§ 66. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the request of the United Malayan National Organisation and the Malayan Chinese Association for a 60 per cent. elected Malayan Legislature represents public opinion in the Federation; and if he will take steps to encourage these organisations which are adopting a constitutional method by acceding to their request to increase the elected members from 52 to 59 or alternatively to reduce the nominated members from 46 to 39.
§ Mr. LytteltonNo. The coalition composing the U.M.N.O.-M.C.A. Alliance is only one of the political parties in the Federation. Until the first Federal elections have been held it would be quite wrong to assume that any one party enjoys a monopoly or even a majority of support from public opinion on major constitutional issues of this kind. I know 25W of no political party in the Federation—except the Communist Party—whose methods are not constitutional.
I am sure that hon. Members will agree with me in expressing the trust that they will all, including the Alliance, demonstrate their attachment to constitutional procedure by submitting their policies and their claims to the test of popular support provided by the verdict of the electors at the polls. I have to concern myself with the welfare of the Federation and its peoples as a whole; and my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport) yesterday shows my confidence that nearly the full substance of the Alliance's wishes is met by the decisions already taken—which are, of course, the result of the most careful consideration of the views of all sections of opinion in the Federation.
§ 72. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he has given in respect of proposals for the widening of the franchise and wider representation in Malaya.
§ Mr. LytteltonI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport.)