OMAR SAIFUDDIN ALI OF BRUNEI SAW THROUGH THE BRITAIN/MALAYA PLOT
BDEP Malaysia Stockwell pg 83
In addition to oil and status, Omar Saifuddin would have been influenced by public opinion in Brunei. It is clear that he emerged from the Brunei revolt in no mood to surrender to democratic demands, but at the same time he saw no reason to flout the strong anti-Malaysia feelings revealed by the rising.
Sensing widespread opposition to close association with Malaya, he was willing to make a popular gesture. The British had long been urging him to appeal to the wishes of his people, and it was ironic that he chose to do so by rejecting the centre-piece of their Southeast Asian strategy. On his return from London after the July 1962 talks, Omar Ali received a rapturous welcome from the crowd gathered to meet him at the airport.
Bruneians were:
"PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO SULTAN OMAR ALI SAIFUDDIN III FOR EXTRICATING HIMSELF FROM A SCHEME THAT WAS HANDED DOWN TO HIM ALMOST AS A FAIT ACCOMPLI BY BOTH THE BRITISH AND MALAYAN GOVERNMENTS".
The Sultan also had a British legal expert advisor, Neill Lawson
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