Katalog Hansard

Ahli² Yang Berhormat, saya telah menerima perutusan ber- tarikh 28hb Jun, 1966 daripada Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Saya bacha- kan perutusan itu: "Warkatul-ikhlas walmuhibbah ia- itu daripada Beta Ismail Nassarud- din Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Malaysia. Mudah²an barang di-wasalkan oleh Raboul "alamin ka- Majlis Yang Berhormat Dato' Chik Mohamed Yusuf bin Sheikh Abdul Rahman, S.P.M.P., J.P., Yang di- Pertua Dewan Ra'ayat Malaysia yang ada beristirahatulkhair pada masa ini di-bandar Kuala Lumpur dengan beberapa selamat dan ke- sejahteraan-nya. Waba'dah ehwal Beta sangat suka- chita menerima warkah Dato' yang bertarikh 22hb Jun, 1966 kerana menyampaikan ketetapan uchapan terima kaseh Majlis Dewan Ra'ayat Malaysia kerana Titah Uchapan Beta pada masa membuka Penggal yang Ketiga Parlimen yang Kedua. Beta meminta kelapangan Dato' harap-lah jua kira-nya Dato' me- nyampaikan terima kaseh Beta kapada sakalian ahli² Majlis Dewan Ra'ayat Malaysia kerana membuat ketetapan yang tersebut dan jua di- atas perasaan yang tulus ikhlas yang telah di-tunjokkan kapada Beta itu akan di-kandongkan di-dalam ingatan Beta sa-lama²-nya. Demi- kian-lah sahaja Beta mema'alumkan di-sudahi dengan salam ta'dzim jua ada-nya. Termaktub pada 28hb Jun, 1966."

Ahli2 Yang Berhormat, saya hendak mema'alumkan ia-itu saya telah menerima satu perutusan yang bertarikh 28hb Jun, 1966 daripada Yang di-Pertua Dewan Negara ber- kenaan dengan perkara-perkara yang tertentu yang telah di-hantar oleh Majlis ini meminta di-persetujukan oleh Dewan Negara. Sekarang saya meminta Setia-usaha Majlis mem- bachakan perutusan itu kapada Majlis ini. (The Clerk then reads the message): "Mr Speaker, The Senate has agreed to the follow- ing Bills : (1) to establish the Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation Fund to provide for the management of that Fund and other matters incidental thereto; (2) to provide for the custody and preservation of public archives and public records of Malaysia and for matters incidental thereto; (3) to amend the Societies Act, 1966; (4) to amend the Employees Provi- dent Fund Ordinance, 1951; (5) to authorise the borrowing of a sum not exceeding the sum of ninety-four million dollars in order to finance the payment of the share of the Federation in the Buffer Stock to be established under Article X of the Inter- national Tin Agreement, 1965, and for purposes incidental thereto; (6) to amend the Exchange Control Ordinance, 1953; (7) to amend the External Loans Act, 1963; (8) to authorise the raising of loans outside the Federation in the form of receiving goods or services and delaying the pay- ment of the price therefor and the value of services together with interest thereon to some future dates and to provide for matters connected therewith; (9) to enable effect to be given to an international agreement for the establishment and operation of the Asian Development Bank and to enable the Federation to be- come a member thereof and to make provisions for matters connected therewith; (10) to amend the Loan (Local) Ordinance, 1959; (11) to amend the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Ordinance, 1959; (12) to repeal the Midwives Ordi- nance, 1954, and to enact a law to provide for better provisions regulating the registration of midwives and the conduct of midwifery and other matters connected therewith; (13) to amend the Local Government Election Act, 1960; (14) to amend and re-enact the law relating to the control of rent and matters incidental thereto; (15) to make provisions as to the exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf adjacent to the States of Malaya and for matters connected therewith; (16) to make provisions relating to the issue of exploration licence and petroleum agreement with regard to exploration, prospecting and mining for petroleum in the States of Malaya and to provide for matters connected therewith; without amendment. (Sgd.) DATO' НАЛ ABDUL RAHMAN, President"

Ahli² Yang Berhormat, saya hendak mema'alumkan kapada Majlis ini bahawa Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di- Pertuan Agong telah memperkenankan Rang Undang² berikut yang telah di- luluskan oleh Parlimen baharu² ini.

1. Tunku Abdul Rahman Fund Bill, 1966. 2. National Archives Bill, 1966. 3. Societies (Admendment) Bill, 1966. 4. Employees Provident Fund (Admendment) Bill, 1966. 5. Loan (International Tin Buffer Stock) Bill, 1966. 6. Exchange Control (Amendment) Bill, 1966. 7. External Loans (Admendment) Bill, 1966. 8. Extended Credit Bill, 1966. 9. Asian Development Bank Bill, 1966. 10. Loan (Local) (Amendment) Bill, 1966. 11. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Amendment) Bill, 1966. 12. Midwives Bill, 1966. 13. Local Government Elections (Amendment) Bill, 1966. 14. Control of Rent Bill, 1966. 15. Continental Shelf Bill, 1966. 16. Petroleum Mining Bill, 1966.

Ahli2 Yang Berhormat harus ingat, ia-itu Majlis ini di- meshuarat-nya yang lepas telah meng- izinkan Yang Berhormat Ahli bagi Tanjong supaya mengemukakan satu Rang Undang² yang bernama Rang Undang² Perlembagaan Pindaan untok meminda perkara 159 bahagian 3 dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia. Sekarang saya hendak memberitahu Majlis ini bahawa saya telah menerima laporan Yang Amat Berhormat Per- dana Menteri mengenaï Rang Undang² ini sa-bagaimana yang di-tetapkan dalam Peratoran Meshuarat 49 baha- gian 4, nyata-nya, berbunyi demikian "Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Dewan Ra'ayat Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Constitution Amendment Bill Pursuant to Standing Order 49 (4) of the Standing Orders of the Dewan Ra'ayat, I have the honour to make the following report on the above Bill introduced by the Honourable Member for Tanjong. I have con- sidered the Bill, and I can find nothing objectionable in its phrasing in form. As the Bill seeks to amend the Constitution, the provision of Article 159 of the Constitution will have to be complied with. Saya dengan hormat-nya,

1. Tan Sri Fatimah binti Haji Hashim bertanya kapada Perdana Menteri: (a) ada-kah sa-saorang Pegawai Kerajaan yang mendiami rumah- nya sendiri boleh mendapat elaun rumah sama banyak dengan wang yang di-bayar kapada sa- saorang Pegawai yang tinggal di-rumah sewa, dan jika tidak, kenapa kadar elaun rumah yang di-bayar kapada mereka ber- bedza²; dan (b) ada-kah beliau sedar bahawa perbedzaan dalam kadar elaun rumah yang di-bayar kapada Pegawai2 Kerajaan yang tidak mendudoki rumah² Kerajaan me- nguntongkan tuan2 rumah bah- kan juga tidak menggalakkan Pegawai2 Kerajaan membena dan memileki rumah sendiri.

1. Tan Sri Fatimah binti Haji Hashim bertanya kapada Perdana Menteri: (a) ada-kah apa² sharat dalam Per- atoran 'Am atau Peratoran² Kerajaan yang lain-nya yang membolehkan Pegawai² Kera- jaan meminjam wang Kerajaan bagi maksud membena rumah² mereka sendiri; (b) jika ada, berapa sa-tinggi² pin- jaman yang boleh di-beri kapada sa-saorang pegawai bagi maksud ini; dan (c) ada-kah Kerajaan menganggap bahawa jumlah wang ini chukup untok membena sa-buah rumah.

I am aware that some of the provisions of our General Orders and Financial General Orders are a little bit musty and probably should be committed to the National Archives. In fact, this Government has already started to work on the new General Orders, and it has been revised and the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council will be consulted as soon as the revised drafts are ready. With regard to the Financial General Orders, all the sections have been revised, with the exception of Chapter V and section B of Chapter VI. These revisions are made by instruction from the Minister of Finance and has been in effect from the 1st of July, 1966. Chapter V that has not yet been revised deals with travelling expenses, subsistence and transport allowances, and section B of Chapter VI deals with loans and advances. These will be incorporated in the revised General Orders.

