2 itu pun jadi
kemerahan dan bersinar dengan rinchek2
peloh dan dengan keadaan demikian-lah
mereka berbaris melimpas sambil menghala
muka kerana memberi honnat kapada Tuan
Governor yang sedang membalas pula dengan tabek kapada mereka. Langkah2 mereka itu tetap chergas mengikot bunyi pencharagam yang membawa jalan mereka itu.
Kemudian daripada itu sakalian mereka bergumpol pula di-Padang Museum sama2 berdo'a atas keselamatan Baginda Queen.
P a d a s a b e l a h m a l a m itu pula, telah
di-adakan perarakan lampo dan usongan2
berhias dari sakalian bangsa. Sakali lagi
orang2 berduyun menuju kapasar. Sunggoh
pun chuacha gelap bahkan memang hujan
rintek2 pada malam itu, tetapi kawasan pasar
terutama jeraya2 yang di-lalui' oleh perarakan itu telah penoh tumpat dengan manusia
yang tidak menghiraukan ugutan kuyup dan
demam. Kereta2 tertahan. Pasokan Matamata pula tiada alpa dari beijaga kerana mengelak langgaran dan kechedaraan di-atas orang
ramai. Perarakan itu bergumpol dan mula
bergerak dari Padang Football Padungan,
tetapi orang2 telah sedia menantikan-nya disapanjang jeraya2 yang dilintas-nya. Kemudian datang-lah kereta Pasokan Matamata
yang membuka jalan. Sabentar lagi sampai-
lah usongan2 yang di-hias dengan macham2
ragam. Lepas sabuah, sabuah lagi melimpas,
dan tiap2 sabuah ada sahaja menerbitkan keelokan bersendiri dari tenaga tiap2 bangsa
itu dan pada itap2 usongan itu ada-lah terbentang lafaz "Allah Selalmatkan Queen" iaitu lafaz yang suchi morni terbit dari senubari
tiap2 bangsa y a n g mempersembahkan
usongan2 itu untok menzahirkan ta'at setia
mereka ka-bawah Seri Baginda. Perjalanan
bagi perarakan itu termasok juga sabahagian
kawasan kampong, jadi mana2 orang yang
tiada berpeluang hendak pergi ka-pasar pun
dapat-lah juga peluang menyaksi perarakan
yang endah itu.
Lain2 keramian ia-lah satu jemputan Garden Party di-Astana pada petang hari itu.
Astana juga di-bebas buat lawatan orang
ramai pada 3 June. Temasha yang j u g a
m e n a r e k perhatian ia-lah Perhimpunan
Pemuda2 dan permainan2 dari mereka yang
telah di-adakan di-Padang Sekolah St. Thomas. Pada malam di-adakan perhimpunan itu
dapat-lah di-lihat di-situ kanak2 dari semua
sekolah dengan tanglong bergumpol dan ada
juga yang mengambil bahagian di-atas pentas menunjok bermacham lakunan. Sapatutnya perhimpunan itu di-lansong pada sabelah petang 6 June tetapi malang-nya hujan
telah menggendala dan terpaksa di-tukar
pada mala/n yang lain. Banyak lagi permainan yang lain saperti majlis Dancing diSarawak Union Hall, Sukan bagi sakahan
sekolah, Bunga api, Pertandingan Football diPadang Padungan, Pertandingan Badminton
di-antara daerah, majlis Tarian Kemahkotaan
di-Astana dan pada 6 June di-adakan Baris
Kehormatan di-Padang Sekolah St. Thomas
kerana menyambutkan Harijadi Baginda
Queen. Lomba Perahu juga akan di-adakan
pada 1 July dan Temasha Menuba lepas itu
kelak, dan semua keramian ini ada-lah atas
nama Kemahkotaan.
Buat penutup renchana ini, penulis suka
menerang perasaan bangga terhadap tenaga
yang telah di-tunjok oleh pehak M e l a y u
dalam masa perayaan2 itu. Walau pun persediaan dan perhiasan itu di-jalan dalam
bulan Puasa, tetapi sakahan muafakatan dan
ikhtiar itu berjalan dengan memberi puashati
dan menerbitkan bekeijasama dan bersatu
padu pada melansongkan perayaan2 yang
akan m e n j a d i ingatan khas-nya kapada
adek2 atau anak2 mereka dan kapada sagenap lapisan ra'ayat am-nya, ada-nya.
104
T.A.
The Coronation through Chinese Eyes.
The Coronation is over. Not only in the
British Isles but throughout the Commonw e a l t h w e h a v e acclaimed H e r M a j e s t y
Elizabeth II, as our rightful Queen. The pomp
and pageantry, on .a scale unrivalled heretofore, with which her peoples of all races, faiths
and creeds everywhere in the Commonwealth
celebrated this occasion were the sincere outpourings of loyal hearts who take pride not
only in their young and radiant Queen now
gloriously reigning, but also in the Coronation
as reaffirming the faith of those men and
women who regard the Crown as a symbol of
the unity and free association of peoples of the
same ideals and hopes, around the leadership
of a noble Queen who has so early dedicated
her life to this purpose.
This realization by Her Majesty's peoples
of different races has been, above all else, the
m a i n s p r i n g o f t h e w i d e l y s p r e a d and
spontenous rejoicings which characterized
the C o r o n a t i o n c e l e b r a t i o n s , and is
undoubtedly an encouraging sign that augurs
well for the harmonious relations between Her
Majesty's Government and the Commonwealth of Nations in these times of storm and
stress.
No less encouraging is the fact that this
r e a l i z a t i o n i s e q u a l l y u n d e r s t o o d and
treasured by the Chinese Community Overseas in her far-flung territories. This is evident
from the recent mammoth efforts on the part of
the Chinese Community in Hong Kong, the
Federation of Malaya and Singapore, in our
own Sarawak and the North Borneo territories, to celebrate Coronation week in such
fitting mariner as has won unstinted praise
from the local press that Her Majesty the
Queen would have been proud of the homage
paid to her.
Her Majesty would truly be proud when
she reflects on the knowledge that she can
count on millions of Chinese in her overseas
realms whose hearts throb and thrill with
pleasure at the thought that, she is, no less
than to her other peoples, their Queen, and
that if among these vast throngs there is a
minority who think and act otherwise, she will
appreciate that this fact is as much deprecated
by their own community.
The overseas Chinese is often described as
an enigma. He is regarded as indispensable to
a colony's progress owing to his inustry and his
control over local finances, and he is presented as a potential source of trouble
especially if he fails to recognize that his first
duty is to the land of his adoption.'He is the
inveterate, proud upholder of hiw own culture
and tradition, in the belief that he is helping to
preserve something ancient and noble; and he
may resist attempts to initiate him into modern
ways, yet he readily aligns himself with
progressive thought and sends his children to
English schools. Thus the ordinary overseas
Chinese may find himself in the unusual position of trying to keep up a link with his fatherland on the one hand, while on the other he
strives to confirm with the requirements of the
country in which he lives. Yet in spite of this
situation, which is at once puzzling to others
and embarrassing to himself, he belongs
essentially to a race of peaceloving people
whose interests overseas are perhaps entirely
financial, actuated by the time-worn principle
of providing adequately for his dependants.
The subject of politics does not appeal to the
majority of them who neither seek to unravel
its mysteries nor care to be engulfed in its
meshes, because they are heirs to a race that
had always attached greater significance to
proceeding nonchalantly with the business of
their farms and livelihood than to the subterf u g e s and machinations of s u c c e e d i n g
regimes. And where they live under colonial
rule they have, since early days, shown their
willingness to co-operate with the authorities
and m a n i f e s t their l o y a l t y , either
unobtrusively as in the grim days of the
Occupation or with the colourful pageantry, of
which the best Chinese minds can conceive,
as the recent Coronation processions bear witness.
A year ago, the despicable behaviour of a
minority group who attempted to introduce
chaos and anarchy into Sarawak and to foist
ideologies, foreign and dertrimental to her
interests, on her peoples particularly her
youth, had necessitated the coming into force
of the Emergency Regulations. The Chinese
community in Sarawak rose to the occasion as
one man and were at one with Government in
its determination to enforce law and order,
realizing, as they have always done, that it is
through peace, goodwill and friendship that
105
with her Coronation the ushering in of a new
Elizabethan age of prosperity. The love and
esteem in which she is held by her subjects, as
head of a wondrous family of peoples and
nations of every clime, is likewise held in their
hearts. But they also rejoiced because they
know that the worst is now over and that
henceforward they can go forth with a new
confidence, and a new trust that they can work
together again with other races on the road to
nationhood and fulfilment on the basis of
mutual respect and goodwill which had been
conspicuous of their relations with others in
the past.
progress is made possible and that force and
disorder would reap only destruction. They
realized, too, that the firm measures imposed
by the Government did not in any way reflect
on the loyalty of Chinese community. Today,
thanks to the vigilance of the authorities and
the active co-operation of all communities,
peace and prosperity have returned to the
land.
A n d so w h i l e all races living in Her
M a j e s t y ' s realms w i d e l y rejoiced at her
C o r o n a t i o n , the C h i n e s e community in
Sarawak, like their brothers in Malaya, have
had an added reason for celebrating. They
rejoiced that a new Queen was crowned and
Hari Elizabeth II Di-Pasok
Nyadi Queen.
Nama enggau brita nya utai ti di kaangkun lalu di ka-rindu ka mensia maioh. Nya
alai dalam bulan enam taun 1953 tu kamari,
nama enggau brita ti pemadu iya di dinga
kitai pansut ari England. Laban 2 hari bulan 6
tu kamari nya maia Elizabeth II dipasok ka
nyadi Queen di menoa England. Nyadi laban
leka timang enggau sampi enggau mimpi
indai iya ti beranak ka iya udah tepantup, nya
alai semoa dunya datai ka kitai di Sarawak tu
pen enggau orang gaga ngerami hari nya
enggau naka olih.
Nya alai ninga gerah Perintah hari nya ka
di rami enggau pengaga enggau pengerindu,
semoa bansa di Sarawak sedia magang-ngereja pengawa diri leboh hari nya. Kited Dayak
pen kiroh diri ga enggau bansa China, bansa
Melayu, bansa Tambi enggau bansa orang
Putih ti di menoa itu. Lalu gaga bendar bansa
kitai meda Penghulu Jugah pen kena pilih ga
nyadi pengari bansa Dayak lalu di kirum
enggau bansa bukai meda pengerami hari
nya di England. Ditu meh kitai meda bansa
kitai enda ditinggal ka orang ga dalam pengawa besai tu.
Kena ngerami hari nya Perintah ngasoh
sida ti tuai-tuai mai nembiak diri, baum. Tuan
China pen baum enggau membiak diri, Tuai
Melayu pen baka-nya mega, lalu Tuai kitai
Dayak pen ngerah nembiak diri mai baum,
ngadu ka jalai gaga lalu ngerami pengerindu
enggau pengandal Queen ti dipasok nyadi
besai.
Nya alai di Kuching Tuai China ngadu ka
aum sida ba club China, Melayu ba club
Melayu, Tambi ba club Tambi, tang kitai
Dayak deh, laban nadai club puas mimit
ngadu ka aum, tang seninjik enggai malu,
nyadi'ga pengawa laban pemanah iring sida ti
tuai. Udah baum dua tiga kali nya baru temu
pengawa ti ka di sanggup di kerja sida ti TuaiTuai Kampong ti semak Kuching. Bisi ti
nyanggup ngada ka prengka gendang, bisi ti
nyanggup mai orang ti endang landik ngajat,
skeda nyanggup mai indu dara ti bajik-bajik
awak ka bengepan Dayak di iring bejalai
leboh rami nya. Nya alai kena ngaul pengawa
nengri, berunding ga sida ti tuai nyukai
motor-lorry dua buah lalu di lagu enggau
mendira, di-umba enggau ngepan kena ngenulu ka bala Dayak leboh bejalai musin
nengri Kuching. Laban nya enang udah putus
d a l a m aum besai, s e m o a bansa dalam
Sarawak, enggau indu enggau nembiak bejalai berintai bulih empat batu. Angkat ari
Pasar Padungan lalu musin nengri Kuching.
Hari besai pen yau semak ka semak semua
ati mensia maioh, dipeda pen, mansang besak
ka besak lalu betambah enggau ati gagit
enggau ati rindu ngemesai ka haii nya.
Hari Besai pen nyau datai, semoa bansa
bela pen udah tembu magang sedia ka nembiak diri di bai bejalai.
Udah nyau bejalai semoa bansa bela
nyukai motor-lorry magang kena ngenulu ka
bala. Lalu semoa lorry tu tadi di lagu maioh
106
macham. O r a n g ti n e p a n dia p e n nadai e n d a
p a n g g o n g besilih berari muka gambar ka
n g e p a n , l a l u n a d a i e n d a m a i n . Bisi t i n g a j a t ,
sida, l a l u s e m o a utai t u n a d a i b e b a y a r . N y a d i
bisi t i n g e l u l u k a diri n g e n a n g e p a n Q u e e n ,
sekumbang p e n g e r a m i nya, semoa mensia ti
bisi t i n g e l u l u k a diri n g e n a p e k a y a n s o l d a d u
enggau
— e n g g a u m a i o h jalai bukai m e g a , jalai ti
m a g a n g g a m a l m o a . N a d a i s i k o sida t i tusah
bepansa
endang
brupai
rindu
m a d a h ka p e n g a g a e n g g a u p e n g a b i s basa ka
gamal moa dipeda, semina orang ti enda
p e n g a w a Q u e e n d i E n g l a n d . Bisi lorry t i d i
s a b a k a p e n g e r i n d u e n g g a u kitai, i a - n y a sida
gaga baka gamal gajah, baka gamal burong ti
ti g i l a .
besai, b a k a g a m a l k a p a l p e r a n g , t a n g e n g g i
S e m o a pasar-pasar e n g g a u rumah-rumah
di Kuching, naka penmanah dipeda laban di
lagu magang-magang enggau mendira
e n g g a u s e m o a utai t i n g a s o h m a t a t a u r i n d u .
A p i p e n m a i o h g a d i p a s a n g . M a l a m siti j a m
p u k o l 8 bisi m a i n b u n g a a p i b a p a d a n g K u b u
d i s e b r a i p a s a r lalu m a i o h b e n d a r m e n s i a t i
n e n g k i l a . N y a alai l e p a s s e m o a j a l a i p e n g e r a m i tu tadi, k e n a s e m o a bansa d a l a m
Sarawak n g a k u Elizabeth k a Q u e e n sida n y a
sambeyang. Tang dalam Sarawak maioh
bansa, l a l u p e n g a r a p p e n m a i o h , l a l u m a i o h
g a j a l a i sida m a n t u p k a ati t i b e n d a r k a b e t u a i
ka Elizabeth.
kitai D a y a k di l a g u e n g g a u mendira lalu
ngundan orang ti betaboh lalu ngajat. Lalu
lorry kitai t i d u l u b e n d a r , d i s a n g k i n g k a b a
tiang p e r a b o n g — g a m b a r Q u e e n t i besai, lalu
iya t i d u d i a g i d i d u d o k k a sida K e n y a l a n g
r a k o n g b a t i a n g l u a n . N a d a i tuai n g e m a n a h
nya g a m a l di peda.
D a l a m pejalai tu tadi semoa bansa ti meda,
begulai, bechampor-gaul, manjong, ketawa
sama n g e l a n t a n g k a diri.
Semoa orang ti
besai-besai e n g g a u semoa orang, nadai b e pilih bansa, n a d a i b e p i l i h g a m a l , n g e r a m i hari
t u s e m o a e n g g a u j a l a i diri e m p u m a g a n g .
U k a i s e m i n a n y a g a j a l a i o r a n g n g i n t u hari
b e s a i t u tadi, l a l u b i s i g a l u m b a d i p a d a n g , bisi
ga p e n g e r a m i ti e n d a n g di b a g i ka sida ti
nembiak agi, a w a k ka pengerami ka Q u e e n tu
tadi n y a d i k a p e n g i n g a t l e b i h a g i k a sida t i
n e m b i a k , a w a k k a brita e n g g a u n a m a t u bisi
d i k e n a n g sida n g a g a i s e r a k d i d u d i .
N a m b a h k a s e m o a p e n g e r a m i t u tadi, sida
n e m b i a k s k u l a e n d a n g bisi d i b e r i alai m a n tup
k a p e n g a g i t ati l a b a n s e m o a p a n g g o n g -
N a k a t i d i p e d a t a k rindu, t a k g a g a m a g a n g
bansa dalam Sarawak, lebih agi j a k o k e n a n g
sida k a indu, t u m e h b a r u k a p r a n s a n g b e sekula lalu n g e m a n s a n g ka anak indu k e n a
ngelai ketungkah indu nyadi Queen dunya
baru, l a l u hari n y a b e s a i b e n d a r k a i p r a n s a n g
sida ti i n d u .
P e s a h ari s e m o a b a n s a D a y a k , k a m i n g a j i h
ka Q u e e n g a y u guru gerai nyamai nguan
menoa.
107
The Queen's Birthday Parade
The National Anthem was played.
The new look of the Sarawak Constabulary.
Three cheers to Her Majesty the Queen leading by His Excellency the Governor.
T h e o f f i c i a l b i r t h d a y o f the Q u e e n w a s
playing ground.
c e l e b r a t e d i n K u c h i n g o n 8/6/1953, w h e n
A r e c o r d c r o w d of spectators c o m p r i s i n g of
units of the S a r a w a k C o n s t a b u l a r y (in their
various races s u r r o u n d e d t h e d e c o r a t e d p l a y -
new black
ing
and
white
uniform
for other
ground
to witness the
G o v e r n o r of
R a n k s ) , t h e F i e l d F o r c e , B o y Scouts, G i r l
S a r a w a k t a k i n g the salute a n d the b e a t i n g of
Guides,
R e d C r o s s S o c i e t y and the
the R o y a l Standard a f t e r i n s p e c t i n g the units
S a r a w a k C o n s t a b u l a r y Bank took part in the
on p a r a d e . H i s E x c e l l e n c y t o o k the S a l u t e at
g r a n d p a r a d e a t t h e St. T h o m a s ' s s c h o o l
the M a r c h Past.
the
108
His Excellency the Governor Sir Anthony Abell in uniform inspecting the Boy Scouts. Girl Guides from the different
schools and the Red Cross Society during the Queen's Birthday.
109
A recepienls received his Coronation Medals.
Mr Ling Siew Iug
The rending of the honour of Rev.
Earlier
during
the
ceremony
His
Fr. A.W. Sionion
Stonton of
the
S.P.G.
Mission.
He
also
E x c e l l e n c y p r e s e n t e d the insignia of M.B.E. to
p r e s e n t e d C o r o n a t i o n M e d a l s to a n u m b e r of
M r L i n g S i e w I n g o f Sibu a n d R e v . Fr. A . W .
recipients.
