Summary: Film showing Sarawak, the youngest colony of the British Commonwealth.
Description: The film indicates that a hundred years ago Sarawak was a land of poor peasants and fishermen and that its first white Rajah (Sir James Brooke) arrived there in 1839. The hornbill, which is regarded as a war god. The art and tradition of the colony; the Dyaks, who number forty per cent of the population. The film then shows how they earn a living. It shows: farmers and smallholders continuing as their forefathers did; sago from the sago farms; oil output and refineries; the exporting of rubber; timber being sold; the spectacular recovery of the pepper industry; turtles and their eggs still keenly sought after. The film concludes by showing how the powers of the white Rajah are being transferred to a local council. The Governor in Council has the Rajah's former powers. Sarawak is divided for administrative purposes into five divisions, each in charge of a residence. Each division is split into districts where social services, education and health are closely watched. The final shots indicate that 'there is hope and peace here'.
Production Details: Malayan Film Unit (Production company)
Law, Ow Kheng (Production individual)
Hipkins, B H (Production individual)
Wood, Tom (Production individual)
Shamsudin, Osman (Production individual)
Weng, Wong Khye (Production individual)
Bhaskaran, V G (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Brooke, James (person)
