Page:MALAYSIA BILL (Hansard, 26 Juli 1963).djvu/7

 It must be of considerable irony that yesterday we dissolved the Central African Federation, yet here we are to-day passing a Bill to create another Federation. The great difference is that the Central African Federation was one that was imposed upon the people there by the United Kingdom Parliament, whereas this Malaysian Federation stems from the will of the people who are involved. This is a great difference, and I suggest to Parliament that this should be the example. Before you can move forward you have to see that the peoples are behind you, and, above all else, that they themselves understand the implications of their own agreement. Therefore, we look to this Federation with considerable hope. The noble Marquess has said that, apart from Singapore, the other States themselves have declared their position, and, as we know, the Cobbold Commission reported in similar terms. May I say how pleased we are to see the noble Lord is in his place and to know that he will take part this afternoon?

The position in regard to Brunei is a matter of regret, but I suggest that there may be some advantage in it. As Brunei is a rather autocratic State, I think there would be considerable advantage if, within a short time the democratic position in the State could be extended so that when the Sultan decides to enter the Federation, as I have no doubt he will decide, it will, again, be a decision of the people. We should not wish to feel that one part of this Federation had been brought in where the wishes of the people had not been declared.

When I was out in the East a few months ago there was much argument that this Federation was part of the East-West manœuvre, that this was an attempt by the West to create a state of affairs which would be another buffer to Chinese Communists. I would suggest this is not the case. I myself believe that this is one more step in granting independence to the peoples of our Empire, a step that was started in the days of my noble friend Lord Attlee with the granting of independence to India and Pakistan. It is a continuing process, and I hope it will go on. Undoubtedly it will create stability, but I hope it will be accepted that this is not part of building of a bloc either against the Chinese or against the Indonesians.

I must say I have some doubt about the creation of a federation. I think in this case we should regard this as a first step in the creation of a united nation. Federations, particularly where many races and many religions are involved, create special problems, special strains. Where there are autonomous or semi-autonomous states in a Federation there is a long-term risk of friction and jealousy arising. In the case of the Federation of Malaya, of the nine states and two settlements of Penang and Malacca, we saw a Federation but with a fairly tight central control; and we have seen, as I think the noble Lord, Lord Ogmore, would agree, a blending and uniting together. One can hardly say that the Malayan peninsular is a federation in the usually accepted sense of the word. It has become a united nation under its King and Prime Minister, and this is something which I hope will take place in due course. I would not wish to see it hurried, but I would hope that this creation of a federation is the first step.

There was some concern in another place on the question of religious freedom. It is true that in Malaya it is against the law to convert a Moslem to another faith. It is perhaps hard in Europe to understand this, but in the East it is difficult for a nation and its religion to be separated; they are regarded rather as one. I would suggest that this is something that we should accept. But I can say, speaking from my own personal experience of living in Malaya for many years, that there is complete freedom of worship, complete freedom to preach and to enroll within one's church, except, as I say, for the bar of the Moslem religion. As the noble Marquess has said, in the case of the states this particular religious freedom is enshrined and protected.

I think we must recognise that the economic difficulties for the Federation of Malaya will be greater than in the past. Rubber and tin are still not what they should be. There has been some strain, I believe, on overseas currency. They are taking on the heavy responsibility of Borneo and Sarawak, which are in themselves not very well developed. In the case of Singapore, they have there own problem, a large population, massive slums, considerable unemployment; they have a very large young population, many of them wonderful boys and girls passing examinations of G.C.E. standard, but with very little opportunities for suitable employment. This is a great problem. Therefore, I hope that our country and the rest of the Free World will continue to do what they can to develop the rubber and tin trade, that they will try