1. Tuan Haji Abu Bakar bin Hamzah (Bachok) bertanya kapada Perdana Menteri nyatakan: (a) apa-kah chorak pemerentahan Kerajaan Pusat sekarang ini Ke- bangsaan atau Sosialis-kah; (b) apa-kah sikap Kerajaan terhadap tuntutan UMNO supaya Malay- sia sekarang mengubah chorak menjadi sa-buah Negara Kebaji- kan yang berchorak Sosialis Sederhana; (c) sama ada Kerajaan mengakuï kenyataan yang di-keluarkan oleh Yang Berhormat Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tun Haji Abdul Razak bin Dato' Hussein, bahawa Kerajaan sekarang ia- lah yang berchorak Demokratik Nasionalis; dan (d) dapat-kah Kerajaan menerang- kan maksud² dan tujuan-nya apabila mengakuï diri-nya sa- bagai Kerajaan Demokratik Nasionalis.

Saya berpuas hati dengan keterangan apa yang di-berikan oleh Yang Amat Mulia Perdana Menteri itu kerana saya faham maksud-nya. Tetapi saya suka bertanya ada-kah Kerajaan kita sedar dan telah membuat langkah² bagi menolak tudohan² kapada akhbar² di-luar negeri yang mengatakan negara kita ini berchorak "aristocratic" sa- bagai tersebut di-dalam majallah "Time", 1 haribulan Julai. Jadi jauh- lah bedza-nya dengan apa yang di- terangkan oleh Perdana Menteri kita. Jadi ada-kah Perdana Menteri kita sudah buat langkah² untok menolak tudohan burok itu sa-macham itu atau pun akan buat lagi. Yang kedua, sadikit sahaja Tuan Yang di-Pertua, kalau-lah Yang Tera- mat Mulia Perdana Menteri kita berniat juga hendak membuat welfare state tetapi keadaan tidak mengizinkan, ada-kah pada fikiran yang Teramat Mulia Perdana Menteri kita bahawa dalam hayat-nya Welfare State ini sempat di-buat atau pun sudah ter- lepas, agak-nya.

Jadi di-dalam kete- rangan yang telah di-berikan oleh Yang Teramat Mulia Perdana Menteri bahawa sa-nya sa-kira-nya 20% dari- pada pendudok Malaysia ini telah membayar chukai pendapatan maka di-sana-lah ada kemungkinan atau pun Kerajaan akan mengadakan Wel- fare State. Tetapi di-dalam satu kenyataan yang telah di-buat oleh Yang Ber- hormat Timbalan Perdana Menteri, jawapan bagi penchadang daripada Yang Berhormat Wakil daripada Sebe- rang Prai Utara di-dalam persidangan UMNO baru² ini, kata-nya kalau kira-nya di-adakan Welfare State maka itu akan menimbulkan pergadohan di- dalam kalangan Perikatan sendiri, sa- bagaimana yang di-siarkan oleh surat khabar. Oleh sebab yang demikian saya hendak tahu-lah sa-takat mana.

With your permission, Sir, I would like to answer question No. 5 and question No. 7 together because they deal with the same subject: one was put by the Honourable Member for Batu and the other one by the Honourable Wan Hussan, the Member for Tumpat. The fact remains that these questions deal with what happened to our High Commissioner in Australia-Tun Lim Yew Hock. It was alleged that he had a little lively affair with a certain lady, who performs dressing and undressing in public (Laughter). According to a personal report from Tun Lim Yew Hock himself, he never had any opportunity or pleasure of going about with this particular person. He might have met that person at a night club, because people living in Australia do go from time to time to all these night clubs, because there is no other club that is opened after certain hours and all these clubs which are opened after certain hours are called "night club". According to his own infor- mation-I have had no occasion to doubt his words-he has never been out with this girl, and this is corro- borated by the police who interviewed the girl herself, because when she was interviewed, Tun Lim Yew Hock had already disappeared but she was still in the club. So, it turned out that all these reports that one heard and read in the papers are not true. They are a little bit of sensational news that is intended to please certain sections of the people there. I have made a thorough investiga- tion into this, and I myself have no Yew Hock told me was not true. Therefore, I think Honourable Mem- bers need not take it to heart. When I mentioned this subject to a certain person from Italy, he turned round and said, "What of it? Certain Ambassadors in Italy had disappeared for months (Laughter) with different girls from different night clubs (Laughter); we never take any notice of that! But, all of a sudden the people of this country appear to be too saintly concerning the affairs of other people; they appear to register shock and so on, but I am sure, except for a few members, nobody is free from entanglements of this sort (Laughter). If he does escape, well, he has missed something in life. How- ever, I am not supporting what happened in Australia. I am just saying this as a joke and I hope you will take it as such, but I can tell you that those whom we have appointed to send out abroad have been-I can honestly say it-good, true and loyal subjects of this country and have represented this country well. A little incident like this should not really disturb the minds of the strait-laced members of this Parliament.

Let me be quite honest, Mr Speaker, Sir. I did not know that it was held up at all, because on the usual day I received my own particular issue; and so I do not know where the Honourable Mem- ber got the idea that this was held up-maybe it was because this paper was late in appearing in this country.

Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as I know, it is from the report I received from our representative there, from the Australian official, and I have also got plenty of cuttings which are more revealing than what it says there. (Laughter). If he wants to make further investigation, I am quite prepared to offer a study tour for that particular lady to come here and be interviewed by the Honourable Member for Batu. (Laughter).

Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Honourable Prime Minister aware that in this issue of the Herald of Canberra dated 24th June, Mr Ezpeleta, the Philippine Ambassador and, I think, he is the Dean of the Canberra Diplomatic Corps, is re- ported to have said, "There are some who think that Tun Lim is not as ill as stated and others who think he is worse". Would the Honourable Prime Minister care to comment on this statement by the Dean of the Diplo- matic Corps in Canberra?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Honourable Member for Batu brought up the question that that particular issue of the Time Magazine was delayed by the Police. Now, I would like to make a statement on that question, because otherwise it may be misconstrued that we have taken special action against that particular issue of the Time Magazine. Sir, it so happened that that particular maga- zine was submitted to the Police for vetting one day later than was the usual practice, and that was the reason why it was released one day later than usual. As to why it was submitted one day later, I cannot find out the reason - probably, it was because of that picture, but I person- ally think there is nothing wrong with that picture: the lady was quite well covered, only revealing certain ana- tomy of the body but there is nothing to be excited about. (Laughter).

Will the Honour- able Prime Minister assure this House that it will not be the Government's policy to assess the quality of our foreign diplomats on the same level as that of the reported quality and level of the Italian diplomats whom the Honourable Prime Minister referred to just now?

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, soalan yang akhir. Saya hendak bertanya kapada Yang Amat Berhor- mat Perdana Menteri, mengikut berita dalam surat khabar bahawa Pesuroh- jaya kita yang dahulu ia-itu Tun Lim Yew Hock akan di-lantek menjadi Ambassador-Duta di-Italy, ada-kah perkara ini betul atau tidak? Kalau sa- kira-nya betul, saya takut kalau di- Australia dia telah hilang dan pergi kapada night club yang 800 batu ia- itu di-Sydney, saya takut kalau dia jadi Duta pula di-Italy di-sana dia ber- jumpa pula Diplomat yang telah berchakap dengan Perdana Menteri, harus dia akan hilang sa-tahun barang- kali dan perkara ini amat-lah merosak- kan nama baik Malaysia.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the principles of Malaysia's foreign policy have been explained to this House so many times that I thought the Honourable Member might have under- stood by now, but obviously he has not. However, I will try to enlighten him on this fact-that Malaysia really subscribes to an independent foreign policy and that, in so far as we can, we want to be friendly with every country that would like to reciprocate our sentiments. There are certain countries, of course, who do not like us, and there are others who like us. So, we attach ourselves or be friendly with those countries which are friendly with us; and those countries like the Communists, who do not like us, we keep away from them. That, so far, has been our policy. We are admittedly not a pro-Communist country, and as such it might be rightly said that we belong to the West. But on the other hand if the Communists were to change their attitude in life, or change their policies and pose no threat to countries who wish to lead their own lives, there is no reason why we should not be friendly with them. At the moment, having gone through 12 years of Communist trouble in this country, we are a little bit wary of them, because we understand, and we are told, that Communists the world over are Communists: whether they are Chinese, or they are Russians, they are Communists and part of International Communism; and as our country is small, our people are rather divided, so we have got to take a little bit of care in what we do, or whatever policy we embark on. The main con- cern of ours is to preserve the security of this country for the good of the country and for the good of the people as a whole.

