Description
Object description
British civilian served with Colonial Administrative Service as British Resident on Labuan Island, North Borneo, British Borneo, 1940-1942; internee on Labuan Island, North Borneo and Brunei, British Borneo, 1/1942-9/1945; civil servant with Malaya Civil Service in Federation of Malaya, 1948-1953; served as Secretary for Defence and Internal Security in Federation of Malaya, 1953-1957
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as civil servant and Secretary for Defence and Internal Security with Malayan Civil Service in Federation of Malaya, 1948-1957: reaction to outbreak of insurrection leading to introduction of State of Emergency; opinion of failure of authorities to take prompt action; possible causes of insurrection; role of Chinese squatters in insurrection; introduction of identity card system; control of arms and explosives; failure of Communist Party of Malaya to recruit non-Chinese; role and duties; operation of deportation regulation.
REEL 2 Continues: system of deportation; dealing with questions in Legislative Council; question of collective punishment; contrast in the approaches of High Commissioners Sir Henry Gurney and Sir Gerald Templer; question of policy of divide and rule; attitude of Malay Chinese towards Communism; political losses amongst Chinese due to Emergency; question of monetary rewards for information.
REEL 3 Continues: question of martial law; impact of economic damage; importance of the Baling Talks, 12/1955; periods of particular crisis; attitude towards insurgents; geographical areas of insurrection; origins of strength of Communist Party of Malaya; role of Indians during State of Emergency; anticipation of Independence; reasons for failure of Communists; refusal to accept consuls from People's Republic of China. Aspects of period as British Resident with Colonial Administrative Service on Labuan Island, North Borneo, British Borneo, 1940-1942: disposal of food and fuel stocks.
REEL 4 Continues: Japanese air attacks on Labuan; destruction of codes and ciphers; Japanese landing, 1/1942. Aspects of period as internee on Labuan Island, North Borneo and Brunei, British Borneo, 1/1942-8/1945: capture by Japanese; his exhibiting in cage and humiliation before local population; offer of local sultan to supply him with alcohol during captivity; Japanese killing of Chinese chief of police for passing information, 1945.