§ 40. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply has been given to the People's Party of Brunei to 984 their official request for a written constitution which will give the electorate 75 per cent. of the seats in a legislative assembly.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydSo far as I know, none, Sir. The party's representations were made to the Sultan, in response to His Highness's general invitation for comments when publishing the proposed new constitution for Brunei.
§ Mr. RankinIs not the Secretary of State aware that more and more people in this area are becoming disaffected because so much of the oil revenues is going to the autocratic Sultan and so little is going to them, and that that is the reason for the formation of this party and the request for a written constitution? Will he agree to meet Sheik Azahari to talk the matter over now that he is in London?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI do not accept the hon. Gentleman's suggestion about the way in which the revenues of Brunei are distributed. In regard to the particular Question he asks, the Sultan has stated that he will send me his observations, through the High Commissioner, when he has had an opportunity of studying the party's representations together with any other representations about the constitution which are made to him. I think it important for the hon. Gentleman to realise that Brunei is an independent, protected State in treaty relationship with Her Majesty's Government, and petitions and other requests from subjects of the State must, therefore, properly be sent to the Sultan in the first instance.