So far, it has been the Communists who have been stirring up trouble in all these Asian countries. Why does not the Honour- able Member pay a little attention to what they have been doing in this country, and in every country in South-East Asia, where they hope to gain certain dominance in order to change our way of life, to impose their own way of life on us? Why does he not pay a little attention to that? All he does is to find fault with the Americans, with Britain, with that, with this, but never with the Communists; and this despite our own experience whereby we have suffered terrible loss in human lives, in loss of property, from all kinds of mischiefs that we can think of-all this was the work of the Communists-and yet he wants us to be friendly with them. If he can guarantee or get the Communists to guarantee, or to give us their assurance that they would not disturb our way of life, leave us alone to lead our own way of life, I say there is no reason why we should not be friendly with them. All along, wherever they have been, wherever they find a footing, they go and stir up trouble and trouble and trouble. Therefore, those countries, from my experience, that have worked with the Communists have not made their people happy, and I do not see why we should change our way of life, our present policy, because on the whole it can be said, justly said, that our people are among the happiest in the world. (Question No. 7 was taken together with Question No. 5).

The Honourable Member would have noted that a joint state- ment on this subject was issued simultaneously by the Malaysian and Singapore Governments on the 17th August, 1966, in which it was stated that as from 12th June, 1967, both Malaysia and Singapore would issue their own separate currencies. Although I agree that there are advantages in having a common currency, there are also major and inherent difficulties in any arrangements where one central bank issues currency for two indepen- dent countries, especially if such countries should pursue widely diver- gent economic and trade policies. I also agree that in the past the economies of Malaysia and Singapore have been closely interwoven. At the same time, it should be remembered that this was the result of a deliberate policy pursued by the then British Administration which regarded both Malaya and Singapore as one economic unit and shaped their policies accor- dingly, even though before the war this area was divided into 7 separate administrations, which were reduced to two administrations in the post-war period. Between 1957, when the then Federation of Malaya became inde- pendent, and 1963 when Malaysia came into being, Singapore was still not completely independent, and hence pan-Malayan arrangements were still in force in vital areas of economic policy and activity. Since the separation of Singapore from Malaysia in August last year, the position is radically different. We now have two indepen- dent and sovereign states and the sooner businessmen and bankers in both countries realise that it is utterly unrealistic to try to go back to the status quo obtaining before Singapore Day, the sooner and the better they will learn to adjust themselves to the new situation. Having said that and in spite of all these, the Malaysian Government made herculean efforts to reach agreement with Singapore on a common currency. For example, Malaysia would have been ready to issue its own currency on 12th June, 1966, that is two months ago, when Singapore was separated from Malaysia last August. In fact the former Federation of Malaya would have issued its own currency much earlier but for the impending formation of Malaysia. In order to accommodate Singapore, however, the Malaysian Government agreed to postpone the issuing of currency by Bank Negara Malaysia for a whole year to June 1967, and its officials went through not less than 18 meetings in 10 months to try to reach agreement with Singapore. The Inter- national Monetary Fund sent two missions to advise and help us, and the last mission went away with a firm impression that both Governments would accept the draft agreement, in view of the fact that their respective officials had already agreed to it. It is unlikely that the I.M.F. would be prepared to send a third mission after all the trouble they took to explore this question from every possible angle, especially when its advice has been rejected by the Singapore Government. On the other hand, the Malaysian Cabinet accepted the draft agreement, which had been agreed to by the officials of the two countries, apart from one minor reservation made by the Singapore team of officials on the question of nomenclature. Further, a decision had to be taken soon as our printers in London had warned us in no uncertain terms that unless orders for the new currency notes were placed immediately, they were unable to guarantee that such notes would be ready for issue by 12th June, 1967 by Bank Negara Malaysia. In this connection, I should also add that the Malaysian Government tried to persuade the Currency Board to extend this date, that is the date when the Currency Board ceases to issue currency, by a further six months, to 12th December, 1967, in order to give more time within which to reach agreement with Singapore. Unfortu- nately, we failed to get the unanimous approval for such an extension. It will therefore, be seen that our Government has bent over backwards in order to reach agreement with Singapore. To be fair to Singapore, I should add that any currency agreement which aims to cater for the needs of two sovereign independent countries must necessarily be cumbersome and unwieldly as agreement has necessarily to be reach- ed only after a series of compromises which satisfy neither side completely. I can, therefore, appreciate Singapore's reluctance to enter into an agreement of this kind. Consequently, I also suggest that this is not the time for mutual recrimi- nation. There is nothing unique in two independent countries having two separate currencies. In fact, the other way round would be unique, because even the International Monetary Fund has not come across a situation which is similar to the one which exists between Malaysia and Singapore. The very fact that the agreement proposed was unique and that it was hammered out after the most tortuous negotiations must necessarily mean that, even if it were implemented, there would have to be the most intimate co-operation and the maximum amount of goodwill and understanding even to make it tolerably workable. There are, therefore, compensating advantages in having two separate currencies and so long as the two monetary and banking authorities co-operate to the maximum extent possible, the financial and economic relationships between Malay- sia and Singapore should not be more difficult in the future than they have been in the past. On behalf of the Malaysian Govern- ment, I pledge this co-operation. At the same time, I should add that it is ridiculous to suggest that Malaysia will lose anything by going it alone in the matter of currency. It is sufficiently large to be viable on its own in this matter, and indeed in many other matters. If I may, I would like to address one last word to the business com- munity. It is clear that some of them still have not been able to adjust themselves adequately to the new and changed conditions. They still regard Malaysia and Singapore as one unit economically as it was in the good or bad old days of colonialism, which- ever way you like to look at it. Unless Singapore becomes part of Malaysia again those days are gone, probably for good and the longer they cherish this delusion, the more difficult will be the eventual and inevitable re- adjustment.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am, in fact, rather surprised that this outburst should come from, of all people, Honourable Members on the opposite side. As I have been trying to say, what they suggest or what they, I think, imply by their remarks is that we should still retain the old pattern of financial and economic co-operation. I have been trying to point out that this, in fact, is an unnatural system because, if I may put it in another way, it really means that the Opposition benches want Singapore to be tied to Malaysia's economic apron strings, and they also want Malaysia to be tied to Singapore's economic apron strings. This is a relic of the past, which is no longer with us. It is, in fact, a relic of a colonial system of administration, which regarded the whole of the Malay Peninsula as one economic entity, although there was a legal fiction that they were separate political entities. Now, what is good enough for the past or what was workable in the past, is clearly not workable, when you have two separate independent countries, both fully sovereign. For example, I can give one instance, that is, Hong- kong, which is roughly the size of Singapore and much smaller than Malaysia and no one has suggested that the currency of Hongkong should be tied to the currency of Communist China to make it stable.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I never said that there are no virtues in having a common currency. There are advantages and disadvant- ages either way, but what I am trying to say is that the separation of the single currency into two is not an unmitigated disaster, and in point of fact, if the businessmen of both countries were to learn to adjust them- selves quickly enough, in the long run it could be a blessing in disguise.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think it is correct to imply, as the Honourable Member for Bungsar has implied, that the Inter- national Monetary Fund does not agree with the Malaysian Government. I should make it quite clear, to be fair to the International Monetary Fund, that it itself made it clear when it came here that it could only advise on the technical aspects of this matter; it is not for the IMF (it is the last thing they would wish to do) to advise on the political aspects of this matter. And let us remember that this is not purely a financial and economic exer- cise: it has got major political implications, because this arrangement does involve major issues of financial, monetary and economic policies, so you cannot divorce this matter from its political aspects. Secondly, this matter of secrecy is not entirely of our own choosing. Both Singapore and we agreed that it would be in the public interest not to speak too much, because if we were to issue such a statement, then we might have to indulge in mutual recrimination and that will not augur well for the future-after all, it is the future which counts and let us forget the past. Thirdly, it is the question of-what is the third question?

On the question of reasons for the break down, I should, I think, add that there is a psychological aspect to this. The people of both countries have been so used for so long (sixty years is the period mentioned), they have been used for such a long time to a common currency that an immediate break would, I think, produce a psychological effect in the sense that the business community and others would feel that from now on there might be an erosion of the value of their currency with the resultant loss of confidence, but a lot depends on how we conduct ourselves. If both Malaysia and Singa- pore were to pursue rational and sensible financial and economic poli- cies, I see no reason why both currencies should not be as stable, if not more stable in the future than it has been in the past. This is purely a matter of psychology, and that is of some importance where confidence is concerned.

