§ Mr. W. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will take steps to reinforce military and security forces in Malaya in view of the increase of terrorist activity in that country?
Mr. Creech JonesI cannot accept the assertion that terrorist activity in Malaya is increasing. There were 278 bandit attacks in November, but the corresponding figures for December, January and February were 232, 198 and 115. The High Commissioner has emphasised on148W several occasions that what is required to bring the emergency to an end is more and better information about bandit locations and movements and a more determined refusal by the Chinese population to give assistance to the bandits under threat and intimidation, rather than an increase in military forces. In the opinion of the responsible authorities, any increase in the security forces should be by way of strengthening the Police Force, the expansion of which, as well as of the Malay Regiment, is continuing as rapidly as possible.