110
The March Past
The Sarawak
Constabulary
The Red Cross Society (Men)
The Girl Guides
The Boys Scouts
111
Happiness Springs From S i m p l e Things -1955
H a p p i n e s s s p r i n g s f r o m s i m p l e things, a n d
t h e p e o p l e i n S a r a w a k - a n d i n Brunei a n d
N o r t h B o r n e o a s w e l l , still h a v e t h e w i s d o m t o
l i v e c o m p a r a t i v e l y s i m p l e lives, M r M a l c o l m
M a c - D o n a l d , Commissioner General for
South East A s i a , said in a r e c o r d e d f a r e w e l l
broadcast over Radio Sarawak.
H e said:
T h a t d o e s not m e a n that S a r a w a k i s b a c k w a r d . Far f r o m it. D u r i n g t h e n i n e y e a r s s i n c e I
first
came
here
you
and
I
have
seen
t r e m e n d o u s c h a n g e s i n this c o u n t r y . T h e r e
has b e e n steady, e v e n rapid, p r o g r e s s . U p t h e
rivers f o r e x a m p l e , t h e r e has b e e n a n a l m o s t
r e v o l u t i o n a r y a d v a n c e f r o m rather p r i m i t i v e t o
m o r e m o d e r n conditions. In Iban, K a y a n ,
I first c a m e to S a r a w a k on July 1st, 1946, on
t h e historic d a y w h e n , as G o v e r n o r G e n e r a l , I
accepted on behalf of His Majesty King
G e o r g e VI the d e e d of Cession m a d e by His
H i g h n e s s t h e R a j a h . I t h e n f e l l i n l o v e w i t h this
c o u n t r y a n d its p e o p l e , a n d I h a v e r e m a i n e d a
f a i t h f u l f r i e n d e v e r since. N o w I a m l e a v i n g
S o u t h East A s i a t o g o t o India. I n d i a i s o n e o f
t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t countries i n t h e w o r l d , a n d
it will be a great experience to live and w o r k
t h e r e . But t h e r e a r e t w o j o b s that I w o u l d
rather h a v e than that o f H i g h C o m m i s s i o n e r i n
N e w D e l h i . O n e i s District O f f i c e r , K a p i t a n d
t h e o t h e r is District O f f i c e r , M a r u d i . I should
d e a r l y l i k e t o stay a m o n g s t m y I b a n f r i e n d s o n
the R e j a n g and my K e n y a h and Kayan friends
o n t h e B a r a m , a n d t o m a k e occassional jaunts
also to t h e busy, p o p u l o u s capital, K u c h i n g to
m e e t m y M a l a y a n d C h i n e s e a n d British
friends there.
Kenyah
M a n y nations in the modern world h a v e
g o n e crazy. In their pursuit of material
p r o g r e s s a n d p o w e r their g o v e r n m e n t s h a v e
g o t i n v o l v e d i n political r i v a l r i e s , quarrels a n d
a m b i t i o n s w h i c h cause their p e o p l e a lot of
frustration and misery and danger. Those
nations k n o w not contentment, because they
h a v e f o r g o t t e n that h a p p i n e s s springs f r o m
s i m p l e things; a n d they k n o w not p e a c e
b e c a u s e t h e y d o not r e m e m b e r that o n e o f t h e
S u p r e m e V i r t u e s is mutual I t o l e r a n c e a n d
g o o d w i l l b e t w e e n neighbours.
communities. P e o p l e w h o left Kuching or
In S a r a w a k - and in Brunei and North
B o r n e o a s w e l l - p e o p l e still h a v e the w i s d o m
to live comparatively simple lives.
U n c o r r u p t e d b y vast, soaring, stupid unattaina b l e ambitions, m o s t of t h e m a r e content so
l o n g as t h e y h a v e e n o u g h f o o d to eat, a roof
o v e r their heads to protect them from the
t r o p i c a l w i n d a n d rain a n d sun, interesting
w o r k t o d o , a n d the a f f e c t i o n o f their f a m i l i e s
a n d f r i e n d s to m a k e l i f e s w e e t . So in a t r o u b l e d
w o r l d S a r a w a k a n d its n e x t d o o r n e i g h b o u r s
r e m a i n p e a c e f u l lands inhabited by happy
populations.
and other native
districts
many
schools h a v e s p r u n g u p w h e r e n o n e e x i s t e d
before; mobile dispensaries h a v e brought
public
health
provisions
to
hitherto
undoctored regions; up-to-date agricultural
training has g r e a t l y i m p r o v e d m e t h o d s of
husbandry, a n d a w i d e s p r e a d s y s t e m of l o c a l
self-government is teaching the p e o p l e to
m a n a g e all their o w n affairs. A s f o r t h e latest
scientific a m e n i t i e s o f m i d - T w e n t i e t h C e n t u r y
s o c i e t y , w i r e l e s s sets a r e n o w i n s t a l l e d i n
m a n y l o n g - h o u s e s i n B o r n e o ' s r e m o t e interior,
a n d r e v e r e d D a y a k c h i e f t a i n s g i v e talks a n d
e n c h a n t i n g D a y a k girls '."pantuns" in the
p r o g r a m m e s of Radio S a r a w a k . T h a t is a
d r a m a t i c e x a m p l e o f t h e p r o g r e s s w h i c h has
o c c u r r e d i n t h e last n i n e y e a r s .
Similar d e v e l o p m e n t s i n e c o n o m i c , social
a n d political affairs h a v e t a k e n p l a c e e v e r y where
throughout Sarawak,
a m o n g s t all
Sibu, S i m a n g g a n g o r M i r i a n d t h e i r h i n t e r lands a decade ago, and w h o h a v e b e e n
absent e v e r since, w o u l d find it hard to
r e c o g n i s e m a n y f e a t u r e s i n their w a y s o f l i f e , i f
they suddenly returned now.
No violent
u p h e a v a l has caused the trasnformation.
T h e r e has b e e n n o revolt, n o clash, n o f i g h t i n g
here, as there h a v e b e e n in some other places.
B y g r a d u a l , p e a c e f u l , constitutional p r o c e s s e s
s o m e t h i n g l i k e a r e v o l u t i o n is o c c u r r i n g in
Sarawak.
T h a t is partly b e c a u s e it is Britain's p o l i c y
h e r e , a s e l s e w h e r e , t o g i v e t h e l o c a l p e o p l e all
the b e n e f i t s o f m o d e r n l i v i n g , t o e n c o u r a g e
t h e m t o d e v e l o p their o w n c a p a c i t i e s t o the
u t m o s t , a n d t o train t h e m t o a s s u m e o v e r
g r e a t e r responsibilities i n m a n a g i n g their o w n
affairs
in
public
affairs,
placing
less
i m p o r t a n c e o n their d i f f e r e n c e s o f c o l o u r a n d
c r e e d a n d culture a n d m o r e i m p o r t a n c e o n
their c o m m o n interests as citizens of t h e s a m e
l a n d . T h e y f i n d t h e m s e l v e s u n i t e d i n their
l o y a l t y to S a r a w a k a n d so a u n i t e d n a t i o n is
gradually being formed.
112
peaceful and happiest people on earth.
In some countries in South East Asia the
The progress is partly due, too, to the facts
picture has been very different during the last
that the various races who compose Sarawak's
nine years. In them violent stifle has been
stirred up, fighting and bloodshed and misery population are all gifted; they can take full
have been constant features of their national advantage of new ideas and methods; and
life. Race has been turned aginst race, creed they wish to advance with the times, and to
against creed and class against class. It has create here a modern, liberal society. So
been largely the work of Communists, who progress in Sarawak has been the result of a
preach the doctrine of jealousy and hate. Do continuous act of co-operation between the
not ever listen to Communists in Sarawak. government and the governed, between the
They would soon break the peace and friend- British authorities and the local Bornean
ship, the progress and prosperity to which you people.
Another reason why changes have come
are accustomed.
Remember that not only in national affairs, here peacefully is that there are no suspicions,
but also in international affairs all men are no rivalries b e t w e e n the different racial
brothers. Just as you give a fine, practical, groups in Sarawak. The Malays, the Chinese,
example of that in your own small scattered in the Dayaks, the Melanaus and others are all
territories across all the five continents and on tolerant, friendly people, who recognise each
islands in all the seven seas, live in perfect other's good qualities, who regard each other
peace and permanent concord together. War as fellow citizen of their common homeland,
between any member of the British Common- and who work naturally as partners together
wealth is unthinkable. T h e y are for ever to promote its prosperity.
This co-operation between the different
friends. They have attained the ideal towards
races is essential. It is the secret of continuing
which all humanity is striving.
Those are some of the thoughts provoked peace and well-being in Sarawak. That is why
in my mind as I look back on many years of the recently formed local government bodies
most pleasant association with Sarawak. And like District Councils and Divisional Councils
in bidding you "farewell" I thank you for a are so significant. On them, in centers like
million kindnesses, I thank you for some of the Sibu and Mukah and Limbang, the leaders of
best and most abiding friendships that I know all the communities are learning to work
and I express the prayer that you may long cordially together.
maintain your reputation as one of the most
113
His Excellency the Commissioner General for South East Asia
114
Mr Malcolm
Mac-Donald.
R O Y A L VISIT
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE PHILIP CAME TO SARAWAK
AND IN A THRILLING 41-HOUR VISIT CONQUERED
THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE WITH HIS MAGIC-LIKE CHARM
Scout. He and his schoolmates built a cutter,
and he took part in several sailing trips to
Shetlands, the Hebrides and Norway. He was
so expert a sailor that he was allowed - a privilege granted to few - to be in charge of an
adult on board.
Prince Philip was head of his school when
he left to become, in May, 1939, a Naval cadet.
In choosing a naval career he was following
the tradition of the Mountbatten side of his
family. Prince Louis of Battenberg was an
Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord; his son
the second Marquess served in the Roya Navy,
like Prince Philip's cousin the third Marquess
and his uncle Admiral Lord Mountbatten of
Burma, the present First Sea Lord.
He was still at the Royal Naval College,
Dartmouth, when war broke out. At Dartmouth he was awarded the King's Dirk as the
best all-round cadet of his term, and the
Eardley-Howard-Crockett prize as the best
cadet. Later when taking his sub-lieutenant's
examination he gained four firsts and one
second, winning nine months' seniority out of
a possible ten.
In January 1940 he went to sea as a midshipman in the battleship Ramillies, and after
serving in the cruisers .Kent and Shropshire he
was appointed at the end of the year to the
battleship Valiant in the Mediterranean Fleet.
A few month later came the battle of Cape
Matapan, when he was in charge of a section
of searchlight control in the Valiant; for his
work during the action he received a mention
in dispatches from Admiral Sir A n d r e w
Cunningham (Now Admiral of the Fleet Lord
Cunningham of Hyndhope).
After returning home to qualify as sublieutenant Prince Philip was appointed to the
destroyer Wallace. Promoted lieutenant in
June 1942, he became the Wallace's First
Liuetenant in the following October, being
one of the youngest officers in the Navy to be
second-in command of a large destroyer. In
July 1943 he took part in the Sicily landings,
His love of the sea showed itself early. He when Wallace covered the Canadian beachhead.
was a keen oarsman and qualified as a Sea
His Royal Highness The Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh, was born at Corfu on 10th
June, 1921, son of Prince Andrew of Greece.
On his father's side he is of Danish descent;
Prince Andrew was a younger son of King
George I of the Hellenes, son of King Christian
IX of Denmark; however, when Prince Philip,
renouncing this royal title, became a British
subject, it was under his mother's family name
Mountbatten, because his father's family have
no family name.
His mother was Princess Alice of
Battenberg, eldest daughter of Prince Louis of
Battenberg, who was naturalised in 1868 and
during the first world war took the name of
Mountbatten, renounced his royal title, and
became the first Marquess of Milford Haven.
Prince Louis w i f e was Princess Victoria of
Hesse, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, so
that the Duke of Edinburgh, like Queen
Elizabeth II, is one of Queen Victoria's greatgreat grandchildren.
The young Prince came to Britain at an
early age to be educated making his home
during his holidays with his grandmother the
Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven or
with his sister in Germany. From a preparatory
school, Cheam, he went to Mr Kurt Hahn's
school at Salem, Germany, and after the Nazis'
rise to power moved with him to Gordonstoun,
near Elgin in Scotland. He was popular with
his school-fellows and known as a g o o d
sportsman; he was an enthusiast for games
and s w i m m i n g , and w a s captain of the
school's cricket and hockey teams. Mr Hahn
was a progressive schoolmaster, one of whose
educational theories was that his boys should
take part in the local life of the town and
neighbourhood. Prince Philip, as he was then,
was well-known to the towns-people of Elgin
and made friends among the local boys, whom
he met on the cricket field and on fishing and
sailing expeditions: he kept up many of these
friendships, and during the war would renew
old contacts when on leave in the north.
115
In 1944 he was appointed First Lieutenant
in H.M.S. Whelp, one of Britain's newest
destroyers, just nearing completion. He sailed
in her for the Far East, took part in the war
against Japan, and served for a time as A.D.C.
to his uncle Lord Mountbatten, then Supreme
Allied Commander, South East Asia. He was
present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo
Bay.
After the end of the war he served in two
training establishments, at Pwllheli in North
Wales, and at Corsham in Wiltshire; at the
latter he was one of the two officers responsible for the training of petty officers. Only
officers with a high record for leadership are
selected for these duties.
In July 1947 the engagement of Lieutenant
Mountbatten - he had renounced his royal title
on becoming a British subject in February
1947 - to Princess Elizabeth was announced.
T h e marriage took place in Westminster
Abbey on 20th November. On its eve King
George VI created the bridegroom Duke of
Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron
Greenwich and a Knight of the Garter, and
authorised his use of the prefix "His Royal
Highness".
In the years immediately following his
marriage, the Duke of Edinburgh continued
his naval career. In October 1949 he went to
Malta as First Lieutenant of H.M.S. Chequers,
l e a d e r o f t h e First D e s t r o y e r F l o t i l l a ,
Mediterranean Fleet. In July 1950 he was
p r o m o t e d L i e u t e n a n t - C o m m a n d e r , and
s h o r t l y a f t e r w a r d s t o o k o v e r his f i r s t
command, H.M.S. Magpie, a frigate based on
Malta. He commanded her until July 1951,
when he went on indefinite leave, it being
announced that he would take up no more
naval appointments until after the return of
the King and Queen from their proposed
Commonwealth tour. When King George's
health made this exertion impossible, Princess
Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh undertook the proposed tour and began the journey
which would have taken them to Australia and
N e w Zealand had it not been interrupted by
the sudden death of King George VI.
Since the accession of Queen Elizabeth II,
the D u k e of E d i n b u r g h has p l a y e d an
increasingly important part in the nation's life,
and has interested himself in many of its
aspects, particularly those associated with
scientific and industrial development, and
with sport.
He had been sworn of the Privy Council in
December 1951. In 1953 he was Chairman of
the Coronation Commission. As President of
the Royal Mint Advisory Committee he was
concerned with the choice of the coinage for
the new reign.
His interest in science is outstanding. The
British Association for the Advancement of
Science invited him to be its President in 1951,
the year of the Festival of Britain. He made a
g r e a t impression w i t h his p r e s i d e n t i a l
address, which dealt with Britain's contribution to the development of science and
technology during the past hundred years,
and which was described by Sir Harold Hartley, the previous President, as "a most discerning survey". In the course of the address he
dwelt on a aspect of the subject which particularly interests him, the practical application of
scientific discoveries, saying that the concrete
measurement and indirect effect of all scientific effort was the general improvement of
health, in the expectation of life and standards
of living. A nation's wealth and prosperity, he
said, were governed by the application of science to its industries and commerce.
The Duke gives further evidence of his interest in the application of scientific discoveries by his eagerness to study scientific work at
first hand, and he has visited research stations
and laboratories all over the country.
He is interested not only in the industrial
applications of scientific research, but in industry as a whole, and many of his visits have
been made with the object of getting to know
the industrial life of Britain at first hand. He
has been down coal-mines, and has toured
factories, engineering works and industrial
plants. When in December 1955 he paid a visit
to the Austin motor works at Birmingham, the
occasion was made a private one, at his own
request. The Chairman of the British Motor
Corporation told the workers: "There will be
no flags, no reception committees, no guards
of honour, no formal presentations, and no red
carpets. The Duke wants to see a factory as it is
every normal working day, a thing he can never do on formal occasions."
The Duke of Edinburgh succeeded the late
King George VI as patron of the Industrial
Welfare Society. It was not, however, as a patron of this Society but on his own initiative that
he caused arrangements to be made for a conference at Oxford in July 1956, H.R.H. the
Duke of Edinburgh's Study Conference,
116
attended by men and women from all the
Commonwealth, conducted a practical study
of the human aspects of industrialisation and,
in particularly, those factors which make for
satisfaction, efficiency and understanding,
both inside industrial organizations and in the
everyday relations between industry and the
community around it.
His Royal Highness was promoted Commander in the Royal Naval in June 1952. In the
following December it was announced that
the Queen had approved his appointment as
Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, Colonel-inChief of the Air Training Corps - appointments previously held by the late King George
VI. In January 1953 came the announcement
that the Queen had approved his promotion to
Admiral of the Fleet and his appointment as
Field Marshal and Marshal of the Royal Naval
Air Force. He is also Colonel-in-Chief or Colonel of a number of Regiments, including that
which is called after the earlier holder of his
title, The Wilshire Regiment (The Duke of
Edinburgh's).
He takes a keen interest in the three Services. He has attended Fleet exercise, and has
visited Royal Air Force and Army units in Germany on many occasions.
The Duke of Edinburgh has consented to
be Patron or President of a large number of
bodies. He is President of the English-Speaking Union, a position held by Her Majesty the
Queen before her accession. An organization
in which he takes great interest is the National
Playing Fields Association, in whose presidency he succeeded Lord Mountbatten in
1948. This voluntary body, which has affiliated country and city branches in Scotland
and Northern Ireland, was founded in 1592
with the object of securing adequate playing
fields and playgrounds for children and young
people, either directly or in co-operation with
local authorities and societies.
The Duke is President also of the Central
Council of Physical Recreation, which is composed of nearly two hundred national organizations, including governing bodies of games,
sports and outdoor activities, the national
voluntary youth organizations, many social
services bodies, and of the principal organizations concerned with physical education and
health education.
He is still a lover of many kinds of sports,
plays polo, races at Cowes Regatta, and is
Admiral of the Royal Yacht Squadron. He was
from 1949 to 1950 President of the M.C.C., the
famous Marylebone Cricket Club.