Mr Speaker, Sir, what we and Singapore have done is exactly what has been suggested by the Honourable Member. We have agreed to disagree; and we both feel that the only solution is for both of us to issue separate currencies. As for the assurance that we will co-operate in future, I have made it clear in my opening statement that we will do so. In fact, I said that I would pledge our co-operation.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to make it clear that it was not the international Monetary Fund which insisted that it should be brought into these negotiations be- cause, in fact, the Malaysian Govern- ment had suggested that the I.M.F. be brought in, so that it could advise both Governments impartially. We felt that there was considerable advantage in having a third party, whose inter- national standing was beyond question, to come into this matter and with its considerable expert knowledge to advise us. With regard to the second point raised by the Honourable Member for Bungsar, there is no question of treat- ing public opinion with contempt. As I have tried to show, raising all these controversies now, when the thing is a closed chapter, when in fact nothing more can be done, would not help the matter because that would at once create a lack of understanding, to put it very mildly, between the two Governments and would make future co-operation more difficult. After all, as I have said already, it is the future rather than the past which matters. Raking up the past now, especially when we have not been able to reach agreement, will certainly not increase our chances of future co-operation. That is why both Governments felt that the less said the better, but I believe that something should be said, and that is why I said, I think, enough to show that nothing more can be done about this matter. In regard to the general question of the generally uneasy effect on the Opposition, I cannot understand one thing. No one can say that Malaysia is not viable if we were to issue our own currency--no one can possibly say that. I know there is no fear in so far as Malaysia is concerned, and I, therefore, fail to understand why the Opposition is so concerned. I have a feeling that they are not so much con- cerned with the interests of Malaysia as probably the interests of some other party or organisation (Applause).

Mr Speaker, Sir, it was precisely because we could lay ourselves open to having this "big brother" attitude that it was Malaysia which suggested that the I.M.F. should be called in to advise as an impartial third party, and what I have revealed so far should indicate very clearly that far from adopting a "big brother" attitude, we went out of the way to accommodate Singapore. If we had taken the "big brother" attitude, nego- tiations would not have started at all. (Note: Question time was up and the Answers to Oral Questions Nos. 9 to 22 are given below).

Persons registered under the National Service Ordinance, 1952, are not required to obtain an exit permit in order to go to Sabah but are required to inform the National Service Department before they do so. Exit permits to countries outside Malaysia are normally issued to such persons by the proper authority on being satisfied that the cases are genuine and where the persons con- cerned do not come under the category required for specific duty under the National Service. On this case, the authority had always issue exit permits to persons who produced evidence that they had obtained employment in that country, through labour agency or firms, etc. The authority cannot, however, con- sider the issue of exit permits to persons merely on the ground that they are seeking employment in that coun- try, because this might lead to abuse. A lot of those who would want to evade call-up would continually be asking for exit permits on the ground of looking for jobs outside Malaysia.

The Government is not aware of any activities of this nature by certain leaders of political parties in this country. Such activity, if con- ducted, is without doubt detrimental to the security of this country and it is the duty of every loyal citizen of this country to report such activities to the authorities. Perhaps the Honourable Member will supply me with the names and full particulars of such persons so that the necessary investi- gations can be made.

The arrest and detention of leaders of the Opposition political parties referred to by the Honourable Member were made be- cause of their active participation in Indonesian confrontation against our country with the aim of toppling the Malaysian Government. Their activities therefore were considered prejudicial to the security of Malaysia. The action taken against them speaks well of attitude of the Alliance Government in the sense that in many other coun- tries in the world persons found parti- cipating similar activities would have been dealt in accordance with the ordinary process of elimination. The Orders of Detention made against persons who are still in deten- tion are reviewed periodically by an independent Advisory Board. If the Board considers that a particular detainee is no longer a threat to the security of Malaysia, it will make a recommendation that he be released unconditionally or in certain cases released subject to certain conditions. In view of this, I cannot give an assurance that all political detainees will be released unconditionally or that the restrictions placed on those who have been released will be withdrawn unless it is reported that they no longer constitute a security threat.

There are 842 poli- tical detainees in Malaysia. The break- down of this figure is as follows: States of Malaya 260 Sarawak 391 Sabah 191 All these persons have been detained for participating in activities which are considered to be prejudicial to the security of Malaysia. The period of detention is usually two years but there is provision for this period to be extended. In the case of the 260 detained in the States of Malaya, 148 are serving a two-year period of detention while the remaining 112 have up to-date been detained for more than two, but less than four years. In the case of the 391 Sarawak detainees, 227 are serving a two-year period of detention while the remaining 164 have been in detention for more than two years but less than four years. In the case of the 191 Sabah detainees, 113 have been held in detention for more than two years but less than four years, while the remaining 78 are serving a two-year period of detention.

The new identity cards now being issued in Sarawak are of three different colours, i.e., blue, red and green. Blue coloured cards are issued to citizens, red ones to non- citizens who are permanent residents, and green ones to temporary residents. It is necessary to determine properly the citizenship status of those who are applying for the new identity cards so that they could be issued with the right ones. Those who claim to have been born in Sarawak and were ordinarily resident in the State on Malaysia Day must produce their birth certificates in order to qualify for citizenship by operation of law under Section 2 (a) of Part I of the Second Schedule of Article 31 of the Constitu- tion. Otherwise they cannot be issued with blue coloured identity cards meant for citizens. In the process of issuing the new identity cards in exchange for the former ones it is therefore necessary to ask the applicants to produce their birth certificates if they claim to have been born in Sarawak. (Those who were born in Sarawak but could not produce their birth certificates because their birth was not registered may apply for late registration of birth).

Payment of compen- sation for explosives (which include fire-crackers) possession of which has been taken or surrendered pursuant to the Preservation of Public Security Regulations, 1963, is governed by the Preservation of Public Security (Com- pensation) Rules, 1966, which were published in the Government Gazette on 5th May, 1966. The Secretary, State War Executive Committee was allocated with the necessary funds in July, 1966, and payment is expected to be made soon. With regard to the arms and ammu- nition taken over by Government in pursuance to the Preservation of Public Security Regulations, 1963, it is not the policy of the Government to pay compensation to the owners as it is the intention to return the guns and ammu- nition to the respective owners when the situation justifies such return.

I presume that the Honourable Member is referring to the eligibility of Commonwealth goods for preference when imported into the States of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. It is true that in the three customs areas in question different rates of what are termed as "Common- wealth content" are specified before these goods qualify for preference. Such differences as regards not only eligibi- lity for preference but with regard to preferential margins themselves do exit at present in these three customs areas, but the process of harmonisation is taking place and when this exercise is completed, then these differences will no longer exist. As the Honourable Member himself is aware, such harmo- nisation is to take place only in gra- duated stages.

I would like first of all to put the record straight in regard to the size of the financial gap in the First Malaysia Five-Year Plan. The Plan document itself spells this out quite clearly as being M$1,900 million or about US$630 million, and not M$630 million as mentioned by the Honourable Member in his question. The gap of M$1,900 is clearly a large sum of money and amounts to about 42% of the resources required to finance the public sector of the Plan. As Honourable Members are aware, I have stated earlier that the response of a number of countries comprising the Consultative Group on Aid to Malaysia was most encouraging at the meeting of this Group held in London in May this year. Subsequent to that meeting my officials have been negotiating with the representatives of various member countries of this Group in Malaysia on the form and quantum of external aid that may be expected from them. These negotiations by their very nature have to be rather protracted and it is too early as yet to assess the practical results at this stage although certain countries have already indicated what the overall size of their aid would be. In regard to the proposed build-up of the Armed Forces, I would like to point out that the First Malaysian Plan envisages that priority will be given to economic development. To quote the Honourable the Prime Minister, he stated that "we are in the process of expanding our Army, which, in the end, will give us nearly 20 battalions". This is a target and of course must be subject to the availability of financial resources. Furthermore, this target expansion of the Army does not neces- sarily have to coincide with the Plan period of 5 years, i.e., 1966-1970, and the Honourable Member for Batu can rest assured that the Government, as it has in the past, will match the aspirations of Malaysia to her financial resources.

(a) Bilangan penuntut Malaysia yang belajar di-Universiti Singapura pada tahun 1964 dan 1965 ada- lah saperti berikut: Tahun Belajar 1964/1965 723 1965/1966 747 (b) Jumlah wang yang akan di-bayar maseh lagi dalam perundingan dengan Kerajaan Singapura dan ada-lah di-jangka persetujuan akan di-anggarkan bahawa Kera- jaan Persekutuan akan mem- bayar lebeh kurang $3.4 juta bagi tahun 1964 dan $3.5 juta bagi tahun 1965. Kita telah mem- buat satu bayaran pendahuluan sa-banyak $10 juta kapada Singa- pura untok perbelanjaan dari tahun 1959 hingga 1966 dan sa- lepas sahaja angka mu'tamad di-persetujukan oleh kedua belah pehak maka pelarasan yang perlu akan di-buat. (c) Perbelanjaan bagi penuntut per- ubatan ia-lah pada kadar $8,000 sa-orang dengan tambahan sa- banyak $2,500 bagi sa-orang penuntut yang mengikuti kursus kelinik. Bayaran ini maseh di- dalam perundingan di-antara Kerajaan Malaysia dan Kerajaan Singapura dan ada-lah di-jangka persetujuan yang mu'tamad akan terchapai tidak beberapa lama lagi.

