UCAPAN DI PARLIMEN BRITISH

Kemerdekaan Tanah Melayu dibahas di Parlimen England.
29 Julai 1957

LORD REID
The best Constitution cannot ensure success. Success requires political steadiness in the electorate, and wisdom and forbearance in the leaders. But those qualities exist in Malaya, and I believe that they exist to such an extent that they will be able to cope with the problem in front of them. There is a very long task in building a united nation in Malaya after Merdeka Day, but I do not believe that it is beyond the powers of those who will have to shoulder the burden. I know that I speak for all Members of the Commission over which I presided when I say that we acquired, and we retain, a very personal and sincere liking for the peoples of that country—I should now say the people of that country—and we shall retain a keen interest in their future. I am sure that, on behalf of all of us, I may express our confident good wishes for the success of the new independent Malaya.

LORD SHEPHERD
We have a great obligation to Malaya, for if Malaya had gone Communist I believe all South-East Asia would have gone. Malaya is the key to South-East Asia, and I hope Her Majesty's Government will remember that fact on any occasion when they are approached for assistance...
I hesitate to give any advice to the people of Malaya, but this I will say. I believe that the leaders of U.M.N.O. and M.C.A., the main partners of the Alliance Government, are aware of the dangers of racial strife, and are determined to be fair to all sections of the community. But that is not enough. All sections, particularly the more militant part or section of the Malay and Chinese community, must show equal tolerance to each other and make no demands that they know will meet with bitter opposition and resentment from the others...


THE EARL OF PERTH
The Commission which was set up under the chairmanship of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Reid, contained distinguished representatives of three Commonwealth countries, apart from the United Kingdom. There was Sir William McKell, from Australia, Mr. B. Malik, from India, and Mr. Justice Abdul Hamid from Pakistan; and from this country, apart from the noble and learned Lord, Lord Reid, who was chairman, there was Sir Ivor Jennings. Indeed, if it had not been for illness, the representative of one other member of the Commonwealth—Canada—would have taken part in the Commission. It is indeed a great tribute to the Commonwealth, and to the impartiality and wisdom of Malaya, that the Commission has done its task.

This Bill does not grant self-government, but enables Her Majesty the Queen to enter into an agreement to establish an independent Federation of Malaya and to provide by Order in Council for its implementation. It withdraws United Kingdom protection and jurisdiction from the Rulers, and arranges for Penang and Malacca, at present part of Her Majesty's Dominions, to join the Federation as two new States on equal terms with all the other States. At the same time it preserves the United Kingdom nationality status of those, and particularly those who are known as the "Queen's Chinese," who are now citizens of these two States. After Merdeka Day, all citizens will look to the Federation as their nation to whom their loyalty is due...

[Reply to Question]
Some disappointment has been expressed in Malaya by certain groups at their position in the Constitution. Compromise, however, is the essence of a Constitution, and Her Majesty's Government are confident that all groups have been fairly treated. To-day, Malaya has a wise and multi-racial government. Its foundation has been laid not only by the Malayans but also by many British officers. The noble and learned Lord, Lord Reid, said that they had been operating for eighty years, he thought, in Malaya. I think the time goes back probably 170 years...

LAPORAN HANSARD PARLIMENT ENGLAND
RUJUKAN HL Deb 29 July 1957 vol 205 cc245-61