A f e w years ago he took up flying, received
a course of instruction from the Royal Air Force
and qualified as a pilot, and later learned to fly
a helicopter. He is Grand Master of the Guild
of Air Pilots and Air Navigators of the British
Empire.
The Duke Edinburgh holds several foreign
decorations and has received honorary degrees from a number of universities. He is
Chancellor of the Universities of Wales and
Edinburgh, and a Life Governor of King's College in the University of London. In July 1955
he was patron of the Conference of European
Rectors and Vice-Chancellors of Universities
held at Cambridge, when he delivered the
opening address.
In April 1952 the Queen created him a
Knight of the Thistle, and the f o l l o w i n g
September she declared by Royal Warrant
that he has "place, pre-eminence and precedence" next to herself "on all occasions and in
all meetings, except where otherwise provided by Act of Parliament." In February 1957
it was announced that Her M a j e s t y had
granted to the Duke of Edinburgh the style
and dignity of a Prince of the United Kingdom,
and that he should in future be known as "The
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The Duke has made many visits abroad
with the Queen since her accession as well as
tours and visits to all parts of the United Kingdom. During their Commonwealth tour of
1953/54 they visited Bermuda, Jamaica, Fiji,
T o n g a , N e w Zealand, Australia, Ceylon,
Uganda, Malta and Gibraltar. Early in 1956
they visited Nigeria, and in 1957 made a tour
of Canada (which they had earlier toured
together in the autumn of 1951) followed by a
visit to the U.S.A. On this trip the Duke was
made a Privy Councillor of Canada. A further
visit to Canada is planned for the summer of
1959 when the Queen will open the new St.
Lawrence Seaway. The Duke has also accompanied Her Majesty on her State visits to Norway (1955), Sweden (1956), Portugal, France,
and Denmark (1957) and the Netherlands
(1958).
On his account the Duke has visited a number of overseas countries. When serving in the
Mediterranean he paid courtesy visits to rulers
of Middle Eastern countries and to the President of Turkey. In November, 1950, he took
part in an important constitutional occasion,
when he opened Gibraltar's new legislative
117
council. In the summer of 1952, w i t h the y o u n g
D u k e of Kent, he attended the O l y m p i c G a m e s
at Helsinki, and on his journey paid informal
visits t o N o r w a y and S w e d e n . H e m a d e a
second tour of C a n a d a in the summer of 1954,
and in October, 1955, visited D e n m a r k in the
R o y a l Y a c h t Britannia, w h e n he attended the
British T r a d e Fair at C o p e n h a g e n and w a s
entertained by the King of Denmark. In the
f o l l o w i n g N o v e m b e r h e o p e n e d the 1956
O l y m p i c G a m e s at M e l b o u r n e , and m a d e his
visit to Australia the occasion of an e x t e n d e d
tour of that country and N e w Z e a l a n d and of
island territories of the C o m m o n w e a l t h . He
visited the Brussels International Exhibition in
the summer of 1958 on the occasion of the
British N a t i o n a l Days. In October, 1958, he
a g a i n visited C a n a d a to attend, as President,
the W o r l d C o n f e r e n c e of the English-Speaki n g Union of the C o m m o n w e a l t h .
Early this y e a r His Royal H i g h n e s s repres e n t e d the British A s s o c i a t i o n for the
A d v a n c e m e n t of Science at scientific m e e t ings in India and Pakistan - the first visit by a
m e m b e r of the Royal Family to either of those
countries since they b e c a m e i n d e p e d e n t . N o w
he is continuing with an e x t e n s i v e tour of the
Far East and the Pacific.
His Royal Highness the Prince Philip.
Duke of Edinburgh
The Suite of H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh
Sir Alexander
F.R.S.
The Private Secretary
Mr James Orr is of Australian extraction;
an old school f e l l o w of H.R.H. he was
a p p o i n t e d Private Secretary in 1957.
The
Equerry
Squadron L e a d e r John de M i l l Severne,
A.F.C., is an airman of note; his decoration
commemoratesa peculiarly hazardous
e x p e r i m e n t w h i c h he carried out with V e n o m
jet f i g h t e r in 1955.
118
Fleck,
K.C.B.,
D.S.C.,
LL.D.,
Sir A l e x a n d e r Fleck's career is o n e of the
most remarkable of the times. A G l a s g o w boy
he w a s c o m p e l l e d by p o v e r t y to l e a v e school at
the a g e of fourteen. He secured e m p l o y m e n t
as a l a b o r a t o r y a t t e n d a n t , but w o r k e d
assiduously at night classes until he attained
the standard requisite for university entrance.
M e a n w h i l e h e s a v e d s u f f i c i e n t t o p a y his
expenses to the University of G l a s g o w . He
graduated in chemistry and q u i c k l y a c h i e v e d
f a m e as a research w o r k e r in the f i e l d of radioactivity. Later he w a s e n g a g e d in m a n a g e m e n t a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d i n 1953 w a s
elected Chairman of Imperial Chemical
Industries. He has maintained a l i v e l y interest
in research and w a s e l e c t e d President of
British Association in 1958.
Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fraser of North
G.C.B., K.B.E.
Cape,
Sir Alexander Grantham,
G.C.M.G.
Sir A l e x a n d e r Grantham spent m u c h of his
y o u t h i n C h i n a a n d i n 1922 e n t e r e d t h e
Colonial Service in H o n g Kong, where he
s e r v e d f o r thirteen years. H e w a s t h e n sent t o
the W e s t Indies, but returned t o H o n g K o n g ,
this t i m e as a G o v e r n o r , in 1947. H i s
k n o w l e d g e of China in g e n e r a l and of H o n g
K o n g i n particular e n a b l e d h i m t o d i s c h a r g e
his n e w duties in a time of peculiar difficulty to
the satisfaction of all. T h e a f f e c t i o n w h i c h he
c o m m a n d e d w a s s h o w n b y the extensions o f
his term of o f f i c e at popular d e m a n d . In 1955
he visited Pekin, a n d the s a m e y e a r his t e r m of
o f f i c e w a s a g a i n e x t e n d e d . H e retired i n 1957
amidst universal regret.
A d m i r a l Fraser w a s a c a d e t on. the o l d
training ship Britannia, and early
distinguished himself as a mathematician. His
interest w a s i n g u n n e r y , a n d h e w a s later
responsible for the d e v e l o p m e n t of the
fourteen-inch n a v a l gun, w h i c h m a n y at the
time thought e x c e s s i v e . During the last w a r he
w a s in c h a r g e of the M u r m a n s k c o n v o y , in the
course of w h i c h he had many stirring
encounters; in one of them he sank the
Schamhorst. For his s e r v i c e s he w a s a w a r d e d
the S o v i e t O r d e r of S u v o r o v . At the e n d of the
w a r on b e h a l f of G r e a t Britain he e n d o r s e d the
Japanese d e e d of surrender at the m e m o r a b l e
scene i n T o k y o Bay.
I-KUCHING
Preparations b e g a n e a r l y f o r the visit a n d
one of the first ostensible signs w a s the
demolition of the r o w of w o o d e n g a r a g e s at
P a n g k a l a n Batu, h o u s i n g the G o v e r n o r ' s cars
and those of a f e w cross-river residents. T h i s
w a s r e p l a c e d by an e x p a n s e of asphalt,
m a k i n g the a p p r o a c h to P a n g k a l a n Batu m o r e
o p e n and f o r m i n g a c o n v e n i e n t marshalling
ground f o r C o n s t a b u l a r y guards.
Pergam. He w e n t a b o a r d at 3.40 p.m. and
b r o u g h t Brittania to K a m p o n g S e j i n g k a t just
after 5 p.m. A d m i r a l D a w n a y m u c h r e g r e t t e d
that he h a d not b e e n able to a g r e e to b r i n g
Brittania to P e n d i n g but h a d the w e a t h e r b e e n
unfavourable, this m i g h t h a v e i n v o l v e d s o m e
risk and n o chances could b e t a k e n w h i c h
m i g h t p r e j u d i c e the R o y a l Tour.
A r c h e s t h e n b e g a n t o blossom forth i n v a rious parts of the t o w n , the M u n i c i p a l i t y put up
their colourful h e r a l d i c shields a n d strings of
bunting criss-crossed the streets a b o v e the
traffice. Policemen, in large numbers,
m a r c h e d hither a n d thither. Crush barriers
went up around the g a r d e n at Pangkalan
Batu. C l e a n i n g a n d p a i n t i n g w e n t o n and
floodlights w e r e p r o d u c e d . T h e Courthouse,
in the f l o o d l i g h t i n g , l o o k e d r e m a r k a b l y f i n e —
as did the Kubu at P a n g k a l a n Batu — a n d
justified its claim to be r e g a r d e d as the most
pleasing architecture in K u c h i n g .
O n the d a y itself, t h e 26th F e b r u a r y ,
Kuching w a s c r o w d e d w i t h country visitors
from n e a r a n d far. T h e n e i g h b o u r i n g t o w n s o f
Bau a n d Serian w e r e r e p o r t e d t o b e d e s e r t e d
and a g r e a t concourse of sampans clustered
round the w h a r v e s i n d i c a t e d the arrival of
many by w a t e r . A c c o m m o d a t i o n w a s a problem a n d parts of the kaki lima w e r e strewn
with s l e e p e r s on the night.
H . M . Y . Brittania w a s m e t at T a n j o n g Po in
a choppy sea by the Director of M a r i n e in M. V.
At Sejingkat w e r e the Government
l a u n c h e s Zahora, f i l l e d w i t h S c o u t s ,
Kenyalang,
Menaul
a n d Adeh
with
two
h u n d r e d s c h o o l c h i l d r e n , Tembadau w i t h
M a r i n e and Customs staff and their relations
a n d m a n y other launches and s p e e d b o a t s .
T h e r e w e r e also sampans, w i t h gongs b e a t i n g ,
f r o m the v i l l a g e schools. His R o y a l H i g h n e s s
b o a r d e d the R o y a l B a r g e at 5.25 p.m. a n d l e f t
Brittania, escorted by t w o launches, for S u n g e i
B i a w a k . B e f o r e l e a v i n g , in the first of m a n y
thoughtful gestures, he w e n t round the
w a i t i n g launches w a v i n g to the passengers. A
g r o u p of water-skiers f r o m the K u c h i n g Boat
C l u b a p p e a r e d , s e e m i n g l y from n o w h e r e and
passed and repassed the R o y a l Barge, b e a r i n g
b a n n e r s of w e l c o m e a n d miraculously p r e s e r v i n g their b a l a n c e i n the c o m m i n g l i n g
washes.
Radio S a r a w a k h a d an airplane o v e r the
river and broadcast a v i v i d c o m m e n t a r y on the
progress of the Royal Barge. This c o m m e n t a r y
was subsequently matched by outside
c o m m e n t a r i e s f r o m all the principal points of
the Tour.
119
At 5.40 p.m. the Duke landed at Sungei
Biawak and was greeted by His Excellency
the Governor accompanied by the Commissioner of Constabulary. Members of Supreme Council and their wives were then presented to him. The Chief Justice had the illluck to be indisposed and was unable to be
present then on subsequently. After the presentations, the Duke entered a white, open
car, accompanied by the Governor and the
Honorary A.D.C. and drove into the town,
waving to the groups of people and school
children along the route. From Padungan on
there w e r e crowds along the road and a
barrage of fire crackers began as the royal car
came into Main Bazaar. Here, at the Chinese
Chamber of Commerce, a special welcome
was given to the Duke by a committee headed
by Mr Tan Kui Choon.
The Astana sampan, fresh in white and
yellow, was waiting, manned by six paddlers
and a helmsman at Pangkalan Batu. The Duke
waved gaily to the cherring throng surroundi n g the P a n g k a l a n b e f o r e boarding the
sampan and stood up in it all the way to
Pangkalan Astana waving cheerfully back to
the crowd.
After a private dinner at the Astana, a
Reception was held, attended by five hundred
guests of all races from all parts of the country,
many of them in national dress. The guests
were presented to the Duke in the drawingroom and he frequently stopped them for a f e w
words of conversation. On the lawns behind
the Astana the Constabulary Band was
playing and, when the presentations were
over, the Duke came down and mingled
informally with the guests before crossing the
river again to the Union Club where various
Malay, Dayak, Chinese and Javanese entertainments took place on a stage erected on
Saint Thomas's playing-field. Chinese dragons challenged the Duke's entry to the Club
but were appeased by an ang pow. The Duke
was presented on the stage with gifts from the
people of Sarawak. For himself and for the
Prince of Wales he received gold cuff-links,
and for the Princess Anne he received a pair of
gold bangles. The cuff-link bore the Sarawak
crest and the monogram of the Princes, with
the date of the royal visit inside. They and the
bangles were made from Bau gold and were
handed to the Duke by two Scouts and a
Guide. The Governor expressed the hope that
the gifts would remind His Royal Highness of
the prayer of the people that one day he would
return to Sarawak together with Her Majesty
the Queen.
A presentation of a different nature was
made by three Dayak girls who, after singing a
pantun in honour of the Duke, gave him a
glass of tuak which in keeping with tradition,
he drank at one go. The Duke expressed his
thanks for the gifts and said that he hoped to
come back one day and have some more tuak
and that the gifts would remind him of this.
A display of fireworks from the river-bank
below Fort Margherita began as the Duke left
the Club to return to the Astana at midnight.
The weather, on the afternoon of the 26th,
looked ominious but the rain kept away and it
was a fine night. Next morning, the sky was
dark again and it began to rain as the Duke,
accompanied by the Governor, began to cross
the river from the Astana at 8.15 a.m. to the
reverberations of a twenty-one gun salute
from the signal guns of the Police Training
School. C r o w d s l i n e d the r i v e r and
surrounded Pangkalan Batu and the approach
to the Courthouse where a Special Meeting of
the Council Negri was to take place. The National Anthem was played by the Constabulary Band and the Duke, in the tropical uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, with the Garter
Star glittering at his breast, inspected a
hundred-man Guard of Honour in pouring
rain. On the conclusion of the inspection,
damp but undaunted, the Duke was received
by the President of the Council Negri and Mr
Justice Briggs at the Courthhouse.
Inside the Chamber, batteries of lights, put
up for the cameras, cast a brilliance over the
array of Council Negri Members in traditional
dress and uniform. Loyal Addresses were
made by the President in English, Datu
Bandar in Malay, Temenggong Jugah in Iban
and Mr Khoo Peng Loong in Mandarin.
120
Address in Council Negri
THE LOYAL ADDRESSES
From the President of Council Negri, Mr
The past ten years have witnessed a steady
A.R. Snelus.
increase in medical services, reaching out into
M a y it please Your Royal Highness:
the most remote areas. The foundations of a
On behalf of the members of this Council, I nationwide education system have been laid,
welcome Your Royal Highness to Sarawak, a f f e c t i n g e v e r y race, no matter h o w illand wish to make it clear how greatly we favoured by geography or by historical backappreciate the honour of Your Royal High- ground. Roads h a v e b e e n built through
ness' presence in this Chamber today. It is the swamp and jungle in country presenting unfirst time that a Member of the Royal Family usual and difficulty engineering problems,
has taken part in our deliberations. That the and airfields constructed. Quiet riverside
Council's first Royal visitor should be no less a bazaars have grown into flourishing towns.
person than Your Royal Highness gives to the
Meanwhile, under the new Constitution, a
Members of Council, and to all the people of
substantial measure of self-government has
Sarawak, the greatest satisfaction and pride.
already been introduced, through urban and
This Council consists of the elected and district councils; and it is intended that this
nominated representatives of the principal process shall continue.
races of the country. Like many of the best and
It is, however, felt that constitutional promost enduring institutions of Sarawak, it
gress will be fruitless if it fails to maintain and
originally came into being under the regime of
take account of the present friendly relations
the Brooke Rajahs.
which subsist between all of Sarawak's diIt may not be unfitting on this Royal and verse races.
historic occasion to pay tribute to the great
This characteristic respect for the
work of the Brookes, who laid in this land the aspirations, the traditions, and also for even
foundations of a viable State.
the foibles, of neighbours of differing religion,
Since the cession of Sarawak to the Crown, language and culture is Sarawak's greatest
he Government has inherited, and has sought legacy from the past. It is not a dry legacy, a
to maintain and extend, a great tradition of faded parchment, but a reality vital and full of
administration, based on close personal con- meaning to every one of us in our daily lives.
tacts and understanding between individual
I trust that, even on this all-too-short visit,
civil servants and the people with whose welfare and progress they have been entrusted. Your Royal Highness will perceive the truth of
this, and the importance of it. It is within this
The Nine Cardinal Principles enunciated
framework that, with God's blessing, Sarawak
by the Third Rajah in 1941, when, but for the
will develop into a modern state, with a
Japanese invasion, Sarawak would have
population happy and proud to live here, and
t a k e n its f i r s t s t e p t o w a r d s i n t e r n a l
w i t h the British and C o m m o n w e a l t h
self-government, have been enshrined, with
connexion a valued asset, enriching the lives
the Queen's consent, in the present Constituof all who have the good fortune to be born
tion, and are the basis upon which, under the
within its dispensation.
guidance of Her Majesty's Government, the
present d e v e l o p m e n t of Sarawak is proOn behalf of the Members of this Council, I
ceeding.
would humbly request Your Royal Highness to
This development has proceeded surely, convey to Her Majesty the Queen our deepest
and, in v i e w of the country's difficulty, geo- expressions of loyalty and respect and an
graphy and diversity of language and race, assurance of the great pleasure which Your
with a rapidity which is the more suprising the Royal Highness visit his occasioned us.
more deeply one examines the problems involved.
121
Translation of the Address of
Welcome by the Honourable the
Datu Bandar, C.B.E.
cern of Her Majesty and of Your Royal Highness for our well-being, for our prosperity, and
for our progress towards nationhood. In fraternal association with the United Kingdom
and with other Commonwealth countries we
look forward to the development of Sarawak
in peace and tranquility. We are well aware of
Your Royal Highness's interest in, and promotion of, scientific and technical progress. We
believe that such will increasingly be placed
at the service of Sarawak in the years which he
ahead.
M a y it please Your Royal Highness, to give
me the honour and the privilege, on behalf of
the Malay people of Sarawak, to express our
delight and pleasure on the occasion of Your
Royal Highness's first visit to our country.
Short as must be the time Your Royal Highness
can spend among us on this occasion I believe
that the warmth of our welcome will be memorable and that the sincerity of our feelings
manifest to all.
The extensive travels which Your Royal
Highness is constantly making in the service
of our Sovereign and our Commonwealth are a
formidable contribution in promoting our
common unity and welfare. The strengthening of these ties which unite us in a common
sense of purpose and in devotion to those high
ideals for which the Commonwealth stands,
has ever been Your Royal Highness's greatest
endeavour and this is an impressive service to
us all.