There is provision in the First Malaysia Plan to establish an Agricultural College in East Malaysia, but due to inadequate supply of trainee material at Agricul- tural College level, no detailed planning and final decision on the subject has yet been taken.

I am glad to inform the Honourable Mem- ber that, in accordance with Section 36 in the Education Act, 1961, in any assisted primary and secondary school where there are 15 or more pupils professing the Islamic Religion, such pupils are to be given Islamic Reli- gious Instruction. It has been the policy and intention of my Ministry that such pupils be given Islamic Religious Instruction that would be basically sufficient for them during their nine years of schooling in the primary and secondary assisted schools in accordance with the present policy. In order to implement this aim my Ministry had convened a meeting in Kuala Lumpur with representatives from State Governments and State Religious Affairs Departments on the 16th of April, 1964, in order to inves- tigate and consider as to how Islamic Religious Instruction in assisted primary and secondary schools can be further improved. The proposals and the actions that are now being under- taken are as follows: (i) to appoint a Committee to review the syllabusus suitable to the age of the pupils and to recommend a suitable method of teaching religion; (ii) to appoint a Committee to select Islamic religious books in assisted schools; (iii) to improve the working condi- tions and experience of the religious teachers by having a teacher training course; (iv) to have a uniform salary scale and scheme of service for reli- gious teachers. The abovementioned Committees are still working on the proposals and it is expected that the Reports from these Committees would be forwarded at a meeting that will be attended by the officers of my Ministry and repre- sentatives of State Governments in the very near future. The Ministery of Education has however already initiated action to further improve religious education in assisted secondary schools relating to matters which could be carried out by the Ministry without having to discuss with the State Governments. At present my Ministry is carrying out a teacher training course for religious teachers in secondary assisted schools and it is expected that the training for the first batch of teachers will finish by the end of 1967. At the present moment this Ministry is considering and preparing a salary scale and scheme of service for religious teachers in secondary schools and it is expected that this salary scale and scheme of service will be ready by early 1967. As for the College Islam Malaya, the Federal Government and Muslim College Council have agreed that this College would be placed under section 25 (1) (f) of the Education Act, 1961 as a higher educational institution specia- lising in Islamic Religious Education. In order to achieve this objective a Joint Committee has been appointed to consider the constitution and adminis- tration of the College Islam and another Joint Committee has also been appointed to consider the set-up and syllabus of the College when it is to be placed under section 25 (1) (f). When these matters have been agreed upon by the Federal Govern- ment and College Islam Council, the College will be placed under section 25 (1) (f) of the Education Act, 1961 as a higher educational institution that will specialise in Islamic religious education and will get full aid from the Federal Government. The intention of placing the College under section 25 (1) (f) of the Education Act, 1961 is to enable the College to produce not only students who have undergone higher education in Islamic religion and who will in the end be able to hold positions in the religious fields but will also be able to produce students who can hold various posi- tions in the public service, commerce and industry. In order to implement the policy of the Ministry of Education so that the Islamic religious education in our country be further improved, this Ministry is at present considering a proposal to give full assistance to one secondary Non-Government Muslim Religious Schools in each State of West Malaysia. The system of educa- tion in these schools will follow the set- up and syllabus that has been laid down by the Ministry of Education in accordance with Education Act, 1961 and the students from these Special Schools will be able to go for higher education at the College Islam.

I presume the Honourable Member is referring to the Essential (Trade Disputes in the Essential Services) Regulations, 1965. These Regulations are only an emer- gency measure and their retention would no longer be necessary once the Emergency is declared over. Sir, I have already indicated in this House before that I am reviewing the whole system of industrial relations in the country. During this exercise I propose to draw on all our past experiences gained from the voluntary system of Industrial Relations, and also the experience gained from the Essential Regulations and evolve a system that can operate efficiently under any circumstances and which will meet the interests of not only the parties themselves, but also cater ade- quately for the national interest. The proposals, when they are ready, would be discussed with both sides of indus- try and their views would be given every consideration.

1. Dato' Haji Mustafa bin Haji Abdul Jabar bertanya kapada Menteri Per- tanian dan Sharikat Kerjasama ada- kah Kerajaan sedar ia-itu kelapa kering yang di-punyaï oleh pekebun kechil merupakan satu hasil yang besar di-negeri ini dan pasaran-nya sentiasa dalam tekanan orang tengah, dan jika sedar, terangkan apa ran- changan FAMA, jika ada, untok membela nasib pekebun kechil ini mendapatkan pasaran kelapa mereka dan bila-kah akan di-laksanakan ranchangan tersebut.

