§ 29. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what provision is made for the 2,250,000 Chinese in the Federation of Malaya to vote at elections; and what plans are being considered for their future enfranchisement.
§ Mr. MaclayAny Chinese over 21 years who are citizens of the Federation and who have lived in a constituency for the previous six months may register there as voters. Future qualifications for the franchise will be the subject of recommendations by the independent Constitutional Commission for the Federation of Malaya, whose Report is awaited.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Minister aware that there are almost the same number of Chinese in the Federation as there are Malayans, and that for every seven Malayans on the register there is only one Chinese? If the qualification for registration is that a man must have reasonable knowledge of the Malayan language, and if it is to be held against the Chinese and the Indians that they cannot register because they do not know the language, how many would be able to register in this country if that qualification applied to Scotland and Wales?
§ Mr. MaclayI think it would be improper for me to comment on future arrangements pending receipt of the Report of the independent Constitutional Commission to which I have referred.
§ Mr. AwberyCould not the language qualification be amongst those things to be reconsidered?
§ Mr. MaclayThe trouble is that I have not seen the Report, so I cannot say what is in it.