In formally bidding Your Royal Highness a
more cordial welcome to our shores, I request
that you will convey to Her Majesty the Queen
the sentiments of loyalty and devotion which
the Malays of Sarawak feel towards her personally as well as in her august capacity as
Head of the Commonwealth. I wish Your
Royal Highness the greatest possible pleasure
during your stay in Sarawak and it is our
greatest hope that in the reasonably near
future we maf look forward to a further visit
from you, on that occasion accompanied by
Her Majesty the Queen.
We Malays are well known for our loyalty
towards, and love of, our country, and in our
blood lies a deep devotion to the tradition of
monarchy. We know well the constant con-
Translation of the Address of
Welcome by the Honourable
TemenggongJugah
Your Royal Highness,
On behalf of the Dayaks and other races in
Sarawak, I have the greatest pleasure in
welcoming Your Royal Highness to this country and in extending to you the good wishes of
our people. We are indeed honoured by this
first visit to our land by Your Royal Highness.
Ever since we have come under the wise
rule of Her Majesty the Queen we have enjoyed peace and happiness. This country is
free from any trouble, and peace and progress
are evident everywhere. This is so because we
have no racial distinction among us. The local
authorities in the various parts of the country
are composed of people from many races.
Likewise the Council Negri and the Supreme
Council which are functioning in good harmony under the wise guidance of our leaders
and His Excellency the Governor.
We hereby extend our best wishes and
grateful thanks to Her Majesty the Queen and
to Your Royal Highness.
122
Translation of the Address of Welcome by the
Honourable Mr Khoo Peng Loong, O.B.E.
We are greatly honoured and happy on this
occasion of His Royal Highness' visit to
Sarawak, a visit that enables all people to see
His Royal Highness personally.
We Chinese have been settled here for a
long time, and we have long regarded this as
our own country, after finding the climate mild
and the friendship sincere among the races
who have ever lived with us in harmony. Besides that, a good Government has wisely
maintained peace. There still exists a certain
prejudice among some people who think that
the Chinese are people from a foreign country.
But in fact, it is admitted by all that the
Chinese have done no less than any other race
for the development of Sarawak. And it may
be expected that we shall continue to give the
country our wholehearted loyalty and make
even greater efforts for its prosperity, because
we have accepted Sarawak as our country. We
sincerely hope that the friendship among the
various races will be further strengthened, in
order that we may live as a big family, like
brothers and sisters, helping and loving each
other, never apart.
After the new Constitution received the
approval of H e r M a j e s t y the Queen, the
majority of the Council Negri members were
elected by the people in accordance with the
Constitution. The elected members of various
races are devoted to their duties, as provided
in the Constitution, with the intention of
serving the country and its people. Although
we are still in the period of learning, we
believe that in the very near future we will be
able to show our ability and fulfil Her Majesty
the Queen's wishes.
Today, we are living a happy and prosperous life. This achievement is on one hand
derived from the unity and co-operation of all
races and on the other hand depends on the
aid of the British Government, and the wisdom
of Her Majesty the Queen who has successfully appointed good Governors to lead us.
His Royal Highness cares not of the great
distance, but renders us a visit today showing
the Queen's and his own love and care for us,
and giving us great honour and happiness.
With pure loyalty, we welcome His Royal
Highness and offer him our greatest respect.
We sincerely hope that His Royal Highness
will convey our deepest appreciation and
highest respect to Her Majesty the Queen
when His Royal Highness returns to England.
A g a i n we o f f e r them both our ever best
wishes.
123
A bound volume of the Addresses was
presented to His Royal Highness
PRINCE PHILIP'S REPLY
Mr President, Honourable Members:
I have always enjoyed travelling especially
when it brings me to such a charming and
friendly place as Sarawak. I have often heard
of your hospitality but even so I was not prepared for the kind and generous welcome I
have received from so many people.
It was particularly thoughtful of you to invite me to attend this meeting of the Council
Negri to present these four Addresses of Welcome. As you have kindly provided me with
translations of what has been said in Malay,
Iban and Mandarin I can truthfully say that I
greatly appreciate your expressions of loyalty
and affection to the Queen. I will see to it that
she receives a copy of what has been said as I
know it will give her very great pleasure.
The Queen takes a close and personal
interest in the well being of all the people of
the Commonwealth and Empire but I know
that she has a special place in her heart for all
those people who suffered loss and damage
during the last war. We have been following
the progress of your reconstruction with admiration and sympathy.
I hope and believe that this progress will be
maintained in peace and growing prosperity
but it would be idle to suppose that there are
no problems. The four Addresses heard this
morning illustrate the problems of a multiracial society, the difficulties arising every day
when people of different race and customs live
side by side. Only commonsense in deciding
what is in the best practical interests of the
State and tolerance of the cultural traditions of
all will produce a happy and progressive community.
Take the Commonwealth for example.
British Administration from the earliest times
has fostered and encouraged local language
and culture, but for practical purposes of administration, law, commerce, engineering and
science, education is in English. The practical
result is that the leaders in every sphere of
human activity can understand each other.
This ability to exchange ideas in a common
tongue is both a link binding the countries
together as well as a very practical advantage
in trade, commerce and science.
There is another characteristic of the
Commonwealth which I would like to mention. There is an automatic sympathy and interest in the progress and problems of other
Commonwealth countries. On the national
level there is the Colombo Plan and other
similar co-operative schemes but this also
applies to individuals. All the Universities of
the Commonwealth are willing and anxious to
be of service and I am delighted to hear that so
many men and women from this country are
taking advantage of this.
I am also interested to hear that there are
several boys from British schools performing
useful voluntary service here in the Government's Community Development projects.
The Commonwealth exists to make this
sort of exchange possible and I hope that they
will be continued and expanded to the benefit
of the countries concerned as w e l l as an
example to all the world that the Commonwealth is a brotherhood of nations and a
brotherhood of people.
The Queen, as H e a d of the Commonwealth, sends you and all the p e o p l e of
Sarawak her best wishes for a happy and
successful future.
124
Here the Royal Duke alights under a yellow umbrella —a sign of royalty. This arch of modern design was erected
by the Malay Community.
Four people each bearing an item of Malay Royal Regalia (sireh box, betel nut box, candle and spitoon) came up
to the Prince who touches each article in turn.
The Datu Temenggong then throws yellow rice over the Duke and touches his
applied with a gold spatula.
T h e D u k e , a c c o m p a n i e d b y the President
of the K u c h i n g M u n i c i p a l Council, then l e f t
the C o u r t h o u s e in an o p e n car, h e a d i n g a procession of cars, to b e g i n his tour of the t o w n .
T h e p e o p l e o f S a r a w a k a r e not g i v e n t o public
demonstrations a n d it is not their custom to
w a v e o r c h e e r but the n u m b e r s w a i t i n g i n the
rain a n d l i n i n g the streets testified to their
enthusiasm. T h e procession went along
G a m b i e r R o a d t h r o u g h d e c o r a t e d arches put
up by the C h i n e s e c o m m u n i t y a n d the Indian
M u s l i m L e a g u e , past the O p e n M a r k e t w h e r e ,
appropriately, the rain, w h i c h had d w i n d l e d
into a l i g h t d r i z z l e , s t o p p e d a n d on to Datu's
Road.
125
hands with "Tepong Tawar"
H e r e w a s the first of the M a l a y arches and
a dais, d r a p e d in the royal y e l l o w , w i t h an
a s s e m b l y of l e a d i n g M a l a y s w a i t i n g for the
D u k e . T h e car s t o p p e d just short of the dais
a n d the D u k e , f o l l o w e d by the Datu Bandar,
d i g n i f i e d in b l a c k and g o l d , w a s led, under a
y e l l o w umbrella, by the President of the M a l a y
N a t i o n a l U n i o n to a seat on the dais. T h e r e he
w a s w e l c o m e d w i t h beras kuning a n d tepong
tawar, and a sireh box, pinang b o x , c a n d l e and
spittoon, the r e g a l i a of royalty, w e r e p r e s e n t e d
to him, touched by him and returned. He
r e c e i v e d a gift of an illustrated a l b u m of p h o t o g r a p h s of the six M a l a y arches, all d e p i c t i n g
aspects of M a l a y culture, w h i c h he w o u l d pass
through on his tour of the M a l a y Kampongs.
T h e p r o c e s s i o n , o n arrival a t Satok Road,
w e n t along to the junction with Rock Road
a n d t u r n e d up it to t h e r o u n d a b o u t at Badrudd i n R o a d w h e r e it s t o p p e d . A L a n d D a y a k c u m - S e a D a y a k a r c h h a d b e e n e r e c t e d a t this
p o i n t a n d t h e D u k e w a s w e l c o m e d b y a pantun f r o m a D a y a k girl a n d g i v e n a glass of
tuak, part o f w h i c h h e d r a n k a n d p a r t o f
w h i c h , i n D a y a k fashion, h e r e t u r n e d t o the
girl for her to drink.
A t the hospital, the p r o c e s s i o n m a d e a n
u n s c h e d u l e d stop so that the D u k e c o u l d visit
the C h i e f Justice a n d M r Justice L a s c e l l e s ,
both o f w h o m w e r e patients.
T h e procession continued along Crookshank Road, Central Road and Ban H o c k
R o a d w h e r e the D u k e v i s i t e d o n e o f t h e n e w
flats a n d h a d tea w i t h t h e tenant. T h e procession then r e t u r n e d to P a n g k a l a n Batu via
W a y a n g Street, C a r p e n t e r Street, d e n s e w i t h
c r o w d s a n d b u n t i n g , a n d R o c k R o a d a n d cross e d to the A s t a n a .
By this t i m e the sky w a s c l e a r i n g - c l e a r i n g
up for Sibu, e v e r y b o d y said — a n d by t h e t i m e
the D u k e r e t u r n e d f r o m the A s t a n a it w a s a
brilliant m o r n i n g . T h e t i m e w a s 11.40 a.m. a s
h e got, o n c e a g a i n , into t h e car a n d w a s d r i v e n
off t o the airport. H e r e h e said g o o d b y e t o
K u c h i n g a n d t o those m e m b e r s o f S u p r e m e
C o u n c i l not g o i n g t o Sibu, e n t e r e d t h e w a i t i n g
H e r o n a i r c r a f t w i t h t h e G o v e r n o r a n d rea p p e a r e d a t the c o c k p i t w i n d o w w h e r e h e
w a v e d a final g o o d b y e b e f o r e taking-off,
piloting the plane himself, for Sibu.
It w a s a w h i r l w i n d , c r o w d e d visit. O n e can
o n l y h o p e that the D u k e e n j o y e d it as m u c h as
the p e o p l e did.
T h i s account should not c l o s e w i t h o u t a
description of the o r d e r l i n e s s of the c r o w d s .
T h e r e w a s n o p u s h i n g o r b r e a k i n g r a n k s and
the r o y a l p r o g r e s s a n d the task of t h e p o l i c e
w a s m a d e easy.
126
II - SIBU
B e f o r e the D u k e ' s arrival some p e o p l e
w e r e h e a r d to say "It is r e a l l y w o r t h his c o m i n g
for such a short w h i l e ? " A d m i t t e d l y w e w o u l d
all h a v e l i k e d his visit t o b e l o n g e r , a n d n o
d o u b t S i b u s e e m s the c e n t r e of the w o r l d to us
a n d w e a r e surprised H . R . H . d i d not insist o n
staying h e r e l o n g e r , but w h e n t h e fullness o f
the D u k e ' s p r o g r a m m e in British B o r n e o is
c a r e f u l l y s t u d i e d a n d it is r e m e m b e r e d that
British B o r n e o is but just a short e p i s o d e in a
v e r y tiring a n d strenuous w o r l d tour a n d Sibu
is o n l y a tiny p l a c e c o m p a r e d w i t h Karachi,
D e l h i or H o n g K o n g , it is r e m a r k a b l e that he
f o u n d t i m e t o c o m e h e r e a t all a n d certainly the
p e o p l e i n Sibu s h o w e d i n n o u n m i s t a k e a b l e
m a n n e r that t h e y c o n s i d e r e d his visit w o r t h w h i l e , e v e n if it w a s o n l y a short o n e .
G r o w n ups a n d their c h i l d r e n i n c r o w d s
h e r e h a v e n o w s e e n the D u k e a n d w i l l o f t e n
recall this o c c a s i o n i n f u t u r e a n d those w h o
h a v e s e e n h i m w i l l a l w a y s f e e l far superior t o
those that h a v e n ' t , e v e n if at the t i m e t h e y
w e r e o n l y b a b e s i n arms. F u r t h e r m o r e the
D u k e ' s visit m a d e S i b u r e a l i s e i t w a s not satisf i e d w i t h its a p p e a r a n c e , w h i c h i n p l a c e s w a s
u n n e c e s s a r i l y d o w d y a n d u n k e m p t , a n d all
c o n c e r n e d (the public, the S . U . D . C . a n d the
G o v e r n m e n t ) m a d e a g r e a t e f f o r t so that the
D u k e a n d his e n t o u r a g e a n d the press w o u l d
take a w a y p l e a s a n t m e m o r i e s o f Sibu. R o a d s
w e r e h u r r i e d l y m a d e up, b u i l d i n g s w h i c h h a d
l o n g n e e d e d a c o a t of paint, but in n o r m a l
c i r c u m s t a n c e s w o u l d h a v e g o n e o n w a i t i n g for
Temenggong Juguh unak
it, a r e n o w r e s p l e n d a n t i n m a n y c o l o u r e d
Philip of Edin-
hues. E y e s o r e s , t o w h i c h w e h a d g o t attuned,
Burieng greeting H.R.H.
Prince
burgh. at Sibu Airport February 1959.
such as b r o k e n - d o w n cars or p i l e s of o l d drums
off the r o a d - s i d e h a v e b e e n r e m o v e d o r a t a n y
m i n u t e attention to o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d detail of
rate c o n c e a l e d .
An attempt (which proved
the P o l i c e , w h i c h e n a b l e d t h e m a m o n g s t their
successful o n the d a y ) w a s e v e n m a d e t o c o n -
a c h i e v e m e n t s , t o surprise the D u k e b y s e e i n g
trol t h e p i g s , g o a t s , f o w l s a n d d o g s t h a t
the s a m e f a c e s lining the route s e v e r a l times
normally w a n d e r u n c o n c e r n e d l y a b o u t Sibu's
over.
roads a n d airstrip.
R e h e a r s a l s s o m e t i m e s in p o u r i n g rain or
T h e D u k e ' s visit w a s a n o v e r w h e l m i n g
v e r y hot sun t o o k p l a c e , a n d f i n a l l y the g r e a t
success, a n d so far as I k n o w e v e r y t h i n g w e n t
day arrived. T h e w e a t h e r w a s overcast (and
off a c c o r d i n g t o p l a n ! A m o n g s t the m a n y w h o
c o o l ) w i t h b i g rain c l o u d s circling Sibu. Ru-
d e v o t e d a g r e a t d e a l of t i m e a n d t r o u b l e to
mours c a m e i n f r o m K u c h i n g that i t w a s rain-
a c h i e v e this state of affairs, the credit must
i n g there, a n d the m o r e pessimistic of us f o r e -
l a r g e l y g o t o t h e P u b l i c W o r k s D e p a r t m e n t for
s a w a m i s e r a b l e visit for H . R . H . N e v e r t h e l e s s
the hard w o r k t h e y put i n for w e e k s b e f o r e -
S i b u put on a f e s t i v e a p p e a r a n c e w i t h its
hand in w h a t w a s m o s t l y r e a l landas w e a t h e r
arches, banners, l o y a l g r e e t i n g s a n d m a s s e s of
at its w o r s t ; to the e n c o u r a g e m e n t a n d e x a m -
f l a g s . B e f o r e the roads w e r e c l o s e d at 12.30,
ple of the C h a i r m a n of t h e S . U . D . C . ; a n d to the
p e o p l e i n their best clothes w e r e g o i n g r o u n d
127
in a holiday mood on tours of photography and under the magnificent Sibu Chinese cominspection of the decorations. The Ibans in all munity arch (decorated with paintings by a
their finery created a stir as they went out to Sarikei boy) to Channel Road where the Rothe airport, where they were much photo- man Catholic School children were on one
graphed and interviewed by the press. School side, while on the other near the S.U.D.C.
children from within and without Sibu assem- offices the firemen and their engine were on
bled alongside the roads until it looked as parade. Sibu's population has never been a
though Sibu was 90 per cent composed of chil- demonstrative one and are unused to cheering
dren. As guests to the reception in the Resi- and waving, and some strangers to Sibu may
dency began to arrive in their smartest clothes have thought the welcome of the public lining
the heavens became ever more threatening the streets lacked cordially, but to those who
and overcharged with rain, and people re- know the locals of all races it was clear that the
called to one another how on the previous day public was delighted with what they saw and
it had been about 1 p.m. that the rain had with the Duke and I hope he himself was not
abashed when he waved at people and they
arrived and it hadn't stopped until nearly 5!
were too shy and awkward to wave back.
The rain held off while H.R.H. piloting his
own plane, landed and he and H.E. the GoverThe procession carried on to Central Road,
nor were greeted by the Resident. The press, where one of Sibu's most unpleasant looking
radio and television which had arrived earlier swamps had been transformed by P.W.D. into
went into action. The Duke inspected a-very a most unpromising looking morass of filling
smart guard of Iban ex-Sarawak Rangers now from near the airport. On this occasion howevin the Field Force Reserve, many of whom had er two grandstands and a bansal had been
given up collecting engkabang to come to erected and in the middle was a dais for the
Sibu. He then went on and walked close past Duke. T h e grandstands w e r e f i l l e d with
the shed with the assembled penghulus and
S.U.D.C. and Government's guests, while the
their close relations, and got into his car (exbansal was crowded with the penghulus and
No. 1 car from Kuching) and drove off down
their families who had been whisked there
Queensway, while the air-crew were hospitalfrom the airport by a fleet of buses. The Duke
ity entertained in the airport.
walked to the dais through a corridor of
T h e D u k e l e d the p r o c e s s i o n d o w n Chinese, Iban and Melanau boys and girls in
Queensway past the very smart-looking staff national costume. He was shown plans showand students of the Teachers Training Centre, ing how it was proposed to transform this mesunder the very attractive arch at Sungei sy looking area into a pleasant square for peMerah, past the Methodist School area and destrains with the future town hall on the side
G o v e r n m e n t officers in uniform (Forest, and the post office on the other. At Mr Ting's
Nurses, Marine, Customs, Agriculture, Warrequest he agreed that his area be named
ders, Court Peons), who were lining Bridge
"Edinburgh Place". An Iban boy and girl now
Road and swept into the Residency garden
present H.R.H. with a fine suit of traditional
exactly on time and his personal standard was
Iban clothes for H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and
hoisted. Here he surprised people by refusing
a Malay girl and Melanau girl present him
to take time off to refresh himself but immewith a beautiful Melanau Islam set of clothes
diately called for the guests to be presented to
for Princess Anne. These gifts were from the
him and the time saved thereby was spent in
people of Sarawak. The sun very nearly shone
chatting to many of them. The party at the
at this stage!
