SEPARATE ADMINISTRATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 25699, 24 January 1946, Page 6

SEPARATE ADMINISTRATIONS

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS AND MALAYA BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S NEW POLICY LONDON, January 22. The Government proposes to regroup the Straits Settlements and the Malay States to form two* separate Administrations —namely, the Colony of Singapore and Malaya. The Malaya Union will comprise nine Malaya States, also the settlements of. Penang and Malacca. This policy has been announced in a Government White Paper. The Malaya Union and Singapore will have separate Governors and executive Legislative Councils, making for speedier and more efficient administration. The White Paper says that readjustment of the Straits Settlements will be rendered possible by the enactment of the Straits Settlements (Repeal) Bill now before Parliament. As regards the Malay States, the new policy requires that His Majesty, as the British Crown, must provide a common link drawing together the various parts of the communities in Malaya, and should be able, under the Foreign Jurisdiction Act, to legislate for .all the Malay States alike. SPIRITUAL LEADERS. Malay leaders, after consultations conducted with friendliness and goodwill, have accordingly made fresh agreements which will supplement the existing treaties and grant full jurisdiction in each State to His Majesty. The Malay rulers have a special position as the traditional spiritual leaders of the Malay people. .It is therefore, proposed that the ruler in each Sta£e shall preside over the Malay Advisory Council, whose functions will mainly relate to matters of the Mohammedan religion. Each ruler will also be a member of the Central Advisory Council of Malay (Rulers, which will be under the chairmanship of "the Governor of Malaya. The Union will review all legislation affecting the Mohammedan religion and may discuss other subjects at the Governor's discretion. The Constitution of the Malaya Union will provide for a central authority, consisting of the Governor, with an Executive and Legislative Council, to which the central authority will delegate such as are appropriate to the purposes of local government. An important feature of the new policy is the proposed establishment, in a country which possesses large nonMalay communities, of a Malaya Union. Citizenship of the Union will be acquired by all persons born in Malaya, or who, at the date on -which the Order in Council become operative, have been resident there for 10 of the preceeding 15 years. POSITION OF SINGAPORE. Singapore, with economic and social interests distinct from those of the mainland, will not be a part of the Malaya'Union, but it is not part of the policy to stand in the way of their ultimate amalgamation, should such a course be considered between the Union and the Colony regarding trade and matters requiring a full identity of policy 'throughout Malaya. The importance of this connection attaches to the new appointment of a GovernorGeneral, who, in respect of the Union and Singapore, -will not have any direct administrative functions, but will coordinate and direct the policies of the Government. There will, in both territories, be an initial phase between the end of the military administration and the inauguration of the new Constitutions during which the Governors will legislate, with the advice of the Advisory Council, and, in particular, consider the composition and character of the various councils to be created with a view to making them as fully representative and broad-based as possible.