While the main officers of the two governments were British (white), the Native Officers appointed acted as a bridge between the rulers and the local ethnic groups. Reading of the Sarawak Gazette would give readers a chance to know some names and activities of the Native officers . For example in 1947, Tuanku Suroh shot a crocodile 14 feet long at Kuala Lintang, near Trusan in December. Another well known Native Officer was Michael Toyad.
The Sarawak Native Officers were called "konsil" in Iban. They were held in highest regards by the Ibans and other natives.
The Chinese Affairs Officers also fulfilled the same role as their native counterparts.
Dato Sri Peter Tinggom started as a student Native Officer in 1947. After his confirmation 9 months later he was posted to his hometown Saratok. Confirmation at that time meant that he had passed the Criminal Procedure Code, Ethnic Customary Laws (Third Division Tusun Tunggu and the Malay Malay Undang-Undang. He worked with R. Rennick, Abang Morni, MM McSporran, R.G. Keith and Abang Mostopha. Many Native Officers were "Abangs" in those days.
When the Sarawak Administrative Office was created all the posts of native officers and Chinese affairs officers were named Sarawak Administrative Officers or SAO.
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