Residency was a success though I cannot
agree with the Singapore newspaper corresThe Duke, with Mr Ting still beside him,
pondent who considered it was the biggest went on up Ramin Way and past the Chung
party in living memory in Sibu. Incidentally
Hua School children and turned left along
those who were close enough could see the
Kampong Pulau Road, where the procession
Duke was wearing his Sarawak cuff links prehalted. H.R.H. got out and inspected the Girl
sented to him in Kuching.
Guides lining the street on one side and
H.R.H. (with Mr Ting Lik Hung in atten- walked on to the unusual but most attractive
dance) now insisted on going in an open Land
entrance to the King George VI Memorial
Rover, as the weather momentarily looked less
Ground. This is another case of the transthreatening, and the procession set off down
formation of a swamp. Some years back Sibu's
Island Road past cheering school children
garbage was deposited in this area and CO-
128
vered over with earth. More garbage had to
find a home and Kampong Pulau was moved
to a new and better laid out area, and recently
working at top speed and under very adverse
weather conditions, the P.W.D. has converted
this unpleasant two acres into a three quarters
finished 440 yards race track with a football
field in the centre. The Duke cut a ribbon declaring the Memorial Ground open and went
through the arch with its lifesize Kayan portraits of humans on one side, and spoke to the
representatives of the Sibu Sports Council and
the teams representing various sports from all
over the Division assembled there. He then
went back under the arch and talked to the
Boy Scouts and once more got into the Land
Rover, this time accompanied by Datu Tuanku
Bujang and the Resident. There was now no
hint of sunshine and we were all wondering
how much longer the rain would hold off.
The procession slowed down to very nearly
a stand-still at Kampong Nyabor arch, which
unfortunately the Duke could not see at night,
when it is beautifully lit up, and then went on
past the mosque and along Kampong Datu
Road. T h e crowd was much thinner here
(nearly all the Malays had gone into town), but
even so there were plenty of colourful spectators and the Duke could see how many compounds had been brigtened up for his visit.
The procession speeded up again near Green
Road so that the Duke could see the children of
the Abang Ali School and the arch erected at
the entrance to Kampong Hilir Road. After this
the procession speeded up again as it went
along Kampong Hilir and Kampong Nangka
Roads to nearly the end of Kampong Nangka
where there was another arch and a crowd of
people. The Duke stopped his car and watched Melanau children doing their traditional
and rather dangerous swinging (itot) near the
remains of an old burnt-out Melanau longhouse. By now a faint drizzle could be felt so
speed was increased until Sungei Merah was
reached when the procession came nearly to a
standstill while it passed under the local people's very attractive arch.
And so back to the airport, a little ahead of
time, and it seemed likely the Duke would
beat the heavy rain. He said goodbye to the
Resident, the Supreme Councillors, Mr Ting
l i k Hung and Temenggong Jugah and went
to his plane waving at the Guard which gave
him three rousing Iban cheers. Once again
piloting his own plane, and with the Governor
aboard, the Duke took off for Lutong; he had
beaten the rain, which gave up the struggle
and left Sibu alone for the rest of the day, and
there was no doubt in the minds of everybody
concerned, that though the Duke's visit had
been short (less than two hours) it had been
well worth while.
To tidy up the story it should be mentioned
that local and outstation tua2 kampong had
been clustered round the kampong arches. On
the previous day a selection committee had
followed the royal route through the kampongs and had decided that the prize for the
best kept kampong should go to Kampong
Datu/Hilir with 34 points and the second prize
to Kampong Nangka with 29 points.
All the arches were very fine but in my
opinion the two that were outstanding were
the ones raised by the communities at Sungei
Merah and Kampong Nangka, for they were
in traditional styles and in the case of Kampong Nangka were made out of traditional
local materials.
That nights fireworks were let off from the
Memorial Ground and though a f e w appeared
damp and some of the most appreciated were
those that landed in the crowd emitting flame
and sparks, the show went off very satisfactorily.
Finally to show how lucky we had been
with the weather, the next day from 1 p.m. to 3
p.m. (the time of the Duke's visit) Sibu was
experiencing a tropical downpour which in
U.K. would have been called a cloudburst.
I.A.N.U.
129
Ill - MIRI
" T h e Fourth Division of Sarawak welcomes H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh". This
was the inscription on the arch that greeted
the Duke at Lutong Airport when the Heron
touched down at 4.20 p.m. - and a wonderful
welcome it proved to be.
The Duke's personal standard was broken
at the Airport flat-staff. His Royal Highness
alighted and the Honourable the Resident, Mr
J.C.B. Fisher, O.B.E., moved forward to be introduced by H.E. the Governor. Thereafter the
Resident introduced the Division Manager,
Sarawak Shell Oilfields Limited, Captain D.R.
Gribble and the Paramount Chief of the
Baram, the Honourable Temenggong Oyong
Lawai Jau, M.B.E., G.M.C. and then
The Hon'ble Mr Chia Chin Shin
The Hon'ble Mr Chan Yong Kow
The Honourable Mr Atahar Khan
The Hon'ble Tua Kampong Muip
As the royal car, a Humber Super Snipe,
set out on its journey, the Datu, in charge of the
Royal Salute gunners, gave the order to fire
and the guns spoke out their salute. Malay
gunners were in national costume and the Sea
Dayaks in traditional regalia.
Under the archway "Lutong welcomes
H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh", through the
oil-town of Lutong, gay with decorated dwellings and banners, past the Anglican church
nestling in a clump of casuarinas and the new
high-roofed Catholic church, the royal procession swung sharply right-handed to the
Pangkalan Bridge. There, at the far end, was
the Castle gateway. The bridge spanning the
River Miri had been conceived as a drawbridge over a Miri moat, and the Castle gatew a y at the end was a baronial keep, surmounted by a single standard bearing the Union Jack. Over the draw-bridge and off on the
six-mile drive to Miri, slowing down only at
the gay gateway of the little Chinese School at
Pujut where the pupils were aligned and
waved a road-side welcome. The grazing buffalo safely tethered by the road-side, the
clanking wheels of the oil-wells, the church
spire on the horizon, and Miri was in sight.
Here was the magnificent Royal Crown gateway, light and graceful, piping welded locally
into the very image of the Royal Crown. Under
the gateway, and then the procession halted. It
had reached the Town boundary and here the
Chairman of the Urban District Council (Mr J.
Woods) and members of the Council were assembled. The Resident introduced the Chairman to His Royal Highness, and the Chairman
introduced the Council.
Within the Royal Crown gateway, Miri
waited on the tip-toe of expectation. Holiday
crowds had assembled in warm sunshine tempered by a cool sea breeze, a breeze strong
enough to billow the banners of the processional route. Thousands of upturned faces
had scanned the skies for the royal plane and
just before ten minutes past four the Heron
had passed directly over the Kingsway, its
marking clearly visible.
The Duke now entered an open Hillman
Minx car and the tour of the town began. The
crests of the Mission School saints, Saint Columba to the left and Saint Joseph to the right,
to bless His Royal Highness. A little knot of
English school children from Piasau, the
Urban District Council Chinese school in front
of the Council offices, and then the onethousand strong Public School b o w e d its
greetings. Past the Union Jacks of Sungei Krokop School, and Prince Philip, seated on the
back of the royal car, waved a cheery acknowledgement to the banners of Riam Road and
the M i d d l e School. At the junction with
Brooke Road a smart team of Bintulu Sea
Scouts, and behind them, just peeping over
their shoulders, the w e l c o m e gateway of
Miri's youngest school—the Chinese Kindergarten. Into the straight, and there was the
welcome arch by Community Hall. Anchi
School scouts, very smart in their songkoks,
pointed the way to Merbau Road and a colourful kampong welcome by the Mosque, newly
painted in green and white. Under the Malay
arch, the pillars depicting oil-well Number
One (1910) and oil-well Number Seven Hundred (1958) and a welcome from groups of
Malays beating the "tar". On to River Road,
and the High Street where the well-proportioned traditional temple-style arch-way, supported by four red pillars and two green dragons, with lanterns swinging from the red
roofs, brought greetings from the Chinese
community. The Government offices decorated native style, a rippling wave of sever;
hundred souvenir handkerchiefs, and the pro-
130
c e s s i o n w a s b a c k b y t h e S.E.S.Co. o f f i c e s . T h e
His Royal
a c c e p t e d gifts
D u k e n o w set out o n t h e j o u r n e y t o t h e R e s i dency,
a j o u r n e y of w e l l - k e p t padangs a n d
flower gardens.
Highness
then
graciously
for himself, from the hands of the T e m e n g -
A g r e e t i n g to the nurses
gong,
assembled at Ferry Corner, a g l a n c e to the left
twelve w o o d e n bottle
stoppers
c a r v e d by T a m a Berasap of L o n g Jigan,
at the spacious grounds of the M i d d l e School,
a n d a w o o d e n fruit b o w l c a r v e d b y T a m a
a w e l c o m e b a n n e r s u r m o u n t i n g its e n t r a n c e
Sidi, also of L o n g J i g a n .
hall, a g l a n c e to t h e right t h r o u g h t h e p a r k l a n e
t o t h e sea, a n d u p t h e s t e e p hill t o t h e R e s i -
for H.R.H. T h e Prince of Wales, from the
dency. H e r e the D u k e graciously consented to
h a n d s of A n y e K e b i n g , a set of d a n c i n g
plant a t r e e , t h e F l a m e of t h e Forest, at a p l a c e
r e g a l i a , a tapong ( H a t ) , a sunong ( l e o p a r d
n e a r t h e cliff e d g e w h e r e i t w i l l l o o k out across
skin c o v e r e d w i t h h o r n b i l l fea.thers), a pa-
the b a y t o L u t o n g . N e a r b y t h e b o u g a i n v i l l a e a
rang a n d a shield.
w e r e a riot of c o l o u r — n e v e r m o r e l o v e l y , t h e
most d e l i c a t e s h a d e s o f crimson, o r a n g e , p i n k
for H.R.H. T h e Princess A n n e , f r o m the
and purple.
h a n d s of L i g g i n g I b u h (a K e l a b i t girl), a
Dinner privately at the Residency,
and
labong
(head-dress).
then t h e d r i v e t o t h e C o m m u n i t y H a l l , M i r i ' s
n e w e s t b u i l d i n g , a c r e d i t to b o t h architect a n d
T h e n f o l l o w e d the royal
dancing pro-
builder. B y n o w t h e t o w n w a s a m i r a c l e o f l i g h t
g r a m m e — I b a n dancers, K a y a n d a n c e r s , t h e
a n d colour, t h e C r o w n g l i t t e r i n g w i t h g e m s ,
C h i n e s e orchestra a n d t h e L i l y D a n c e , K e n y a h
a n d a t r i u m p h a l l a n e of f a i r y l i g h t s criss-cros-
d a n c e r s , a M a l a y zepin a n d mencha, K e l a b i t
sing t h e r o u t e t o t h e R e c e p t i o n .
dancers and a farewell dance by ladies f r o m
S o m e three hundred guests m o v e d around
t h e B a r a m . T h e R o y a l Party rose a n d d e p a r t e d
f r o m t h e L i b r a r y w i n g , u p t h e steps, a n d s o t o
f r o m t h e d a n c i n g arena, h a v i n g w i t n e s s e d a
the r e d c a r p e t a n d H i s R o y a l H i g h n e s s . T o his
f i n e e x h i b i t i o n by experts of six d i f f e r e n t
right, and slightly b e h i n d him, stood the Resi-
races.
dent t o h e l p w i t h i n t r o d u c t i o n s w h i c h l a s t e d
T h e Royal fireworks. Launching frames
for f o r t y m i n u t e s . T h e D u k e t h e n e n t e r e d t h e
w e r e set u p a t t h e b a s e o f t h e d e r r i c k o v e r -
Hall and m i n g l e d with the guests for a m e morable fifteen minutes, circling the Hall
clockwise, p i c k i n g up the threads of the loom
l o o k i n g t h e G . C . M . padang. A t m i d n i g h t , t h e
dancing over,
pattern o f M i r i ' s c h u r c h e s a n d o i l f i e l d s , h e r
schools a n d hospitals, a n d h e r r o m a n t i c u p river races. At the appointed hour His Royal
Highness departed for the Gymkhana Club
escorted by the Senior Chiefs of the Baram.
T h e b r i e f e s t o f rests, a n d t h e n t h e District
O f f i c e r , o f M i r i , B a r a m a n d Bintulu p r e s e n t e d
m e m b e r s of t h e A s i a n r a c e s of their districts, a
c e r e m o n y p e r f o r m e d o n t h e steps o f t h e C l u b .
T h e D u k e a n d m e m b e r s of the Royal party
then p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e i m p o s i n g Bintulu
bouquet of C o m m o n w e a l t h and Gloria rockets
lit t h e s k y . F r o m p r e p a r e d p o s i t i o n s t h e p y r o technists e x p l o d e d a m i n e of J e w e l l e d S e r p e n t s a n d a m i n e of Scorpions. R a i n b o w a n d
R a d i o shells a n d a b a r r a g e of T h u n d e r b o l t s .
The
admiring
crowds
below,
who
had
t h r o n g e d the padang f o r t h e d a n c i n g , g a s p e d
in sheer delight as the fireworks climbed the
s k y a n d c a s c a d e d d o w n i n a rain o f r e d a n d
w h i t e a n d b l u e . H e r e a d a z z l i n g feu de joie,
t h e r e a s i d e s h o w of R o m a n c a n d l e s a n d f i n a l l y
a c a n n o n a d e that s p o k e t h e e p i l o g u e f o r a
g a t e w a y a n d t o o k t h e i r seats i n the Bintulu
grandstand.
a startling A e r i a l M a r o o n
announced the Royal fireworks, and then a
o f l i f e i n M i r i a n d w e a v i n g f o r himself a h a p p y
r o y a l d a y a n d r a n g d o w n the curtain o n t h e
Stands and dancing platform
day's events.
were adorned with painted panels of native
Before the dancing, T e m e n g g o n g
O n Saturday, 28th F e b r u a r y , P r i n c e P h i l i p
O y o n g L a w a i Jau c a m e forward, supported b y
l e f t the R e s i d e n c y at 8.20 a.m. a n d d e p a r t e d
his B a r a m c h i e f s , s u n g a pantun in h o n o u r of
i n f o r m a l l y t o L u t o n g airstrip t o e m b a r k i n t h e
Prince Philip a n d o f f e r e d
r o y a l aircraft f o r B r u n e i State.
design.
borak in a s i l v e r
tankard.
131
THE SARAWAK GAZETTE, JUNE 12, 1951.
Speech by His Excellency the
Governor at the opening of the
Council Negri, 21st May, 1951.
Mr President, Members of the Council
Negri:
I opened my address to you when we last
met in November with a reference to the
shadow which had fallen upon Asia—the
dark shadow of a communist-inspired war.
Since that date the fortunes of war in Korea
have swung to and for with advantage now to
the aggressors, now to the defenders; perhaps
the most important lesson we can to-day draw
from the present state of this war is that the
force of peace, and the organisation — the
United Nations — pledged to support peace,
have shown both the determination and the
ability to resist aggression. Southern Korea,
the victim of sudden and brutal attack nearly
a year ago, is still substantially in the hands of
its original masters. It has suffered great
sorrow and loss; hundreds of thousands of its
people have lost lives, relatives, friends and
homes, but the greater danger-the danger
that its indepedence and the integrity of its
people would be swallowed up by Russia and
the misguided agents of Russian plans for
conquest, has been avoided. It is a lesson
which should strengthen us and support our
own soul and of our will to do everything in
preservation of our own traditions. Here we
do not face an immediate military threat such
as the people of Korea faced nor, inddeed,
have we so far been subject to the particular
form of blackmail whereby the agents of
Communism have attempted to ruin the
peace of other neighbouring territories with
the weapons of intimidation and banditry. I
hope, however, that all members of Council
realise that this should not lull us into any
sense of false security. We know,
unfortunately, that even here in Sarawak
there are individuals and forces pledged to
achieve the first stages of a process which can
only lead to internecine war and misery—
p l e d g e d to create among the peoples of
Sarawak suspicion and dislike of each other,
dislike for the Government, inter racial feeling and discord and a general atmosphere of
social unrest and uncertainty which would be
a fertile field for the more active operations of
our enemies. Banditry and violence and civil
war can never b e c o m e established in a
country in which the great bulk of the
population has the determination to make a
positive effort to avoid these things. If we here
maintain our determination to live our own
lives in peace and amity and prosperity, and if
we — all the peoples of Sarawak of whatever
race — can show clearly and without possibility of misunderstanding our determination
to resist the forces of discord introduced from
the outside world. I have no doubt in my own
mind that we will succeed in doing so.
But first of all it is essential that we should
build up a strong and efficient civil police
force. Without such a force we cannot protect
ourselves from those who contrive and plot to
disrupt our way of life nor can we enforce the
laws which you make in this Council. There
are at the present moment 183 vacancies in
the established force and 122 rank and file left
the force for various reasons during 1950. The
material coming forward as recruits is not of
the best, in fact it is not up to the standard
which we expect and consider adequate in
these difficult days. Government is doing
what it can to improve the position by making
the conditions of service more attractive, by
increasing the o f f i c e r strength, and by
modernising the training and equipment. But
it is up to the country to produce the raw
material and I ask again that you should consider this vital and urgent matter with your
district and divisional councils when you
return to your homes. I might add that at the
present time only 2% of the force are Chinese.
I am sure you all welcomed, as I did, the
wise action taken in February last by Mr
Brooke in withdrawing from the anti-Cession
controversy of which he had been, during the
past five years, the central figure. Mr Brooke's
appeal to his followers and sympathisers in
this country to disassociate themselves
further from all opposition towards Government upon this issue, has received a general
response. Many valued Government servants
who elected to resign from the service following the Act of Cession in 1946 have recently
132
r e q u e s t e d t o b e r e - e m p l o y e d , a n d thus far
A s y o u a r e all a w a r e , i n c o n d i t i o n s such a s
those in w h i c h we live in Sarawak to-day, the
greatest sufferer is inevitably and invariably
the person w h o s e i n c o m e is not directly related to commercial conditions and w h o s e
emoluments do not rise or fall with the variations in t h e v a l u e of a particular c o m m e r c i a l
p r o d u c t or a particular industrial process. T h e
sufferer is inevitably the fixed w a g e earner
e m p l o y e d in s o m e non-commerical activity.
