Injured Sarawak Governor Flown To Singapore

Chronicle (Levin), 5 December 1949, Page 5

Injured Sarawak Governor Flown To Singapore

Received Monday, 10.30 a.m. SINGAPORE, Dec. 4. The Governor of Sarawak, Mr. Duncan George Stewart, aged 45 vears, who was wounded at Sibu veslerday wjien an attempt was made to assassinate him with a knife, was flown to Singapore this evening. He was accompanied by one of Singapore's leading surgeons, who earlier in the day had flown from Sibu to Singapore. During the flight Mr. Stewart was given blood transfusions andwas cheerful when he arrived at Singapore. The Governor was stabbed by a 16-year-old Malay student, who had been standing^ in-a row of school children. Another youth carryinsr a camera joined in the attack almost simultaneously. Mr. Stewart suffered one stab wor.nd, which perforated his intestinrs in a number of places. The Governor had inspected a pof'ce guard of honour and was walking slowly along rows of school children when suddenly a Malav youth stepped out, of the line and plunged a knife into the Governor's .stomac-h. Police and officials grabbed the youth and also seized a seeond boy as he .ioined in the attack. Mr. Stewart was carried to the Sibu Hospital and operated on within 20 minutes. If was later confirmed that the assailants belong to an anticessionist organisation. An offlcial authority said that the anticession movement in Sarawak had become the shield behind which Corimunist and Indonesian subverrive elements did their work. The offlcial added: "The movement is a verv sincere one and has been allowed to carry on its agitation with out interference.''