CONSTITUTION OF MALAYA

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 7

CONSTITUTION OF MALAYA

Revised Proposals Announced

CREATION OF NEW FEDERATION (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. July 24. The Colonial Office, in a White Paper giving revised proposals for the Ma-. Isyan Constitution, says it is hoped that a Federation of Malaya will be created early in 1948. The White Paper, discussing Malay’s fears that the first proposals deprived them of sovereignty and permitted dominion by non-Maleys, says that the High Commissioner will have the special responsibility of safeguarding the Malays’ special position “and the legitimate interests of other communities.”

The White Paper continues: “The proposed Federal Legislative Council will have a slight preponderance of Malay members. It will comprise nine presidents of the Malay Councils of State, one representative of each settlement council, and 50 other members representing various groups and interests.”

The Colonial Office says that the allocation of seats on - tills system is likely to give the Malays 22 seats, the Chinese 14, the Indians five, the Europeans seven, the Ceylonese one, and the Eurasians one. It is proposed to hold early elections.

The White Paper says that in a matter such as immigration, the High Commissioner*will, have the particular duty of consulting the Malayan rulers on and the Malay members of the Legislative Council, in the last resort, will have a decisive voice in accepting or rejecting any major change of policy. The Colonial Office says that the establishing of the new Constitution will be without prejudice to the possibility of Singapore joining the federation later.