Hansard

Summary Of Proposals For Constitutional And Electoral Changes In Sarawak

Volume 646: debated on Tuesday 24 October 1961

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( a) Electoral registers to be instituted and maintained in respect of all persons eligible to vote.

( b) The franchise to be extended to all persons over the age of 21, subject to residential qualifications and the usual disqualifications.

( c) The present indirect, or tier, system of elections to be retained.

( d) The duration of the present Council Negri, and consequently of District and Divisional Councils, to be extended to the middle of 1963.

( e) Subsequent Legislatures, District and Divisional Councils to be elected for a period of four years.

( f) The President of the Council Negri to be replaced by a Speaker.

( g) The nominated, ex-officio and elected membership of the Council Negri to be reconstituted to consist of:—

  • (i) fifteen nominated members, of whom not less than four would be unofficial;
  • (ii) three ex-officio members (Chief Secretary, Attorney-General and Financial Secretary);
  • (iii) twenty-four members elected from Divisional Advisory Councils. The direct seats for Kuching Municipal, Sibu Urban, and Miri District Council to be abolished.

    • ( h) At an appropriate time and after consultation with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, some unofficial members of Supreme Council to be associated with the formation and presentation of Government policy on specific subjects.