T h e G o v e r n m e n t s e r v a n t r e p r e s e n t i n Saraw a k t h e l a r g e s t g r o u p o f such p e r s o n s a n d I
wish to m a k e public reference to the loyalty
a n d c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h w h i c h this class has
c o n t i n u e d t o s e r v e G o v e r n m e n t i n circumstances in w h i c h the e c o n o m i c advant a g e s o v e r their f e l l o w m e n , o n c e e n j o y e d b y
t h e G o v e r n m e n t servants, h a v e a l m o s t e n t i r e l y d i s a p p e a r e d . T h e G o v e r n m e n t has d o n e
w h a t it can to r e l i e v e its s e r v a n t s of t h e d i f f i culties w h i c h r i s i n g p r i c e s , a n d t h e i n c r e a s e d
cost of c o m m o d i t i e s essential to a d e c e n t standard of living, h a v e brought u p o n them. Since
w e last m e t t h e r e has b e e n a n u p w a r d r e v i sion o f t h e cost o f l i v i n g a l l o w a n c e w h i c h has
brought some benefit, albeit only a small ben e f i t i n s o m e cases, t o all e m p l o y e e s o f this
Government. Since then the G o v e r n m e n t has
s o u g h t t h e assistance o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r G e n e r a l ' s Economic A d v i s e r to undertake a
s u r v e y of t h e cost of l i v i n g a n d t h e r e l a t e d
p r o b l e m of the emoluments of G o v e r n m e n t
s e r v a n t s , a n d h i s r e p o r t , a n d this G o v e r n ment's recommendations thereon, are e v e n
n o w b e f o r e the S e c r e t a r y o f State.
o v e r 7 0 h a v e r e s u m e d their duties. T h e y h a v e
all b e e n w e l c o m e d b a c k b y their c o l l e a g u e s i n
t h e p u b l i c s e r v i c e a n d i t i s g r a t i f y i n g t o u s all
to s e e their e n e r g y a n d ability o n c e a g a i n
profitably e m p l o y e d to constructive purpose.
F i n a l l y , on this point, I think it is w o r t h my
w h i l e to restate h e r e w h a t the Prime Minister
said i n his t e l e g r a p h i c r e p l y t o the f o r m e r antiCession Associations in Sarawak. T h e Prime
Minister took the opportunity to reaffirm " t h e
unqualified determination of His Majesty's
G o v e r n m e n t t o g u i d e a n d assist t h e p e o p l e s o f
Sarawak
in
their
progress
towards
self-government within the Commonwealth''.
T h e P r i m e Minister then w e n t on to m a k e the
following important statement over w h i c h w e
s h o u l d all d o w e l l t o p o n d e r m o s t c a r e f u l l y . I n
the f u t u r e , a s i n t h e past, i t w i l l b e f r e e l y o p e n
to all in S a r a w a k to e x p r e s s , in a constitutional
manner, their v i e w s r e g a r d i n g w a y s i n w h i c h
progress towards self-government is to be
realized, and any v i e w s expressed by bodies
substantially r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e p e o p l e of
S a r a w a k w o u l d r e c e i v e the fullest consideration of His M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t . T h e
constitutional f o r m w h i c h p r o g r e s s t o w a r d s
s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t in the British
Common-
wealth should t a k e could only be settled in the
circumstances at the t i m e " .
I h o p e a n d p r a y that t h r o u g h t h e g o o d
sense, t h e p a t r i o t i s m , a n d t h e i n b o r n f r i e n d liness o f t h e p e o p l e o f this c o u n t r y w e h a v e
e m e r g e d f i n a l l y f r o m a g l o o m y a n d unnatural
p h a s e in t h e l i f e - h i s t o r y of S a r a w a k , a p e r i o d
w h i c h b r o u g h t s u f f e r i n g a n d distress t o m a n y
p e o p l e ; o n e o f t h e s e t i m e s o f trial a n d tribulation w h i c h , i f f a c e d w i t h f o r t i t u d e , h e l p s
to b u i l d a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e c h a r a c t e r of a
young a n d v i g o r o u s nation.
W e are, a t t h e m o m e n t , p a s s i n g t h r o u g h
what is for Sarawak an unprecedented period
of material prosperity. T h e price and v o l u m e
of our e x p o r t s has n e v e r r e a c h e d such h e i g h t s
a s i t h a s d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d s i n c e w e last m e t ;
there i s m o r e m o n e y i n circulation, m o r e g o o d s
are b e i n g p u r c h a e d a n d a h i g h e r d e g r e e of
g e n e r a l p r o s p e r i t y has b e e n a t t a i n e d than a n y
which
anyone of us w o u l d have thought
possible a y e a r a g o . T o - d a y , a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n
of the p o p u l a t i o n of S a r a w a k e n j o y s a p r o s perity g r e a t e r than i t has e n j o y e d b e f o r e ; this,
in itself, has c r e a t e d a s t r o n g barrier a g a i n s t
discord a n d d i s t u r b a n c e , but I s h o u l d l i k e y o u
t o r e m e m b e r that this w a v e o f p r o s p e r i t y has
not b r o u g h t a d v a n t a g e to all.
G o v e r n m e n t has b e e n m u c h criticised f o r
its s l o w n e s s in d e a l i n g w i t h this p r o b l e m . I do
not p r o p o s e to r e p l y to such critics in a n y d e tail, but I must r e m i n d y o u of o n e t h i n g a n d
that is that t h e m o n e y p a i d to t h e servants of
G o v e r n m e n t comes f r o m the public purse;
that G o v e r n m e n t ' s advisers h a v e a m u c h
g r e a t e r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a s r e g a r d s t h e distrib u t i o n o f p u b l i c f u n d s than h a v e , f o r e x a m p l e ,
t h e o w n e r s of a c o m m e r c i a l business or t h e
m a n a g e m e n t of an industrial concern for
theirs. A l l questions o f G o v e r n m e n t e x p e n d i ture h a v e t o b e v e r y c a r e f u l l y w e i g h e d i n r e l a tion t o t h e w h o l e p i c t u r e o f w h a t s e r v i c e s t h e
p e o p l e r e q u i r e their G o v e r n m e n t t o u n d e r t a k e o n their b e h a l f , a n d i t i s t h e r e f o r e i n e v i t a b l e that a G o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d n o t b e a b l e t o
m a k e decisions involving the increased exp e n d i t u r e o f v e r y l a r g e sums a g a i n s t o n e o r
other of the m a n y conflicting claims a l w a y s
b e f o r e then, w i t h o u t c a r e f u l a n d f r e q u e n t l y
133
a satisfactory result and, as the consesion lasts
until the end of June, it might be expected to
draw off nearly a million dollars for the time
being.
lengthy, thought on the subject. There are
times like the present when this factor operate
to the disadvantage of members of the Public
Service, but you will, I have no. doubt, realise
that there are other times when it operates
v e r y distinctly to their advantage. No responsible Government, when faced with the
problems which arise in times of financial difficulty, reduces the emoluments or numbers
of its servants without an equally long and
careful consideration of the necessity and desirability of such a step.
The expenditure in 1950 was only about
$16 million, which is nearly $2Vi million less
than the estimate and over $53/4 million less
than the provision made. It is important to remember that a great part of this under-expenditure is not saved at all. The main reason
why the money has not been pent is that the
men or the materials on which to spend it
could not be obtained, but it has got to be
spend in future, and mostly at a time w h e n the
schemes it represents will cost a great deal
more. This means that the surplus balances I
have mentioned are somewhat less valuable
than they appear at first sight to be.
T h e revenue and expenditure figures I
have given you do not include receipts of Colonial Development and Welfare Assistance or
expenditure on Colonial Development and
W e l f a r e Schemes, because although these
ought in theory to balance each other, in practice they never do so over a financial year, and
bringing them in would distort the picture.
What I have said, h o w e v e r , about underspending applies equally to them and to all the
Development programme.
Y o u can judge the extent of the increase in
wealth by the fact that about $19 million
worth of n e w currency went into circulation in
1950 and by the increase in the Colony's revenue, which turned an estimated deficit of
$2 Vi million for the year into an actual surplus
of over $13y4 million. The free surplus balance has thus come to exceed $18 million,
apart from the $6 million—odd transferred to
the Development Welfare and Reconstruction
Fund.
T h e revenue received was nearly $29 V2
million and this was $13 million more than the
estimate. A great part of this increae was due,
of couise, to the rubber export-duty. The price
of rubber w e n t to unprecedented heights and
with it the duty collected on every picul exported. T h e swiftness of the increase caused
some hardship, and to mitigate this we temporarily placed "ceilings" on the duty in the
last four months of the year; that is to say, it
was not allowed to rise with the price. After
the price steadied, the ceilings w e r e removed,
and the rate of revenue collection in 1951 has
until the last f e w w e e k s been even higher.
T h e export duties have a considerable
effect on the cost of living in slowing down
inflation by removing surplus wealth: that is
to say, if they had not been levied in their
present form it is certain that prices and
w a g e s would have risen higher than they
actually have. Another measure was instituted with the same object, but on a smaller
scale. This was an effort to persuade the smaller owners of new-found wealth to save as
much of it as possible for the future in the
Savings Bank. We increaed the rate of interest
in the Bank permanently by one-half percent,
and g a v e a special temporary increase of interest to f i v e percent for n e w deposits in
accounts w h i c h are not d r a w n upon 12
months. The immediate effect of this was an
increase of about $450,000 in deposits in the
first quarter of the year. This is looked upon as
The fact that increased prosperity and the
increased Government revenues which have
followed therefrom should, in any way, make
it difficult for Government to implement its
d e c l a r e d p o l i c y o f social and e c o n o m i c
improvement may, at first sight, be a little
difficult to understand, but I can assure you
that the benefits of increased revenue have
brought with them material handicaps and
disadvantages, the immediate effect of which
is perhaps more obvious than the long-term
benefits which we may expect from our increased wealth. You will appreciate that the
rapid and violent change in the levels of
w a g e s and in the cost of commodities has created problems in estimating for all our plans.
T w e l v e months ago we laid before the Secretary of State a Development Plan which was
based upon contemporary figures — later last
year, your Select Committee approved the
financial provision required of this Government therefore, and also approved the present
year's Estimates. In so far as the latter figures
— the 1951 Estimates — are concerned we
had, of course, at the time these Estimates
w e r e being prepared recieved some warning
134
of the trend in costs and made some adjustment to cover this, but we had not been able to
revise the estimates of the Development Plan
nor, indeed, were our Estimates for this year's
expenditure adequate in the event to implement a programme much of which was drawn
up 8 or 9 months ago. These, of course, are
minor executive difficulties. The main difficulty, however, is much more serious and that
is the problem of staff and labour for the
money projects which this Government had in
mind at the time these plans were drawn up
last year. The rise in prices of our export crops,
especially the very great increase in rubber
prices, has diverted labour, which would
otherwise have been available to Government, to these fields. A l l Departments of
Government have, to some extent, b e e n
affected by this, but unfortunately the most
immediate and serious reaction has occured in
some of the Departments whose projects represent the most substantial and important
contributions towards Sarawak's progress.
The Director of Public Works' whole construction programme has suffered a severe
setback and great difficulties have also been
encountered by the Director of Agriculture.
The Departments most concerned, and the
Government generally, hope to overcome
these problems. A l l I wish to emphasise today
is that this change in our economic circumstances has brought with it such problems, and
that the immediate effect of this change upon
this Government's policy and programme has
not been entirely beneficial.
On the other hand, these frustrations serve
to emphasise the need for planning further in
advance than we have formerly been able to
do, and there are directions in which we can
usefully lay out more money this year than we
planned for at the time when the 1951 Estimates were prepared and when we had to
remove from our minds any schemes which
yre could not afford with the future revenue
that could be forecast at that time. The prospect are now better, and it will be possible to
make arrangements for increasing staff, stepping up the house-building programme and
ordering materials and plant for works. A supplementary budget will be prepared and presented to the Finance Committee as soon as
possible, so that these activities may not be
delayed for lack of financial authorisation.
Expenditure in this supplementary budget
will include some $350,000 for new Public
W o r k s D e p a r t m e n t transport and r o a d
machinery; $200,000 for addition Junior Service Quarters and funds for an additional
block of Senior Service flats in Kuching. Provision for Sibu will include $120,000 for expenditure upon the Hospital, including the construction of a new Outpatients Department;
and $100,000 for land acquisition with a v i e w
to clearing Sinu slum areas. A similar sum will
be provided for the acquisition of present
slums areas in Miri, and for such part of the
construction of the Miri Hospital as can be
undertaken this year. There will be supplementary expenditure upon the Simanggang Hospital. Another large single item is a
new Native Resthouse for Kuching.
I wish now to let you have a brief summary
of the more important activities of the various
Departments of Government during the past
six months.
The progress of Public Works during this
period has, as I have said, suffered greatly
from present economic conditions, scarcity of
labour and materials and the rapid rise in costs
of construction of all kinds. Progress has, however, been made in the erection of quarters for
Police and Junior and Senior Government
officers and Government office accommodation, which includes the construction of a new
Printing O f f i c e in Kuching and the. n e w
Government Offices at Miri. 54 Junior Service
bungalows have been completed during the
last 12 months. Work on the survey of the new
trunk road from Serian to Simanggang has
been seriously delayed, but the present position is that plans for the first section, from
Serian to the river crossing below the junction
of the Kedup and Sadong Rivers, have now
been completed. It is hoped that with the
assistance of heavy machinery already received from America under the Marshall A i d
programme we shall be able to push ahead
with the construction of this sector without
undue delay. There has been an unfortunate
and serious deterioration of the existing road
system of the Colony which was not planned
and constructed to carry modern traffic. It is
quite clear that special measures must be
taken to remedy this situation, expensive as
the process undoubtedly will be, and it has
been decided to seek your approval for the
provision of another very large sum of money
to be devoted to this purpose; the Director of
Public Works is preparing a programme for
the reconstruction, and provision of all weather surfacing of all the Colony roads, work on
which will begin as soon as fluids have been
135
voted to this purpose. The Colony water supplies have r e c e i v e d attention during the
p e r i o d — t h e laying of the new main pipe line
for Kuching is progressing and the foundations for the new IV2 million gallon storage
tank have been completed. At Mukah everything is now ready for the installation of the
main pipes, pumps and motors when these
arrive. Work has also begun upon the construction of a 1200 yard by 50 yard aircraft
runway at Sibu, financed from fund granted
under the Colonial Development and Welfare
Act for this purpose.
The Medical Department has continued to
have serious difficulties on account of shortage of staff but in spite of this its activities
have continued to expand.
Nevertheless during 1950 nursing recruits
did not suffice to make good wastage and this
had the serious effect of leading to the closure
of a ward in the Kuching General Hospital. In
an endeavour to meet the situation, and
f o l l o w i n g p r e c e d e n t in other countries,
recruitment of assistant nurses was resorted to
and the approved initial establishment of fourteen for the General Hospital, Kuching, was
rapidly filled. These girls of lower educational
standard than that of the professional nurse,
TVill be trained in practical nursing procedures
only and will relieve the professional nurses of
many ward duties not requiring a high degree
of techincal training and skill. Should they
prove a success assistant nurses will be recruited for the other hospitals in the Colony.
In January, in spite of limited resources a
Chest Clinic Service was initiated in Kuching
as a first step to combat tuberculosis. More
than a thousand persons have been examined
and a number of unsuspected cases have been
found and brought under treatment. Supervision of contacts was commenced and in suitable instances protection with B.C.G. vaccination was offered.
In March a restricted domiciliary midwifery service was started in Kuching as an
extension of the activities of the Maternity
Ward of the General Hospital. This organisations'has the dual function of providing the
town with a better service and of providing
better training for the midwife trainees who
will later work in other parts of the Colony.
T h e domiciliary midwifery service and the
training of the midwives is under the charge of
the M i d w i f e Tutor lent by United Nations
International Childrens' Emergency Fund
which has kindly agreed to an extension of this
officer's period of service in the Colony to initiate this work.
Extensions to the Lau King H o w e Hospital,
Sibu, are being undertaken and arrangements
have been completed for the erection of an
additional ward at Simanggang Hospital.
Again, plans have been prepared and preliminary steps h a v e b e e n taken for the
development of hospital facilities at Miri.
The most interesting development in the
Colony's agriculture over the past six months
has been the confirmation, with this year's
padi crop, of the effectiveness of the simple
technique which has been developed in the
Paya Megok Scheme for regenerating derelict
lalang-infested land and bringing it into
heavy rice production. We can now confidently say that the Paya Megok scheme, where a
great proportion of the land is now worked by
members of the local Land Dayak community
with a minimum of supervision from Government, is not only going to be success in itself,
but the model for a wide-spread extension of
such schemes which should in time very greatly increase the Colony's production of its most
important foodstuff. Results in the Bijat
scheme in the Second Division and the smaller
water control schemes in the Stapang area
near Kanowit have also been very satisfactory.
Activities in connection with export crops
h a v e been concentrated upon rubber —
increasing quantities of high-yielding planting material, both clonal seed and budwood,
have been distributed to smallholders and the
Kuap Rubber factory which is financed from
the Rubber Fund is now operating successfully and with increasing turnover. There can
be little doubt that centralised factories of this
type can and will contribute much to improving the present low quality of Sarawak's rubber exports. As far as the Department's own
domestic affairs are concerned, the most important progress to report is the start made in
the permanent buildings for the Department's
staff training school at Batu Lintang, financed
with Colonial Development and Welfare fund
assistance.
The Director of Education reports to me
that the number of children attending school
continues to increase. The figures at the end
of 1950 showed an increase of 3 1/2 thousand
over those at the end of 1949.1 am advised by
him that, parallel with an increase in the
school'population which has now doubleu
since 1941, there has been a steady improvement in the standard of staffing in all types of
136
schools. The results of the activities of the
Batu Lintang Training Centre are now beginning to be felt; this institution, in its second
year, has sent out 48 certificated teachers to
Government, Local Authority, Mission and
private schools. A vacation course for teachers
of English in Chinese schools was arranged
and held in January; two women teachers
from Chinese schools are now taking a short
teaching course in England. It has been possible, as a result of the improvement of the staff
position in the urban Mission schools, to make
a beginning at least, in the the teaching of
General Science. Twenty-one of the 28 candidates who sat the Cambridge School Certificate Examination from Kuching schools in
December were successful, while 91 candidates, including 12 from Sibu were successful
in the Junior Cambridge Certificate. During
the last six months, 2 scholarships (one to Australia and one to the United Kingdom) have
been awarded for Overseas Education.
operating in the Kuching district and a third
proposed for Sibu. The excise Tevenue for the
first three months of this year amounted to
$255,040 as c o m p a r e d with the total of
$374,520 collected during the whole of 1950
under the old arrack farm system. You will
readily appreciate gentlemen the additional
burden of work which these figures have laid
upon the stalwart shoulders of the Commissioner and his willing staff.
