§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEasked the Under Secretary of State for the 1941 Colonies, Whether it is true, as reported in the "London and China Telegraph" of the 16th instant, that Sultan Ysoof is to be installed at Perak, and that Sultans Ismail and Abdullah are to be deported from that country; whether "Sultan Ysoof" is the same person as Raja Muda Yusuf referred to by Sir William Jervois, on October 29, 1875, as "heir presumptive to the throne of Perak," as "possessing activity and energy quite peculiar in a Malay," and also as having "expressed a desire to live under British rule;" and whether any further Papers relating to the affairs of the Malay States will shortly be presented to Parliament?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERArrangements are being made for the deportation of Sultan Abdullah from Perak to another portion of Her Majesty's dominions, and Sultan Ismail is to remain at Johore, under the surveillance of the Maharajah. Raja Muda Yusuf will preside over the State of Perak as Regent, in the absence of Abdullah. This is the same person mentioned by Sir William Jervoise in the despatch referred to in the Question of the hon. Baronet. Further Papers in relation to the Malay States are in course of preparation, and will shortly be laid before Parliament.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, -Whether it is true that the Maharajah Lelah has lately been executed in Perak on a charge of being concerned in the murder of Mr. Birch; whether there is any kind of foundation for a rumour current at Singapore that before the Maharajah was arrested a promise was made to him that if he surrendered his life should be safe; whether he was provided with legal means of defence, under what law he was tried, and what was the nature of the tribunal by which he was condemned; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will lay before Parliament a report of the trial?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERIt is quite true that Maharajah Lelah was convicted and executed upon the charge referred to by the hon. Baronet. As regards a rumour that a promise was made to the Maharajah that if he surrended his life would be safe, the Governor distinctly states that there is no kind of foundation for it. With respect to legal means of 1942 defence, Sir William Jervois engaged counsel in the person of Mr. Vaughan, and the defence was ably conducted by that gentleman. The tribunal was constituted under local native law, with Rajah Muda Yusuf and Rajah Allan Houssein as Judges; and Mr. Davidson, the British Resident at Perak, and Mr. Maxwell, Acting Assistant Resident at Laroot, were present to watch the case on behalf of the British Government. The report of the trial will shortly be laid upon the Table.