Tuan Yang di- Pertua, bagaimana Ahli2 Yang Berhor- mat sakalian sedia ma'alum, satu persetujuan telah di-chapai baharu ini di-antara negara kita, Malaysia, dengan negara Indonesia. Jadi apa hal berkenaan dengan perdamian itu, tuan telah pun membacha dalam akhbar², mendengar di-radio dan segala-nya. Chuma-nya saya, sa-bagai Ketua Dewan ini, mengambil peluang hen- dak merekodkan apa yang terjadi itu dalam rekod Parlimen ini sahaja, kerana tidak ada apa yang baharu yang dapat saya memberi tahu kapada tuan. Dengan persetujuan itu, satu perjan- janjian telah pun di-buat di-antara kedua negara yang berjiran. Jadi perjanjian yang tersebut telah pun di- edarkan kapada semua Ahli2 Yang Berhormat. Maka dengan terikat-nya perjanjian itu bererti-lah bahawa per- damaian telah pun terchapai di-antara Malaysia dan Republik Indonesia dan tamat-lah konfrantasi yang telah ber- jalan sa-lama tiga tahun. Di-dalam pertelingkahan yang telah berlaku itu, pehak kita dan juga akan kita, Kerajaan British, telah pun mengeluarkan banyak wang ring- git dan beberapa jiwa telah terkorban dan juga kita dapat pertolongan yang tertentu daripada Kerajaan Australia, New Zealand dan bantuan perkakas dan lain daripada Kerajaan Canada. Persetujuan yang telah di-chapai di- Bangkok dan kemudian-nya telah menjadi perjanjian yang telah di- tanda tangani di-Djakarta pada 11hb Ogos itu ada-lah mengandongi tiga perkara yang penting: (i) Ra'ayat Sabah dan Sarawak di- kehendaki menentukan ada-kah mereka suka hendak dudok di- dalam Malaysia di-dalam pilehan raya yang akan di-adakan menu- rut Perlembagaan negeri Sarawak dan Sabah. (ii) Kerajaan Republik Indonesia dan Kerajaan Malaysia bersetuju, dengan terhenti-nya konfrantasi ini, akan berhubong pula diplo- matic relation antara kedua buah negeri itu. (iii) Kerajaan Malaysia dan Kerajaan Indonesia bersetuju supaya per- batan "hostile" atau pun per- telingkahan ini mahu-lah di- rentikan sama sa-kali baik dengan mulut atau pun dengan apa jalan lain. Perjanjian yang penoh ia-lah sa- bagaimana yang ada di-edarkan di- hadapan tuan sakalian dan ini-lah sahaja satu-nya Perjanjian yang di- tanda tangani oleh Tun Abdul Razak. Ketibaan Tun Abdul Razak dan rombongan-nya pada 11hb Ogos di- Indonesia ada-lah mendapat sambutan yang gilang-gemilang. Sambutan yang di-rasai sangat mesra dan bagitu-lah juga apabila rombongan daripada Indonesia datang ka-sini kita pun memberi sambutan membalas kemes- raan mereka itu. Maka dengan Perjanjian ini segala kekusutan telah pun dapat di-selesai- kan dan terjalin-lah balek tali per- sahabatan antara Malaysia dengan Indonesia-itu kita harap sahaja-lah dan berdo'a ka-hadzrat Allah sub- hanahuwata'alla. Dengan itu bererti- lah kedua buah negeri itu tidak akan lagi bergadoh. Usaha Tun Abdul Razak sa-hingga terchapai-nya perdamaian di-antara kita dengan Indonesia itu telah di- sambut dengan meriah di-serata tem- pat dalam negeri ini oleh serta orang. Pada hari ini saya mengambil kesempatan dan peluang ini untok merakamkan di-dalam Dewan Ra'ayat ini uchapan terima kaseh dan rasa penghargaan yang sa-tinggi-nya di- atas segala jasa yang di-chapai oleh Tun Abdul Razak itu (Tepok). Dalam masa tiga tahun kita menghadapi konfrantasi, kita telah menghadapi satu ujian yang besar. Itu-lah masa-nya ra'ayat Malaysia di-uji tentang kejujoran dan ta'at setia-nya terhadap tanah ayer mereka sendiri. Alhamdullillah, boleh di- katakan seluroh ra'ayat dalam Malay- sia telah lulus dalam ujian itu dengan tingkatan yang tinggi kerana semua mereka itu boleh di-katakan, tidak kira apa bangsa, apa keturunan mereka, apa ugama mereka, telah memberi bantuan penoh-nya kapada Kerajaan. Ini ada-lah menjadi satu kemenangan yang besar kapada Kera- jaan dan negeri kita ini sokongan dan ta'at setia yang di-tunjokkan oleh ra'ayat jelata kita ini. Apakala Kerajaan buka Daftar Perkhidmatan Negara atau pun Ke- rahan Tenaga, boleh di-katakan semua ra'ayat masok mendaftarkan nama, sedia hendak mengorbankan nyawa segala-nya untok mempertahankan mempertahankan negeri-nya sendiri. Ini ada-lah berlainan daripada apa yang berlaku dahulu pada masa kita di- bawah ta'alok British. Pada masa itu kalau tuan ingat masa di-bukakan daftar supaya ra'ayat jelata mendaftar- kan diri untok berkhidmat dengan Kerajaan, kebanyakan-nya lari pergi ka-negeri China, lari pergi ka-negeri India, lari menyurok diri di-cherok rantau. Di-sini apabila di-buka daftar nama, boleh di-katakan tidak ada siapa pun yang lari melainkan ada-lah orang yang lari masok ka-sabelah sana itu-sabelah seteru kita-untok hendak berlawan balek. Itu tidak apa- lah kerana sikap berlawan, asal dia lari pergi lawan balek dengan kita. kita boleh kenal siapa-kah lawan dan siapa-kah kawan kita ini yang dudok dalam negeri kita. Memang tiap negeri ada sahaja musoh dalam selimut tetapi bilangan musoh dalam selimut itu tidak banyak. Ini membuktikan bahawa sa-lepas merdeka, semangat dan perasaan ra'ayat negeri ini terhadap kapada tanah ayer mereka ini telah banyak berubah daripada masa penjajah da- hulu bagaimana saya cheritakan itu tadi. Apa yang sadikit rasa mashghul ka- pada saya ini ia-lah Party lawan kita ini, bukan sahaja lawan dalam hal politik membedzakan politik antara mereka dengan kita tetapi ada dari- pada Party itu juga yang menyokong musoh yang hendak menghanchorkan kita, bagaimana tuan tahu, ada yang menjual berbagai di'ayah yang me- ngatakan kita hendak menggunakan pemuda kita ini menjadi peluru me- riam dan berbagai-nya dan menggesa mereka jangan mereka masok berkhid- mat kapada negeri ini, jangan ber- dasarkan negeri mereka itu. Ini semua ada-lah di'ayah itu yang di-keluarkan. Tetapi bilangan orang itu tidak ba- nyak. Ada juga di-antara ketua mereka yang menerima wang ringgit daripada pehak lawan kita itu untok hendak menolong Kerajaan luar hendak menghanchorkan negeri-nya sendiri. Ada sahaja itu di-masa berperang besar, ada di-panggil "quisling" dan sabagai-nya, nama yang di-beri ka- pada orang itu ia-itu orang yang menderhaka. Tetapi apa boleh buat dalam negeri yang berbilang bangsa yang banyak dan yang berchorak demokrasi, mereka berkuasa memikir, berkuasa membuat apa mereka suka, tetapi sayang-nya sadikit demokrasi yang sa-benar-nya tidak membenarkan mereka berlawan dengan negeri mereka sendiri, merosak- kan Kerajaan mereka sendiri, meno- long seteru menghapuskan negara mereka sendiri. Demokrasi berma'ana berkuasa, bersuara di-atas pemerenta- han ini, tetapi alhamdullillah, bilangan orang itu tidak-lah banyak, chuma- nya sadikit. Bilangan yang banyak ia- lah orang yang ta'at setia kapada negeri kita ini. Pada masa pilehan raya, mereka telah menunjokkan hati mereka itu dengan tidak memberi sokongan kapada party yang telah masok menyebelah lawan kita itu. Jadi, berbalek kapada perkara Per- janjian yang telah di-chapai itu, saya fikir Ahli Yang Berhormat khas-nya dan ra'ayat negeri ini 'am-nya, harus merasa sadikit terkeliru apabila men- dengar uchapan yang di-buat oleh President Soekarno pada 17hb Ogos, yang di-katakan bahawa Perjanjian yang di-buat di-Bangkok ada-lah ber- lainan daripada yang di-tanda tangani di-Djakarta. Di-dalam pengetahuan kita, tidak ada sa-barang perubahan pun. Orang itu juga yang menanda tangani di-Bangkok yang mendapat kuasa daripada Kerajaan mereka sen- diri dan orang itu juga yang menanda tangani di-Djakarta dan apabila di- tanda tangani, tidak ada janji lain melainkan Perjanjian yang tertulis dan di-tanda tangani di-Bangkok juga dan lepas di-tanda tangani di-terima oleh President Soekarno dan lain. Yang menyebabkan President Soe- karno mengeluarkan chakapan yang sa-umpama itu, ini saya sendiri tidak dapat tahu sebab-nya, harus juga barangkali dia hendak mengambil hati bilangan orang yang menentang Per- janjian yang telah di-persetujukan itu. Itu hal dia dan bukan hal kita. Hal kita yang kita besarkan, yang kita megahkan, ia-lah pergadohan yang telah berlaku sa-lama tiga tahun antara saudara orang yang sa-keturunan, sa- ugama ada-lah di-rentikan dan saya berdo'a dan berharap perberhentian itu ada-lah akan kekal sa-lama²-nya kerana kedudokan antara kedua buah negeri ini, kalau boleh, biar dudok dengan berbaik banyak-lah kegunaan akan timbul daripada itu, baik pun di- sabelah Indonesia atau pun sa-belah sini. Orang Indonesia boleh berniaga di- sini bagitu-lah juga orang di-sini boleh berniaga di-sana dengan tidak ada berbangkit sa-barang keraguan. De- ngan timbul-nya pergadohan yang sa- umpama itu rugi sa-mata², bukan sa- haja pehak Malaysia, pehak Indonesia juga. Jadi dengan kerana itu-lah kita membesar2kan tamat-nya konfrantasi yang telah di-jalankan itu. Satu perkara barangkali yang tidak dapat di-laksanakan dengan chepat masa-nya ia-itu pertukaran diplomatik. Barangkali dengan ada-nya pergado- han sa-lama 3 tahun, banyak-lah per- kara yang patut kita lichinkan atau pun patut kita perbetulkan dahulu daripada kita menerima diplomatik daripada Indonesia atau pun Indo- nesia menerima diplomatik daripada kita ini. Jadi masa yang hendak di- adakan perhubongan diplomatik akan lambat sadikit barangkali. Sunggoh pun dalam persetujuan itu kita telah menyebutkan, perhubongan diplomatik itu harus berjalan dengan masa yang chepat, tetapi kesulitan mesti-lah ada dan kerana kita hendak menjaga supaya jangan ada berbangkit perga- dohan pada hari hadapan atau perseli- sehan faham di-hari hadapan, maka dengan kerana itu-lah kita katakan, jangan-lah bergopoh-gapah kita letak- kan diplomatik kita di-Indonesia atau Indonesia di-sini. Ini-lah satu hal sahaja tetapi hal itu bagaimana saya katakan, ini tidak-lah menjadi satu tanggongan yang berat, satu perkara yang besar. Apa yang kita inginkan, apabila kita dudok dengan berbaik antara satu dengan lain menjalankan perhubongan persahabatan antara satu dengan lain bagaimana biasa kita dahulu itu. Lagi satu perkara juga yang saya suka hendak sebutkan di-sini ada-lah pada masa kita bergadoh dengan Indonesia, orang yang menentang kita atau parti politik yang menentang kita telah pun marah kapada kita, menegor kapada kita, menchachi kapada kita dengan mengatakan kita ini jahat, kita ini salah, semua-lah, macham kita dengar semua selalu menyalahkan kita. Jadi dengan itu kita pun meminta chuba sa-berapa daya memperbetulkan balek antara kita dengan Indonesia. Jadi apabila kita sudah perbetulkan balek dengan Indonesia kita tentu-lah suka juga mendengar sambutan yang baik daripada mereka tetapi tidak ada. Bagi pehak lagi satu pula, pehak, yang berlawanan dengan kita, musoh yang ada dalam negeri ini, bawa di'ayah yang lain pula. Diayah-nya mengatakan, sekarang Malaysia dengan Indonesia telah berbaik, orang China kita akan terancham antara kedua buah negeri ini akan berdasarkan orang China negeri ini. Ini musoh kedua pula di-dalam itu. Tetapi apa yang mereka tidak sedar ia-lah pada mula kita merdeka sampai timbul-nya konfrantasi, ada-kah negeri ini satu benda yang jahat, benda yang khianat, benda yang tidak baik terhadap kapada ra'ayat jelata dalam negeri kita ini? Ada-kah kita menunjokkan dengan persahabatan dengan Indonesia dalam lima tahun sa-belum berbangkit konfrantasi itu, yang kita berdasarkan orang yang bukan daripada bangsa Melayu? Saya ingat apa yang telah berlaku lima tahun dahulu, tidak ingat, satu hendak menchari sebab yang kita hendak berbaik dengan Indonesia kita hendak berdasarkan orang China. Kita tahu apa yang berguna kapada kita. Apa yang membawa kemajuan, kema'amoran, kesenangan kapada ra'ayat kita ini kita tahu ia-itu beker- jasama, berbaik antara satu pehak dengan lain pehak pendudok dalam negeri ini yang ta'at setia kapada negeri ini. Memang orang yang tidak ta'at setia, orang yang berlawan dengan negeri ini membangkit kachau- bilau yang menggunakan senjata hendak menumbangkan Kerajaan dengan sa-chara kekerasan, orang itu kita balas dengan kekerasan juga. Tetapi orang yang baik, orang yang menjadi citizen (warga negara), yang ta'at setia kapada negeri kita ini, kita tidak membeza dia Melayu, dia China, dia India untok hendak menjalankan pemerentahan negeri ini dengan chara adil dan saksama. Itu-lah ma'ana kita berkata negeri ini tidak ada "ism" chuma apa yang kita buat ia-lah menjalankan pemerentahan negeri kita ini dengan chara adil, dengan pertimbangan, saksama, dengan mem- berikan segala kebaikan kesenangan kapada ra'ayat kita ini. Ada-kah kita ini bagitu tidak bijak hendak buat binasa kapada satu puak yang dudok dalam negeri kita ini dengan kerana kita berbaik dengan Indonesia? Ini satu perkara di'ayah yang boleh di-katakan khianat. Jadi orang yang ta'at setia kapada negeri ini tidak harus ambil berat di-atas di'ayah yang sa-umpama itu. Jadi ada-lah sekarang ini konfrantasi telah berhenti, tidak ada manusia di-sini harus bimbang dan apa yang di-dengar daripada musoh yang tidak baik, tinggalkan-lah. Itu chakapan musoh. Itu chakapan yang hendak merosakkan perjalanan pemerentahan Kerajaan kita ini. Di'ayah yang jahat tidak harus perchaya oleh ra'ayat yang ta'at setia kapada negeri ini. Dengan habis-nya konfrantasi ini, bagaimana Ahli2 Yang Berhormat faham, yang telah di-sebutkan oleh Tun Abdul Razak sa-bagai Menteri Pertahanan, tentera Commonwealth akan berundor daripada Malaysia Timor. Jadi tempat-nya di-ganti de- ngan akar Malaysia sendiri. Jadi ini ada-lah perjanjian dan mereka pehak British ada-lah membuat di-dalam perjanjian yang kita buat dengan mereka. Jadi saya menguchapkan lagi sa-kali terima kaseh banyak kapada Kerajaan British yang telah menge- luarkan wang ringgit dan telah ber- korban nyawa akar tentera mereka itu di-dalam pertolongan mereka beri untok menahan negeri kita ini dan bagitu-lah juga terima kaseh kapada Australia dan New Zealand yang telah memberi bantuan baik harta-benda atau pun ra'ayat tentera mereka itu untok menolong menahan keselamatan kita itu dan juga bagitu-lah Canada yang telah memberi berbagai perkakas kapada kita. Berkenaan dengan Defence Treaty di-antara kita dengan British memang berkuat-kuasa juga. Di-bawah Defence Treaty itu kalau kita di-serang oleh musoh, maka tanggongan Kerajaan British, Kerajaan Commonwealth untok menolong kita. Hal dalam negeri, mengawal keamanan dalam negeri, itu tanggongan kita. Ini bukan benda yang baharu. Masa dahulu kita di-haru oleh kominis; apabila kita dapat merdeka kita juga menjalankan segala kerja untok menghapus atau mengalahkan kominis yang mengharu kita. Jadi ini jangan-lah menaroh bim- bang di-atas tanggong-jawab tentera kita untok menahan dan menjaga keamanan, nyawa dan harta-benda orang di-dalam Eastern Malaysia atau pun Malaysia Barat, Timor Malaysia atau Malaysia Barat ini ada-lah jadi satu tanggongan kita dan akan men- jalankan tanggongan itu dengan boleh memberi puas hati kapada ra'ayat jelata sakalian. Jadi saya suka mengambil kesem- patan ini untok merakamkan uchapan sa-tinggi² terima kaseh dan tahniah kapada ra'ayat di-dalam Malaysia, Malaysia Barat, Malaysia Timor lebeh lagi barangkali Malaysia Timor di- mana berlaku-nya konfrantasi di-atas ta'at setia mereka yang bersama bekerja dengan Kerajaan untok mena- han keselamatan negeri Malaysia Timor dan Malaysia (Tepok). Sunggoh pun mereka baharu sahaja masok dalam Malaysia tetapi perasaan ke- bangsaan yang tertanam dalam hati sanubari mereka itu telah keras, dan ini-lah bukti yang telah mereka bangkit bersama dengan kita sakalian melawan dan menahankan Kerajaan kita ini. Elok juga saya sebut di-sini sa- lepas tamat konfrantasi ada juga kita dengar Kerajaan luar chuba hendak mengelirukan fikiran pula orang yang ada dalam Malaysia Timor dengan hendak chuba membangkit perasaan berpechah-belah antara mereka atau hendak menghasut mereka itu dalam Malaysia Timor untok meninggalkan Malaysia. Tetapi saya perchaya bagai- mana mereka telah melawan dengan musoh dahulu itu mereka sedia melawan dengan apa sahaja musoh yang baharu (Tepok). Jadi, ini-lah sahaja yang harus saya sebutkan di-sini kerana apa yang lain semua telah pun di-edarkan dalam akhbar², majallah luar dan dalam, dalam radio dan talivishen dan lain- nya. Jadi, tidak apa payah saya hendak tambah lagi kerana chuma mengambil masa Parlimen ini, tetapi apa yang saya sebut akan terchatit dalam rekod di-sini dan uchapan terima kaseh kita kapada Tun Abdul Razak dan rombongan yang pergi baik pun Bangkok, Indonesia ia-lah satu ingatan yang menjadi kesenangan sampai masa yang akan datang. Sa-bagai penutup-nya mari-lah kita berdo'a moga-nya Perjanjian yang telah di-buat di-Bangkok pada 11 haribulan Ogos itu akan mengiratkan kembali perhubongan kedua buah negara yang berjiran. Ini demi kepen- tingan bersama dan kema'amoran di- seluroh Tenggara Asia (Tepok).

