NINE
CARDINAL PRINCIPLES OF THE RULE OF THE ENGLISH RAJAH
1.That Sarawak is the heritage of Our Subjects and is
held in trust by Ourselves for them.
2.That social and education services shall be
developed and improved and the standard of living of the people of Sarawak
shall steadily be raised.
3.That never shall any person or persons be granted
rights inconsistent with those of the people of this country or be in any way
permitted to exploit Our Subjects or those who have sought Our protection and
care.
4.That justice shall be freely obtainable and that the
Rajah and every public servant shall be easily accessible to the public.
5.That freedom of expression both in speech and in
writing shall be permitted and encouraged and that everyone shall be entitled
to worship as he pleases.
6.That public servants shall ever remember that they
are but the servants of the people on whose goodwill and co-operation they are
entirely dependent.
7.That so far as may be Our Subjects of whatever race
or creed shall be freely and impartially admitted to offices in Our Service,
the duties of which they may be qualified by their education, ability and
integrity duly to discharge.
8.That the goal of self-government shall always be
kept in mind, that the people of Sarawak shall be entrusted in due course with
the governance of themselves, and that continuous efforts shall be made to
hasten the reaching of this goal by educating them in the obligations, the responsibilities,
and the privileges of citizenship.
9.That the general policy of Our predecessors and
Ourselves whereby the various races of the State have been enabled to live in
happiness and harmony together shall be adhered to by Our successors and Our servants
and all who may follow them hereafter.
Note
: The Cardinal Principles are set out in the First Schedule to the Sarawak
(Constitution) Order in Council, 1956. They originally formed part of the
Preamble to Order No. C-21 (Constitution), 1941, enacted by Charles Vyner Brooke, the 3rd Rajah of
Sarawak.
Source
: Report of the Commission of Enquiry, North
Borneo and Sarawak, 1962.
