Greater Malaysia

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29827, 21 May 1962, Page 10

Greater Malaysia

The Prime Minister of Malaya (Tunku Abdul Rahman) probably has good reason for his hope that the federation <jf Greater Malaysia will be set up by the end of the year. The very strength of the opposition to his plan may help him, since it tends to drive opponents into a Communist rather than a Chinese grouping. The whole basis of all his considerable political achievements has been his ability to attract some Chinese support; and moderate Chinese opinion supports him on Greater Malaysia, which offers the best prospect of linking Singapore effectively with Malaya. The addition of North Borneo, Sarawak, and Brunei (population 13 million) would provide almost exactly the right counterweight to predominantly Chinese Singapore (population 1.6 million), and thus make federation tolerable to Malaya (population 7 million, half Malayan, onethird Chinese, and the remainder mainly Indian). The Tunku has bluntly said that unless the wider union is established he will cut the causeway linking Singapore to the mainland. That would sever Malaya from its most convenient port; but it would save Malaya from the threat of Chinese domination and , deprive Singapore of access to its hinterland. Greater Malaysia is a sensible solution to a political and communal problem, in spite of the administrative difficulties of incorporating only half an island widely separated from the Malayan peninsula and populated largely by a different people. The merger of the British territories in Borneo with Malaya and Singapore makes good economic sense

too. Borneo’s nearest market is Singapore and the economies of the areas are complementary. The Borneo territories have already reached a degree of union among themselves, with a common judiciary, geological survey, arid civil aviation and meteorological services. 1n'1953 a standing inter-territorial commission was established. The territories have been moving towards a customs union. A wider union would be better still, and would strengthen al] of the members of the proposed federation. Given a continuation of the sound administration that has characterised independent Malaya, the new State would provide a useful example to its more populous and chaotic neighbour, Indonesia Indeed, some Malayans and Indonesians, visionaries perhaps, believe that the ultimate destiny of both branches of the Malayan people is in a great federation embracing Indonesia, too. That is not a matter of practical politics now; Greater Malaysia is.