Tuan Yang di- Pertua, oleh kerana dalam uchapan saya ada berbangkit satu perkataan yang terkait kapada parti Pembang- kang, bagi pehak saya dan pehak Kerajaan tidak tegah menjadikan satu bahathan kalau di-kehendaki oleh Ahli Pembangkang itu.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya meminta izin menchadangkan bahawa Rang Undang yang bernama Constitution (Amendment) Bill di- bacha kali yang kedua. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Ahli Yang Berhormat sedia ma'alum bahawa dengan perpisahan Singapura daripada Malaysia serta dengan lulus-nya undang the Constitution and Malay- sia (Singapore Amendment) Act, 1965, pindaan yang tertentu hendak-lah di- buat kapada Perlembagaan Perseku- tuan. Tujuan utama Rang Undang ini ia-lah untok mengadakan pindaan tersebut atas Perlembagaan kita. Pin- daan yang lain juga di-dapati perlu dan mustahak dan oleh itu di-masok- kan juga dalam Rang Undang ini. Butir lanjut atas semua pindaan itu ada di-terangkan dalam Jadual yang di-sertakan bersama dengan "Explana- tory Statement" kapada Rang Undang ini. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, sa-bagaimana yang boleh di-lihat, Tuan Yang di- Pertua, Jadual yang di-kemukakan itu menerangkan pindaan itu dengan teliti dan terang dan dengan sebab itu tidak perlu-lah bagi saya mengulangi-nya di-sini satu persatu. Bagaimana pun saya suka hendak memberi penerangan rengkas atas pin- daan ini. Pindaan ini boleh di-