I would like to refer to a subject which 1
touched on in my last Council Negri address
which is, I am certain, of great interest to all
members of Council, and that is the progress
of local Government both urban dan rural. As
you are all aware, it has long been in our
minds to grant to the Municipality of Kuching
a much higher degree of self determination in
the management of its own affairs than has so
far been possible, and to constitute it as a
fully-fledged municipality collecting the bulk
of its own revenues and controlling to a great
Since N o v e m b e r last year the Forestry degree its own expenditure. A number of
Department has constituted an additional 145 difficulties, including the almost inevitable
square miles of reserve, including a large and difficulty of finding the staff necessary to such
productive area in the Tinjar. The timber ex- an organisation, have made it impossible to
port trade continues to- expand and the final begin the changes proposed before this date,
figures for 1950, totalling 45,846 tons, show an but we have at last been able to solve at least
increase of 15% on the 1949 figures. An some of the major problems of finance and
interesting feature of these exports is the organisation. There is still a great deal of work
great increase in the quantity of timber ex- to be done before the change can be effected '
ported direct to the United Kingdom. It has and it will be necessary for this legislature,
been necessary, to ensure that supplies are probably at its next session, to approve the
available for local building, to place an essential legislative and financial changes,
but I can at least assure you with some confiembargo on the export of Belian timber.
dence that it may be possible to grant Kuching
The Land and Surveys Department, which
the status of a Municipality some time in 1952.
has also suffered by difficulty of recruitment
As regards Rural Authorities, Members
to its junior field staff, has, however, maintained good progress and I wish to make par- are aware that one of our greatest difficulties
ticular reference to the progress made with in planning the expansion of such authorities
the Rejang Delta Settlement Scheme, one of and the assumption by them of services which
the biggest schemes of its kind ever under- they cannot at present accept has been the
problem of deciding how they can finance
taken in Sarawak.
The Department of Trade and Customs such services. It was obviously undesirable
has weathered successfully a period in which that they should continue merely to be the
it has suddenly been called upon to deal with Agents of the central Government, expending
export trade of a value far in excess of that funds the bulk of which were granted to them
which it handled in 1949 and the first of 1950. by the central Government. A committee
The figures for 1950 show a favourable trade established early this year to examine the
balance of no less than $54,026,410, exclusive w h o l e problem of the financing of these
of oil, as compared with a figure of only authorities and of the services which they
$2,672,340 in 1949. At the beginning of this might undertake has recently completed its
year the Excise Ordinance administered by deliberations, and made recommendations
the Department of Trade and Customs came which are substantially acceptable to myself
into force; there are two arrack distilleries and will, I hope, prove acceptable to Council
137
when these are laid before them. They provide for the collection by Local authorities of a
number of fees and licences previously collected by the central Government and for the
institution of rates, cesses and such other
levies as may be required to finance an
expanding programme of local social services. It is hoped that it may be possible in the
very near future to begin the organisation of a
particularly large and important authority in
the Sibu district.
I should now like to refer briefly to some of
the bills which come before you at this meeting. T w o of them, you will notice, refer to the
delegation by the Governor and the Governor
in Council of some of their powers. I am sure
you will all appreciate that the only reason for
the introduction of these measures is the
heaviness of the burden now imposed on the
Governor in Council by the considerable increase in the number of Ordinances, where it
is essential for the efficient working of the
Council that I and my advisers should be able
to devote ourselves to the deliberation of the
more important matters. The proposed delegation of certain powers will, you may rest
assured, be e x e r c i s e d with the utmost
discrimination.
There is a bill on your agenda to provide
for the variation of Native Customary Law
which I regard as most necessary for the future progress of the natives people. The bill is
designed to enable variations to be made in
the recognised codes of their customs which
have for long had the effect of law, but which,
since the Constitution Ordinance of 1941,
have been fixed and incapable of variation in
accordance with the natural evolution of the
peoples. I wish to stress this point: changes in
the customary law will only be made at the
instance of the people themselves and in
accordance with the general consensus of
their opinion, so that they will themselves
govern the rate of their advance and release
from the restraining bonds of outworn customs.
The Currency Bill is a measure which will
be fully explained to you by my Financial
Secretary. The only other bills I wish to mention are the Immigration and Passport Bills. It
had been hoped to present these to Council at
this meeting, but unfortunately the Secretary
of State's approval to these measures has not
yet been recieved as they are still under consideration in London. I am convinced of the
urgency for replacement of our present inadequate legislation on this subject; the
Secretary of State has therefore been asked
that his advisers should complete examination of these bills as early as possible and I
hope that I shall be in a poition to call a special
meeting of Council in the near future at which
they will be presented to you.
138
You will have heard by now of the very
generous invitation we have received from
His Majesty's Government in the United
Kingdom. We have been asked to send three
of your members to England to attend the
Festival of Britain as guests of His Majesty's
Government. A most interesting programme
has been arranged for them and I am sure that
they will enjoy themselves and see much
which is of interest and value and which will
enrich their minds and widen their field of
vision to the future benefit of this Council and
the Country. Their days will be busy and
many people will wish to make their acquaintance but I hope they will make time to
visit the Rajah and convey the humble respects of this Government to His Highness.
The fair name of Sarawak is in good hands
and we could not wish for better ambassadors.
T H E S A R A W A K GAZETTE, M A Y 30, 1953
His Excellency's Address to Council
Negri — 5.5.53
Mr President and Members of Council
Negri:
When last I had the honour of addressing
Council in December of last year, a state of
emergency still existed in the First Division,
but shortly afterwards, on the 16th of January,
I felt that it was possible to revoke the order
since there had been no recurrence of trouble
and quite a number of disaffected persons who
had shown no liking for our liberal way of life
had elected to go elsewhere to seek their
earthly paradise. Since that incident in August, 1952, we in Sarawak have not suffered
any outward agression at the hands of the
Communists but that is not to say that the
Government or the people of this country can
afford for one moment to relax their vigilance
or lower their defences. You will note on your
Order Paper that Government still considers it
necessary to retain powers allowing for the
detention of persons in certain circumstances
and with the necessary safeguards, and you
will be asked to approve these powers for a
further period. Furthermore, although the
people of this country have not during the last
few months been the victims of violence or
disruption of their daily lives — indeed, there
have been some encouraging and comforting
signs of improvement in public morale and
determination — yet the picture in Asia as a
whole does not, I am afraid, lead me to any
feelings of very great confidence.
In Malaya there has been a steady improvement of the situation in the fighting against
the bandits. The success of the security forces
is now dearly no temporary phase. The bandits have lost the initiative in the field and are
being hard pressed, and they know it as the
increasingly frequent surrenders prove. We
rejoice in this success and are proud that Sarawak citizens have contributed in some measure to this healthier state of affairs. But let us
not delude ourselves into thinking that a victory won in Malaya necessarily lessens the
danger in Sarawak.
The Communists in Korea show no desire
whatsoever to bring about an honourable and
reasonable armistice. They show only a determination to continue their agressive policy of
domination in Asia. Any country which desires to maintain its own way of life, to develop
its resources and to progress along the road of
prosperity and happiness, must be sufficiently
strong to deter the. aggressor.
At your last meeting you voted large sums
of money for the purpose of improving the
efficiency of the Constabulary. It is essential to
continue this process; even though our revenues may suffer a decline, and our enemies
remain quiescent or are fully engaged elsewhere. Let us ensure that what is happening at
this moment to the little kingdom of Laos, a
country of hardworking, God-fearing peasant
farmers, wanting only to live in peace and
work out their own salvation, does not happen
in Sarawak. In Laos we see where inadequate
defence and preparation and divided loyalties
may lead — a fair and prosperous land laid
waste by foreign invasion and the horrors of
war.
N o w let us consider what progress we in
S a r a w a k h a v e m a d e during the last si$
months.
Y o u will have heard that a meeting was
held in Kuching on the 23rd of April last under
the chairmanship of His Excellency the Cornmissioner-General, the Right Honourable Mr
Malcolm MacDonald, at which His Excellency
the Governor of North Borneo, His Highness
the Sultan of Brunei and myself were present
with our respective advisers. As I consider this
meeting and what arose there from to be of
considerable importance, I will give you some
explanation of its background and purpose.
Since the middle of 1950 a Joint Defence Committee for the Borneo Territories has been in
existence. This Committee has met twice a
year to consider all aspects of the defence of
the three territories in order to make sure that
our invidual plans are known to each other,
that c o - o r d i n a t i o n is c o m p l e t e , that
communications are adequate and that the
mobilization of our joint resources can be
achieved as efficiently and speedily as possible — in short, to ensure that we can assist
each other effectively and rapidly in any emergency. You have witnessed for yourselves that
these discussions have proved fruitful. We re-
139
c e i v e d v e r y p r o m p t a n d e f f i c i e n t aid f r o m t h e
N o r t h B o r n e o p o l i c e last A u g u s t , a s d i d B r u n e i
i n M a r c h o f this y e a r . T h e B r u n e i o p e r a t i o n
w a s a t r i u m p h o f o r g a n i z a t i o n . W i t h i n six
h o u r s of t h e r e c e i p t of our call f o r assistance to
t h e G o v e r n o r o f N o r t h B o r n e o , sixty p o l i c e h a d
a r r i v e d b y air i n the o i l f i e l d s area a n d h a d
b e e n i s s u e d w i t h w e a p o n s a n d rations a n d
w e r e at their posts as a f u l l y e f f e c t i v e f o r c e .
c o m e of several years of planning and the
c h a n g e - o v e r f r o m t h e status o f G o v e r n m e n t
d e p a r t m e n t to that of an a u t o n o m o u s m u n i c i pality w a s e f f e c t e d according to plan with the
m i n i m u m o f dislocation. T h e v o l u m e o f business passing through the M u n i c i p a l i t y has
continued to s h o w a steady increase w h i c h has
b e e n a p p a r e n t f r o m 1950 o n w a r d s . T h e C o u n cil has m a d e a n e n c o u r a g i n g start a n d i s f a c i n g
I t w a s c l e a r that i n matters other than d e f e n c e a c l o s e r c o - o r d i n a t i o n of p o l i c y , a p o o l i n g of t e c h n i c a l resources, t h e e x c h a n g e of
i d e a s a n d e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e unification o f
l a w s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s w o u l d b r i n g b e n e f i t t o all
t h r e e territories. It w a s t h e r e f o r e a g r e e d at this
c o n f e r e n c e that at intervals of six m o n t h s simil a r c o n f e r e n c e s w o u l d b e h e l d u n d e r the chairmanship of the Commissioner-General. T h e
p e r m a n e n t m e m b e r s of the Sarawak-North
Borneo-Brunei C o n f e r e n c e are the Governors
o f S a r a w a k a n d N o r t h B o r n e o , a n d the Sultan
of Brunei, all of w h o m w i l l of course be supp o r t e d b y b o t h o f f i c i a l a n d u n o f f i c i a l advisers.
It w a s also a g r e e d to establish a system of
p e r i o d i c j o i n t m e e t i n g s b e t w e e n the H e a d s o f
D e p a r t m e n t s of t h e t h r e e territories f o r the
discussion of p r o b l e m s of mutual a n d g e n e r a l
interest, a n d to p r o m o t e as far as p o s s i b l e coo r d i n a t i o n of p o l i c y a n d administration.
its difficulties, a m o n g w h i c h t h e m a t t e r o f p u b -
N o t h i n g but g o o d can c o m e of a
s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e ties b e t w e e n t h e s e t h r e e
territories in t h e Island of B o r n e o . By sharing
t h e b u r d e n o f our p r o b l e m s a n d difficulties
a n d d e c l a r i n g our unity o f p u r p o s e w h i l s t e a c h
k e e p s his o w n individuality, customs a n d
traditions, w e w i l l g a i n i n stature a n d i n the
i n f l u e n c e f o r g o o d w e c a n e x e r t i n this part o f
the world.
I am sure that I am e x p r e s s i n g the sentim e n t s o f yourself M r P r e s i d e n t a n d the m e m b e r s o f y o u r C o u n c i l w h e n I say h o w p l e a s e d
w e a r e t o w e l c o m e h e r e this m o r n i n g t h e
M a h a r a j a Laila and the Orang Kaya Di
G a d o n g o f Brunei. T h e s e t w o distinguished
m e m b e r s of His H i g h n e s s ' s State Council
h a v e m a d e the journey here in order to
o b s e r v e t h e p r o c e e d i n g s of this C o u n c i l a n d I
h o p e . t h e y w i l l f i n d the e x p e r i e n c e u s e f u l a n d
i n s t r u c t i v e a n d that t h e y w i l l e n j o y this short
s a y in o u r c a p i t a l city.
y i e l d e x p e c t a t i o n s a r e r e a l i s e d , S a r a w a k has,
In t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of l o c a l G o v e r n m e n t a
war. T h e department is tackling the problem
h e r o a d transport i s p e r h a p s t h e m o s t p r e s s i n g ,
with courage and patience. In January, at the
invitation o f the G o v e r n m e n t , M r A . A . F o r w a r d , C o m m i s s i o n e r f o r R o a d T r a n s p o r t i n the
F e d e r a t i o n of M a l a y a , p a i d a visit to a d v i s e
u p o n this p r o b l e m i n K u c h i n g . H i s r e p o r t has
n o w b e e n r e c e i v e d a n d c o n f i r m s w h a t has p r e v i o u s l y b e e n a p p a r e n t — that t h e r e a r e far t o o
m a n y public passenger vehicles on the roads
a n d that t h e s e r v i c e e x t e n d e d t o t h e p u b l i c i s
b y n o m e a n s all that i t should b e . T h e r e p o r t i s
b e i n g studied a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e b y t h e M u n i cipal C o u n c i l .
I shall n o w d e a l w i t h s o m e p o i n t s of interest in the w o r k of the D e p a r t m e n t s of
G o v e r n m e n t . Firstly, A g r i c u l t u r e . T h e p r o s p e c t s f o r the 1952/3 p a d d y c r o p a r e g o o d . T h e
total a c r e a g e o f this y e a r ' s c r o p h a s b e e n far
h i g h e r than f o r t h e 1951/2 c r o p a n d , p r o v i d e d
t e m p o r a r i l y a t a n y rate, o v e r c o m e t h e m o s t
serious situation i t has h a d t o f a c e w i t h r e g a r d
to rice imports for m a n y years. P r o v i d e n c e
m a y not a l w a y s b e s o k i n d i n f u t u r e a n d i t i s
h o p e d that our f a r m e r s w i l l p r o f i t f r o m this
e x p e r i e n c e a n d not b e s o k e e n i n f u t u r e t o
n e g l e c t essential p a d d y p r o d u c t i o n f o r t e m p o r a r i l y p r o f i t a b l e cash crops. I t s h o u l d n o t b e
f o r g o t t e n that last y e a r , i n 1952, w e h a d t o
i m p o r t no less than 28,000 tons of rice at a
g r e a t cost t o t h e c o n s u m e r ; a n d t h e p r i c e continues t o r i s e . M o s t o f this r i c e c a m e f r o m S i a m
t o w a r d s w h o s e frontiers t h e m e n a c e o f C o m munism marches.
Pepper diseases are causing increasing
a n x i e t y and, w h i l s t t h e r e i s n o c a u s e f o r a l a r m
and despondency as yet, o n e cannot help
r e m e m b e r i n g the h a v o c that d i s e a s e a t times
w r o u g h t i n our p e p p e r g a r d e n s b e f o r e the
f u r t h e r step f o r w a r d w a s m a d e . On the 1st of
energetically and outside expert advice is
J a n u a r y , 1953, t h e K u c h i n g M u n i c i p a l O r d i -
b e i n g o b t a i n e d , a n d t h e S e c r e t a r y of State is
n a n c e w a s b r o u g h t into f o r c e a n d o n the s a m e
t r y i n g to recruit a p l a n t p a t h o l o g i s t f o r us.
d a y t h e i n a u g u r a l m e e t i n g o f the K u c h i n g
W h i l s t t h e r e s e e m s little h o p e of e f f e c t i n g a
M u n i c i p a l C o u n c i l w a s h e l d . T h i s w a s the out-
cure o f b a d l y d i s e a s e d v i n e s , i t d o e s s e e m that
140
the prospects of preventing the spread of even
the worst diseases are g o o d , p r o v i d e d all
gardeners w i l conscientiously take the proper
precautions. Sarawak's p e p p e r industry is
now extremely prosperous and it would be a
disaster of the first magnitude if disease extinguished the industry. It is hoped therefore
that all gardeners will accept the advice of the
Department of Agriculture in this matter and
co-operate fully with them.
Due to the fall in prices, the rush to plant a
n e w rubber has abated somewhat; there is still
however a healthy tendency to plant up n e w
areas of h i g h y i e l d i n g material w h e n the
material can be obtained. It is perhaps of interest to record that in 1952 the total value of
rubber exported from the Third Diviion was
almost equalled by the value of pepper, timber
and sago, thus indicating a more balanced
economy and not the complete dependence
on rubber which has caused so much anxiety
in the past.
T h e Forest Department is making steady
progress in its main tasks of formation and
protection of permanent forest, inventories of
the Colony's forest resources and the planning
of the systematic working of timber in accordance with the principle of sustained yield. By
the end of 1952, the area of permanent forests
in the Colony totalled 7,506 square miles, and
further 2,400 square miles are now in process
of constitution. At the end of 1951, only 2
square miles, of forest w e r e being developed
under working plans. During the past year this
figure has been increased to 84 square miles,
and plans for further v e r y large areas are
almost complete. Work on forest inventories is
proceeding steadily, and special attention is
being given to an assessment of the Colony'
resources; this project, however, owing to the
very uneven distribution of the species, presents peculiar difficulties and will take some
years to complete. Until it is completed, future
policy with reference to belian timber must
remain undecided, but in the meantime every
care must be taken to ensure that it is used
with the utmost economy.
As foretold in December, the timber industry has continued steadily to expand. T h e total
production of timber increased from approximately 110,000 tons in 1951 to 202,000 tons in
1952, but of recent months there has been a
decline in local demand. T h e quantity of timber exported, in terms of round timber, increased from 69,500 tons in 1951 to 128,000
tons in 1952. There is no sign of a decline in
this trade, and exports during the first two
months of the present year totalled approximately one-fourth of the total exports for
1952. Of recent months there has been some
revival in the trade with Australia, which had
previously fallen to a low level. T h e United
Kingdom and H o n g K o n g remain the principal
importers. It is pleasing to note that there is a
general, though fluctuating, tendency for the
number of export timbers to increase and 25
kinds of timber w e r e exported under their own
names in 1952, the highest number so far recorded.
