§ 2. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what proposals have now been made by the Sultan of Brunei in relation to the Malaysian Federation.
§ The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations and Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Duncan Sandys)I have nothing to add to what I said in reply to Questions yesterday.
§ Mr. SorensenCannot the right hon. Gentleman give the House more information about the proposals of the Sultan regarding the Malaysian Federation, concerning which I believe his Answers yesterday were by no means complete? How long ago was he aware of the growing resentment against these proposals lest the considerable wealth of Brunei was to be dispersed over the other Colonies? Further, is not the cry of the rebels "Brunei for the Bruneians" in view of the wealth which they fear may be lost?
§ Mr. SandysIt is usual that those who have wealth are not too keen to share it with others.
§ Mr. HealeyWithout wishing to press the right hon. Gentleman too far on the current events in Brunei, may I ask him 185 at least to acknowledge the fact that the party which opposes federation won a clean sweep at the elections in Brunei last August and that the Sultan himself has not yet declared himself to be in favour of these proposals? Would he not agree that precedents in Central Africa and the West Indies make it most important that countries should not be compelled to accede to federations against their will?
§ Mr. SandysI do not know what the hon. Gentleman has in mind. As far as I know, nobody is trying to compel Brunei to enter the Federation of Malaysia against its will. It certainly is not in our power to take a decision of this kind. As I said yesterday, this is a matter which the Government of Brunei must decide on their own.