SOAS III Political Developments

SOAS III Political Developments

1959 Constitution and the Malaysia Plan

Multiple Choice

In what year did Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III ascend to the Brunei throne?

• 1940

• 1950

• 1960

• 1970

​Two important political developments during the reign of SOAS III

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• ​​The signing of the 1959 Constitution​

• ​​The Malaysia Plan question

​Let's recap 1959 Constitution!

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Fill in the Blanks

SOAS III set up a seven-member committee to find out the people's views regarding having a constitution. What was the name of the committee?

Great! Don't forget its name... Tujuh Serangkai!​

​

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT the job of the Tujuh Serangkai?

• Tour Malayan states and learn their constitution

• Visit villages to find out views of the people regarding constitution

• Help SOAS III to draft the constitution for Brunei

• Find out if people of Brunei wanted to join Malaysia

​Okay so the jobs of the Tujoh Serangkai were

• ​Find out what the locals think about having a constitution

• ​Make visits to Malay states to learn about their constitution

• ​Come back and report to SOAS III about Malaya's constitution

• ​Help SOAS III draft a constitution

• ​Rearrange and improve the State Council

Multiple Choice

State the full date of the signing of the 1959 Written Constitution.

• 29 September 1959

• 29 October 1959

• 29 September 1969

• 29 October 1969

​The 1959 Constitution was very important for Brunei because

• ​It marked the beginning of self-government

• ​Sultan of Brunei was now the supreme head of state

• ​The Residential System was abolished, replaced with High Commissioner

• ​New important posts were created like Menteri Besar and State Secretary

​The 1959 Constitution was such an important feat as now Brunei fully controlled its internal affairs! Bruneians were now running their own government. Wow!

Multiple Choice

Let's see if you remember! Resident was abolished and replaced with which post?

• Menteri Besar

• High Commissioner

• Consular

• Ambassador

Multiple Choice

How many new councils were created under the 1959 Constitution?

• 4

• 5

• 6

• 7

​5 New Councils:

• ​Executive Council

• ​Legislative Council

• ​Council of Succession

• ​State Religious Council

• ​Privy Council

​

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​Thus, the State Council was extended and the local people were given important responsibilities to run their country.

Multiple Choice

Brunei now had full control of its internal affairs. Which of these was still under British control?

• Home affairs

• Islamic affairs

• Foreign affairs and defense

• Financial affairs

​Another reason 1959 Constitution was significant was because....

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​SOAS III was able to protect our religion and language by making

​

​Islam the official religion

​

and

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​Malay the official language

​Are you thankful yet? :-D

​Great! Now that Brunei was in control of its internal affairs, the Sultan could decide important decisions for the country!

​ And yes! This includes the time when Brunei had to decide whether or not to join Malaysia...

​

​Let's recap!

Multiple Choice

When did Tunku Abdul Rahman propose to merge Malaya with Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei?

• 31 May 1962

• 27 May 1961

• 4 June 1967

• 1 January 1984

​Tunku Abdul Rahman proposed the merger because

​1. To create a stronger and wealthier Malaya

​2. To balance the Chinese population in Malaya and Singapore

​3. As a way to give independence to Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei

​

​In other words, we would become a bigger and stronger federation, and we would get automatic independence.

Poll

Let's hear your say! Should we join Malaysia?

• NO THANK YOU SIR

• Let's hear what are the gains?

• Maybe?

• YES YOLO

​What was the response of SOAS III?

• ​He wanted to seek the people's views first by forming the Brunei-Malaysia Commission

• ​When the commission failed to give a clear decision, he sent observers to go to Kuching to attend the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee Meeting.

​What was the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee Meeting at Kuching?

• ​ Meeting to discuss the details of the Malaysia Plan

• ​Find out the advantages and disadvantages of the Plan

• ​Brunei representatives then report to SOAS III the details

​

Multiple Choice

In the middle of SOAS III deciding to join Malaysia, a rebellion broke out in 1962. Which party led this rebellion?

• Parti Komunis Brunei

• Parti Rakyat Brunei

• Parti Sarikat Islam

• Parti Rakyat Borneo

Multiple Choice

In the end, SOAS III decided to decline to join Malaysia. What were his two main reasons?

• His support for Parti Rakyat Brunei and the issue of oil revenue

• The issue of oil revenue and his junior rank as monarch

• The issue of oil revenue and the issue of Chinese population

• His support for Parti Rakyat Brunei and his junior rank as monarch

​Yep, so the two main reasons SOAS III rejected the Malaysia plan were

​

​1 The issue of oil revenue: Brunei could only keep its oil money ten years, then it would be taxed and managed by the Federal Government of Malaysia. SOAS III tried to negotiate but his offer was rejected.

​

​2 The issue of being most junior in rank to become monarch: If Brunei joined, SOAS III would be the last to become Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, after all the other 14 states took their turn as monarch.

Multiple Choice

Phew! So under the Malaysia plan, how many years could Brunei keep its oil revenue, before the Federal Government collected the taxes and royalties on oil?

• 6

• 8

• 10

• 12

Multiple Choice

Finally, when was Malaysia formed with Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak? These states would automatically become independent from Britain.

• 31 August 1957

• 16 September 1965

• 29 September 1959

• 16 September 1963

​Great work! We are almost at the end of the lesson.

​After the Malaysia issue was over,

​

​A few years later, Britain planned to end the 1959 Constitution.

​

​What will happen now?

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​What will SOAS III's next step be?

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​Clue in the picture... For next time!

Poll

Last slide! How are you feeling about the lesson on 1959 Constitution and Malaysia Plan?

• I understand why SOAS III wanted the constitution, and why he chose not to join Malaysia.

• I understand a fair bit about the lesson, but I think I need more explanation on some parts.

• I need a lot more help from my teacher to understand the topic.

• I do not understand at all.