T h e decision of the Government to allow
the Colonial Timber Company to take over
Government land at Rejang for a n e w mill has
been w e l l received in the village w h e r e full
employment will once again be available after
many years of depression.
T h e Director of Lands and Surveys reports
that a scheme to settle Chinese on land suitable for rubber, coconut and padi on the coastal lands b e t w e e n Oya and Mukah has been
completed and the land w i l l b e made available
during the next f e w months.
T h e mapping facilities of the Land and Surv e y Department have been improved by the
acquisition of a modern machine used for compilation of maps from air photographs. T h e
Department is n o w able to produce sketch
maps for special purposes such as agricultural
and forestry projects and d e v e l o p m e n t
schemes generally.
T h e meteorological staff in Kuching has
now m o v e d to the Kuching Airfield, w h e r e the
installation of staff quarters and up-to-date
equipment and offices has b e e n completed.
Meteorological offices and quarters have also
been completed at Miri and Bintulu.
T h e Department of Trade and Customs reports that the year 1952 closed with the aggreg a t e v a l u e of the Colony's external trade
being $821,509,270, $70,585,623 down on the
previous year, with an apparent favourable
trade balance of $55,617,364. T h e large decrease in the trade balance, $79,986,615, as
compared with 1951, was due to the decline in
both the volume and value of rubber exported.
It would have been reasonable to have expected this decline to have had a greater adverse effect on the general prosperity of the
Colony than it did, but, while rubber is still the
Colony's main export, the secondary industries, sago, pepper and timber, contributed
141
greatly to maintaining a moderately high level
of prosperity and resulted in a satisfactorily
trading year. The factors most responsible for
this continued prosperity were pepper and
timber. The rapid recovery of the pepper industry since the war has been remarkable and
exports for the year, approximately 4,000 tons,
were only a little short of the peak year 1934.
Timber is rapidly becoming an important item
in the Colony's economy with exports for the
year being 80% over those 1951. The Government's policy of encouraging interest in industries other than rubber has amply justified itself, and the results from the pepper and timber industries over the past year have saved
the Colony from what might well have been a
slump. If, however, the Colony is to depend
less on rubber, a still further expansion of the
Colony' secondary industries will be necessary.
T h e Public Works Department's constructional activities, as might be expected,
have been hampered in the last f e w months by
the exceptional weather conditions, and progress in building works has been mainly confined to completion of last year's schedule and
preliminaries for the programme this year. Included in the latter is a considerable expansion of P o l i c e t r a i n i n g f a c i l i t i e s and
accommodation throughout the Colony. Work
has started on the erection of new Government offices in Kuching and the establishments required for the Broadcasting Scheme.
Progress on re-surfacing of the KuchingSerian Road has been disappointing and the
work is not expected to be completed before
June. The Bau Road reconstruction also has
not gone ahead so well as had been hoped and
it may not be finished until the middle of 1954.
Survey of the Serian-Simanggang road trace
has been completed and the calling of tenders
is in hand. At Sibu, recourse has been made to
the import of stone from Hong Kong to enable
bazaar road reconstruction to proceed.
A Superintendent has recently arrived to
take charge of our Leper Settlement. He has
worked for many years for the British Empire
Leprosy Relief Association before coming to
Sarawak to assist us in this vital work.
The A T A S Clinic was opened in March,
and e x c e l l e n t e x a m p l e of what can be
achieved by the general public in co-operation with Government. The first B.C.G. vaccination programme for the control of tuberculosis is nearing completion. Five local teams
have now been trained to continue the work
after the departure of the W o r l d Health
Organisation team.
Mr P.J. Shannon has retired from the post
of Commissioner, Sarawak Constabulary, and
Mr G.S. Wilson arrived from Hong Kong in
March and assumed command of the Police
Force.
The Constabulary (Special Allowances)
Regulations, 1952, came into effect on the 1st
January, 1953. Members of the rank and file
who qualify under the various headings,
Education, Languages, and Specialists, will
materially benefit. Payment of these allowances should encourage members of the
rank and file to make every effort to improve
their professional knowledge and will, it is
hoped, react favourably on the morale and
efficiency of the Constabulary.
By the courtesy of the Commissioners of
Police, Federation of Malaya and Singapore,
Gazetted Officers, Inspectors and N.C.O.'s
this Force are attending courses both in the
Federation and Singapore on General Police
Duties, Special Branch work, driving and simple mechanics.
Arrangements for the establishment of a
major quarry at Sebuyau have gone forward
and it is anticipated that delivery of stone will
commence during the second half of the year.
The department is still hampered in its
work by the shortage of staff.
T h e M e d i c a l Department has made a
promising start in the scheme for the training
of midwives; three fully trained women are
n o w e n g a g e d in Sibu, Simanggang and
Kuching on this programme.
142
The establishment of the Inspectorate has
been increased by 12. An intensive recruiting
drive is under way to fill vacancies in the Inspectorate. The Commissioner of Police of the
Federation of Malaya has undertaken to recruit and train a number of Inspectors recruited by him for the Sarawak Constabulary
together with those selected from Sarawak.
Preliminary reports indicate that the officers
recruited in Sarawak are doing extremely well
and creating a favourable impression. There
are still ome 240 vacancies in the rank and file
of the regular police.
The first platoon of the Field Force has
already been recruited from the Second Division and is now undergoing training. On the
completion of its initial training at the Police
Training School it will be transferred to the
Jungle Training School at Bukit Siol for advanced training. The second platoon has been
formed and is now under training at the Police
Training School. T h e object of the Field Force
is to provide Government with a mobile striking force which can be called out at short
notice to deal with emergencies. Further recruiting in the force will be undertaken in the
Third, Fourth and Fifth Divisions.
N e w barrack blocks have been completed
at the Police Training School providing a w e l come addition to the available accommodation, and a n e w canteen and mess room have
also been completed.
In December last I stressed particularly the
need for greater vigilance and a higher sense
of responsibility on the part of managers,
teachers and parents in Chinese schools and I
am therefore very glad to report that the tone
and discipline at a number of our schools,
w h e r e previously the situation was far from
satisfactory, have shown a marked improvement during the past f e w months. An improvement in the supervising staff situation of the
Education Department is at last enabling more
attention and help to be given to schools. T h e
appointment of a w e l l qualified Education
Officer, on secondment from H o n g Kong, is a
w e l c o m e addition to the staff. T h e growing
c o - o p e r a t i o n of m e m b e r s of boards of
management is an encouraging sign and will
result in continued improvement; especially if
this is supported by an increasing number of
parents beginning to take a more genuine interest in the welfare of their children. This
i m p r o v e m e n t r e f l e c t s g r e a t credit on the
Director and his staff as well as on the managers of the schools.
T h e expansion of primary and secondary
education continues to be encouraging. In the
C a m b r i d g e Junior Certificate Examination
held in 1952, 110 pupils qualified for certificates as against 76 successful candidates in
1951.
A successful Refreshers Course for
teachers in the Batang Lupar District w a s
organised by the District Group Supervisor
last December. A Conference of all Group Supervisors held at the Training Centre early this
year provided a valuable opportunity for the
exchange of information and ideas.
During the past f e w months a further thirt e e n students h a v e b e e n a w a r d e d Scholarships for higher education overseas, but
some of these are awaiting admission to va-
rious institutions. This higher stage of our
educational programme is progressing most
satisfactorily. In addition to the recent awards
just mentioned, since liberation more than
seventy students have b e e n sent overseas,
under various scholarship schemes on courses
of higher training covering thirty different
subjects. It is very pleasing that our first Saraw a k students have obtained degrees at the
n e w University of Malaya; two in Medicine
and two in Arts.
T h e Batu l i n t a n g Training Centre suffered
a sad loss by the resignation of Mr J. K. Wilson
at the end of last year. A n e w Principal, a w e l l
qualified and experienced officer, has b e e n
appointed and should be arriving in June. It is
pleasing to be able to report that, as a result of
the efforts of those p e o p l e responsible for
recruitment, a larger group of young men and
w o m e n has entered the centre this year to take
the Grade HA Course. It is significant that
these student-teachers have been drawn from
Chinese M i d d l e schools in Kuching and Sibu,
as w e l l as f r o m G o v e r n m e n t and Mission
schools. Furthermore, this n e w group is now
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of Malays, D a y a k s and
Chinese. T h e standard of entry into the PostPrimary Classes has also improved considerably over the last f e w years which indicates
that trained teachers, in spite of thir many
difficulties, have helped greatly to improve
the quality of some of our local schools. In 1949
not one pupil from Dayak rural schools was
found suitable academically for entry into
Batu Lintang. For the n e w admissions this year
there w e r e over a hundred applications from
the rural primary schools, and a class of thirty
promising pupils of correct a g e has b e e n recruited.
T h e Immigration Department has b e e n
strengthened by the appointment of an additional Passport Examination O f f i c e r in
Kuching; there are n o w Passport Officers stationed at Miri, Sibu, Sarikei and Kuching. This
has materially increased the efficiency of immigration work and tended to centralise control.
T h e work of the Labour Department has
increased considerably owing to the extended
P.W.D. road contracts. A considerable number
of w a g e disputes, brought to official notice,
w e r e due to the malpractice of employing subcontractors and sub-sub-contractors; this has
now been taken up and conditions of employment have lately improved.
143
A Prisoners A i d Society has been formed to
take over the work formerly done voluntarily
by certain Rotarians in alleviating distress
among the families of prisoners.
The Co-operative Development Department has been fully occupied since the beginning of the year in carrying out the Annual
Audit of 109 registered Co-operatives. A few
new groups are being prepared for registration, but this will take place only when all
audits have been completed. It is not yet possible to supply statistics of 1952 Development,
but the increase in assets is expected to be
very considerable.
An interesting project has been started at
Kampongs Muara Tuang and Bundong in the
Samarahan, to which several departments are
giving their combined efforts and advice. It is a
community development scheme amongst the
Malays: an attempt to improve every aspect of
their social and economic conditions, in which
adult education, more advanced agricultural
techniques, co-operative methods and improved hygiene are all playing their part. The
success of this pilot scheme must, however,
ultimately depend upon the Malays themselves and thier keenness to improve their living standards. I am glad to say that the initial
enthusiasm is encouraging.
The Museum has continued to analyse the
results of the excavations at Santubong which
have attracted widespread attention and interest outside the Colony. Many of the fragments of broken pieces have been fitted
together with meticulous care and there are
now about 30 complete pieces which give a
clear idea of the type of ceramics traded between the Sarawak River Delta and the mainland of Asia eight to ten centuries ago.
A Museum expedition left for the Kelabit
country in the headwaters of the Bar am on
D e c e m b e r 2nd, 1952. T h e programme of
collecting and research in that area has now
been completed. The expedition took up tea
and hemp plants to Bario, which is probably
the highest permanent by inhabitated place in
Borneo, at an elevation of 3,500 feet. These
plants were doing very well when last seen in
March.
The turtles have done well and a nett profit
of $28,000 was handed over to the Turtle Trust
for religious and charitable purposes.
While the Postmaster-General was on
leave in the United Kingdom, he visited the
l e a d i n g T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Equipment
Manufacturers. In collaboration with Messrs.
Preece Cardew and Rider, Consulting Engineers to the Crown Agents, he was able to
consider Sarawak requirements for material
and equipment having regard to price and
quality.
Underground cables for Kuching to the
value of $500,000 have been ordered and delivery in the United Kingdom is expected not
later than June.
A detailed specification for the Kuching
Automatic Exchange has been drawn up and
tenders called for. The outcome is not yet
known but delivery in the United Kingdom
should be about January, 1954.
A decision has been made on the contractor to supply and instal the equipment for
the V.H.F. Radio Telephone Scheme. The
order is about to be placed and delivery in the
United Kingdom is expected to commence in
September, 1953. The contractor will send installing engineers to Sarawak a f e w months in
advance of arrival of equipment to prepare
staff and conduct radio surveys so as to be
ready to commence installation work without
delay.
The appointment of a new Chief Justice,
Mr E.H. Williams, Senior Puisne Judge, Hong
Kong, has b£en approved by Her Majesty the
Queen and he is expected to arrive in Sarawak
later this month.
The work of the Judicial Department has
gone on unobstrusively and no special comment seems called for. The Courts have been
called upon to deal with little serious crime.
Most of the work has been on the civil side
The records of the cases tried by the lower
courts show that magistrates have on the
whole done their work conscientiously and to
the best of their ability. One of the Judges has
given a course of lectures on Law to the
prospective Sarawak Administrative Officers
who will thus acquire in advance some familiarity with their Judicial duties.
The Government Information Service continues to expand its activities and there have
been two note-worthy developments.
By the generosity of the Director of the
Malayan Film Unit, a member of the Information staff has been well trained in "the use of
both still and moving picture cameras. The
Information Office is now making its own
photographs for distribution both within Sarawak and abroad, and several promising films
of life in Sarawak have already been mads
and shown.
144
rents and the intensive demands made on
them, has been brought in a f e w years to a very
advanced scientific level; and it is natural that
in a country where hitherto there has been no
broadcasting, there are no experienced men.
Since last year, intensive negotiation, personal enquiry, and advertisement have been carried on, both locally and in Singapore, Malaya
and Hong Kong to find and engage the men
we need. So far, because the terms we are able
to offer consonant which the terms of service
in other and comparable branches of Government service are not attractive enough, we
have not been able to engage any of the men
we need and the Chief Engineer is still working single-handed and at great pressure. Because of these staff difficulties, it is doubtful
whether the main service — and I feel bound
to give you this warning — can be in operation
by the end of this year, as we had hoped. But I
am sure that every possible effort will be made
by those concerned to achieve this.
The appointment at the beginning of the
year of an experienced Chinese writer has
made possible the production of original pamphlets in Chinese about Sarawak—an important enterprise which will grow in volume.
Greatly increased help to other Departments
of Government in translation to and from English and Chinese has also been made possible by this appointment. This service, working
in c o - o p e r a t i o n with the Secretariat for
Chinese Affairs, is much in demand.
Both these developments help one of the
main purposes of the Information Service,
which is to provide for the people of Sarawak
fuller opportunities to learn what their fellow
citizens think and do.
To this same end, more reading rooms outside Kuching have been opened and equipped. Community wireless listening sets have
been bought and are installed in the reading
rooms as these are opened, and in other
approved centres in the smaller outstations.
Mobile cinema units based in Sibu and
Miri are now established and working in the
Third and Fourth Divisions. The Third Division units has its own outboard motor sampan
and the Fourth Division uses the Public
Address motor van stationed at Miri.
Turning to the Sarawak Broadcasting Service, I am glad to say that good progress has
been made. The Chief Engineer arrived in
Kuching in January, and the Programme
Organiser early in March, and both officers
have been hard at work since their arrival. The
Springfield site for the headquarters of the
Service, in Rock Road, Kuching, has been
cleared and levelled and tenders for the construction of the main building have been received. A temporary building on the same site
for housing the pilot broadcasting service has
been erected, and, subject to a major difficulty
to which I will refer in a moment, this service
should be in operation in June or July.
The major difficulty is the problem of finding the experienced technical staff essential
for the very complex and skilled task of installing and working both the pilot and the main
transmitters and their ancillary equipment. It
has been our firm purpose from the beginning
to engage, and to continue to employ, Sarawak men and women in the service; but for the
senior technical posts it has been possible to
do so. This is unfortunate, but understandable.
Broadcasting engineering is a new science
which, by the devotion and skill of its adhe-
N o w may I issue a word of caution on the
subject of Finance? Although we are not so
dependent as formerly on rubber for our revenue, it is still our main industry and we cannot expect a return to the boom prices of 1951
or anything near them. We must also expect in
the future to see a reduction in the price that
our pepper will fetch.
Our customs and excise revenue for 1952
was S12V2 million less than in 1951, and the
tonnage of rubber exported has fallen by 20%.
We cannot afford, therefore, any great expansion of Government services at the present
time. In fact, I consider that we may well be
faced with the necessity to practise considerable economies in the near future. Our finances are in a healthy state and the country
has shown itself economically far more resilient than was expected. However, some of us
may still be thinking in terms of boom prices
and years of exceptional revenue and I think
we should realise that those days over and we
must adjust our plans to our present means.
I have no special comment to make on the
order of business for this Session or on the bills
which are to be put before you. But I would
like to draw your attention to an omission.
When you last met I mentioned that some
of our Iban trackers in Malaya were being
used experimentally in combat duties. That
experiment proved a success and the Federation Government with the consent and co-operation of this Government has since been re-
145
cruiting Dayaks for combat duties in Malaya.
This force now bear the honoured title and
wears the badges of the Sarawak Rangers.
It was clearly desirable that the force so
raised should have military status and that
provision should be made for this both under
the law applicable in the Federation and by
the law of this country.
I am happy to say that the immediate step
of giving military status to this force while in
Malaya has been provided for by Emergency
Regulations enacted in the Federation. A Bill
has also been prepared here to regularize with
retrospective effect the arrangements made
and to incorporate the force raised in the Sarawak Volunteer Force. It will I am sure be readily understood that legislation of this character
requires careful consideration and it was
thought desirable to obtain the comments
both of the Federation Government and the
Secretary of State. Thelatter's comments have
only just reached me and in the circumstances
for this Session.
In a f e w weeks' time we and countless
others throughout the Commonwealth, and
indeed throughout a great part of the World,
will be engaged in celebrating the Coronation
of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.
I believe the plans for Coronation Week
are nearing completion and I hope they will
meet with general approval. We want everyone to enjoy himself and we want all to be able
to take a part in this great family gathering.
Sarawak has quite a reputation for its' hospital-
146
ity and for its capacity for enjoyment and I
have no doubt at all that we will make the very
best of an occassion which provides us with so
excellent an excuse for celebration and merriment. For never has a Queen more beloved or
more beautiful ridden forth to her coronation.
Beneath the gaiety and charm of youth shines
forth for all who wish to see that deep sense of
devotion to duty and consecration to the service of her people which is such a moving
inspiration to her loyal subjects.
I want all of you here to-day, the representatives of your people, to make it your special responsibility to ensure that the plans you
have made emphasise that our celebrations in
Coronation Week are principally for the benefit and enjoyment of the young; let us make
of this Week a great festival of youth, at whose
head rides our young and gracious Queen. We
want every boy ang girl throughout the whole
of our rejoicing country to cany, through the
rough and tumble of the years to come, a
bright and happy and indelibale picture of
these great days of 1953.
You Mr President, supported by member of
this Council, will be our witnesses to the act of
crowning and dedication in Westminster
Abbey on the 2nd June and you will carry with
you our loyal greetings to Her Majesty and our
fervent prayers for a long and glorious reign.
Mr President and members of Council
Negri. I thank you for your attention. M a y God
guide and prosper your deliberations.