§ 54. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what evidence there is of subversive propaganda and activities in British North Borneo, Brunei and Sarawak; what is its nature; what ordinances have been introduced recently to deal with subversion; and what are the provisions of those ordinances relative to the entry of British and Malayan publications into those territories.
§ Mr. ProfumoThe most serious subversive threat to Sarawak arises from the increasing importation of propagandist literature from Communist China. The Sarawak Sedition (Amendment) Ordinance was therefore enacted on 9th May, 1958, to prohibit the import without permit of literature in Chinese and some other languages. English and Malay are not included. Subversive propaganda and activities do not at present constitute so serious a problem in North Borneo and Brunei and no recent legislation has been necessary.