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 (i) Employment and Scholarships The indigenous peoples to enjoy the same privileges as the Malays in Malaya, including a fair share of Government employment and of overseas training and scholarships. Preferential treatment for indigenous peoples should not, however, be made " hard and fast ".

(j) Religion The Constitution of the new Federation to guarantee freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice and propagate any religion freely.

(k) Armed Services Each State to be permitted to make a fair contribution of manpower to the armed services of Malaysia.

91. On all other matters, the party supports the recommendations made in the report of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee.

92. Finally, the party regards it as most important that a clause should be included at the beginning of the Constitution that any State that finds it not acceptable shall have the right to withdraw from the Federation.


 * Barisan Ra'ayat Jati Sarawak (BARJASA)

93. This party was formed only a short while before the arrival of the Commission in Sarawak. It is composed of Malays, Ibans, Land Dayaks and Chinese, but it was difficult to assess the extent to which it was attracting substantial support. Its headquarters, and its principal source of strength at the time of our visit, was in Kuching.

94. The party is in full support of the proposal to create a Federation of Malaysia and with most of the recommendations in the report of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee. Particular points made by the party are the following:

(a) Head of State The party considers that he should be a person who is indigenous to Sarawak and that he should be styled the Yang di-Pertuan Negara. The party does not consider it appropriate that a Sultan or Rajah should be appointed for the purpose of making the Head of State in Sarawak eligible for appointment as Head of the Federation.

(b) Chief Minister While agreeing with the recommendation of the M.S.C.C. that the Chief Minister must be someone who has the support of the State Legislature, the party considers that, if Malaysia comes into being before the next General Election in Sarawak, the votes of the official as well as the unofficial members of the Council should be taken into account in deciding this question.

(c) General Election The party considers that the existing system of indirect elections should continue at least until the next General Election.