1. Pindaan oleh sebab perpisahan Singapura daripada Malaysia. 2. Pindaan yang berkaitan dangan Pilehan Raya bagi Malaysia Timor. 3. Pindaan bagi melaksanakan tujuan Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) berkenaan dengan kedudokan Mahkamah Persekutuan (Fede- ral Courts) dan Mahkamah Tinggi (High Courts). 4. Pindaan berkaitan dengan kuasa Surohanjaya Perkhid- matan Awam yang di-tubohkan di-bawah Perkara 139, dan 5. Pindaan umum bagi mem- betulkan salahan nahu dan penchetakan yang kechil yang di-jumpa di-dalam Perlem- bagaan. Berkenaan dengan Bahagian 1- dengan lulus-nya "The Constitution and Malaysia (Singapore Amendment) Act, 1965", sharat dalam Perlemba- gaan berkenaan kewarganegaraan ber- kaitan dengan Singapura sudah tentu mesti di-pinda. Sharat itu di-dapati dalam Part III dan Jadual Kedua kapada Perlembagaan. Ada-lah perlu sekarang bagi Dewan ini membatalkan, mithal-nya, sharat yang membolehkan Singapura meluluskan undang ber- kaitan dengan kewarganegaraan Malay- sia, membatalkan sharat yang ber- kaitan dengan penyatuan warganegara Singapura dan warganegara Perseku- tuan, dan membatalkan undang yang berkaitan dengan kelayakan warga- negara Singapura di-pileh sa-bagai Ahli Parlimen Malaysia kita ini. Oleh sebab perpisahan Singapura daripada Malaysia itu, ada-lah juga perlu bagi kita meminda Perlemba- gaan supaya mengeluarkan semua chatitan (references) berkaitan dengan Singapura yang tidak lagi berguna atau sesuai kerana Singapura tidak lagi berada di-dalam Malaysia. Kete- rangan yang lengkap berkenaan pin- daan ini, saperti saya sebutkan, ada di-nyatakan dalam jadual bersama ini dengan "Explanatory Statement" ka- pada Rang Undang ini. Kerajaan juga menchadangkan untok meminda Perkara 54 Perlembagaan supaya tempat kosong (casual vacan- cies) dalam Dewan Ra'ayat bagi ahli daripada Malaysia Timor boleh di-isi dalam masa sembilan puloh (90) hari daripada tarikh kekosongan itu ber- laku. Pada masa sekarang ini keko- songan itu mesti-lah di-penohi dalam masa enam puloh (60) hari. Sa-bagai- mana di-ketahu, Tuan Yang di-Pertua, di-negeri Sabah dan Sarawak pengun- dian di-beberapa kawasan ada-lah mengambil masa lebeh daripada 10 hari oleh kerana kesukaran pengang- kutan dan perhubongan. Dari itu suatu pilehan raya harus tidak boleh selesai di-dalam tempoh 60 hari sa-bagaimana yang di-kehendaki oleh Perkara 54. Berkaitan dengan ini ada-lah juga di-chadangkan bagi meminda Perkara 55 untok membolehkan pilehan raya di-Malaysia Timor di-adakan di-dalam tempoh 90 hari daripada hari Parli- men di-bubarkan oleh sebab kesuka- ran yang saya sebut tadi. Berikutan dengan itu, tempoh 90 hari daripada hari pembubaran Parlimen itu untok memanggil Parlimen bersidang tidak memada bagi Malaysia Timor. Oleh itu ada-lah di-chadangkan supaya tempoh untok memanggil Parlimen bersidang sa-lepas Parlimen di-bubar- kan di-lanjutkan kapada 120 hari. Perkara 54 juga di-pinda untok membolehkan Ahli2 Dewan Negara dan Ahli Dewan Ra'ayat bagi Malay- sia Barat di-lantek atau di-pileh sa- lepas daripada 60 hari daripada ke- kosongan itu berlaku, tetapi bagi Ahli Dewan Negara tempoh lantekan-nya dalam keadaan bagitu ia-lah 6 tahun daripada tamat-nya tempoh 60 hari daripada tarikh kekosongan itu ber- laku. Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (Malaysia Agreement 1963) bertujuan supaya Mahkamah Persekutuan (Federal Courts) dan Mahkamah Tinggi (High Courts) di-pisahkan antara satu sama lain. Ada-lah di-khuatirkan sama ada tujuan ini sudah terchapai di-bawah Perkara 125 Perlembagaan sekarang ini. Oleh itu tujuan mengadakan Clause baru (10) kapada Perkara 125 Perlembagaan ada-lah untok meng- hilangkan keraguan itu dan menentu- kan bahawa Mahkamah Persekutuan ada-lah berasingan daripada High Courts. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Kerajaan me- mikirkan sangat mustahak supaya kuasa dan tugas Surohanjaya Perkhid- matan Awam (Public Service Com- mission) yang di-tubohkan di-bawah Perkara 139, sa-lain daripada kuasa melantek bagi pertama kali kapada jawatan tetap atau pun jawatan ber- penchen, boleh di-jalankan oleh satu Lembaga yang di-lantek oleh Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Tujuan pindaan kapada Perkara 144 ada-lah untok membolehkan Yang di-Pertuan Agong melantek satu Lembaga yang boleh di- beri kuasa menjalankan kuasa dan tugas yang sekarang ini di-jalankan oleh Public Service Commission itu. Pindaan ini juga menghendaki supaya di-adakan satu Lembaga Rayuan (Appeal Board) yang juga akan di- lantek oleh Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Sa-siapa yang tidak puas hati dengan keputusan Lembaga tersebut boleh-lah membuat rayuan kapada Lembaga Rayuan (Appeal Board) untok di- timbangkan. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Kerajaan ber- pendapat sangat mustahak supaya kuasa berkenaan dengan tata-tertib (discipline) dan kenaikan pangkat di- serahkan kapada Lembaga yang me- ngandongi Ketua Pejabat supaya "dis- cipline" dalam Perkhidmatan Awam dan kelichinan pertadbiran dapat di- baiki lagi. Pada masa sekarang ini Ketua Jabatan tidak boleh mengambil tinda- kan "discipline" yang tegas terhadap pegawai di-bawah-nya atau pun me- naikkan pangkat pegawai yang rajin, chergas dan menunjokkan kebolehan. Ada-lah menjadi tujuan Kerajaan untok mengkuatkan "discipline" dalam Perkhidmatan Awam supaya pertad- biran negeri ini akan berjalan lebeh lichin lagi. Bagi menjaga kepentingan pegawai Kerajaan dan supaya kuasa ini tidak di-salah gunakan oleh Ketua Pejabat, maka Kerajaan akan mengadakan Lembaga Rayuan dan mereka yang tidak berpuas hati dengan keputusan tata-tertib mengenaï mereka itu akan dapat membuat rayuan kapada Lem- baga itu yang akan menimbangkan rayuan itu dengan adil dan saksama. Oleh itu pegawai Kerajaan tidak harus khuatir dan waswas bahawa mereka akan teraniaya oleh kerana pemindahan kuasa yang di-chadangkan itu. Tujuan Kerajaan tidak sa-kali untok menakutkan pegawai Kerajaan tetapi ia-lah untok membaiki lagi Perkhidmatan Awam negeri ini dan melichinkan lagi pertadbiran supaya negara kita akan mendapat kemajuan yang lebeh lagi daripada ranchangan dan usaha Kerajaan untok hendak membaiki tata-tertib atau "discipline", mustahak-lah Ketua Pejabat di-beri kuasa supaya Ketua Pejabat dapat menjaga pekerja dan pegawai di- bawah-nya dan dengan itu dapat-lah Ketua Pejabat itu menjaga kelakuan baik dan juga kerja yang di-jalankan oleh pegawai di-bawah-nya. Kerajaan telah berkali menyatakan bahawa Perkhidmatan Awam negeri ini ada-lah di-antara yang terbaik sa- kali dalam kawasan dunia di-sabelah sini. Tetapi maseh juga di-dapati kelemahan yang boleh di-baiki dan Kerajaan berazam hendak membaiki kelemahan itu dengan tidak merosak- kan moral Public Services di-negara kita ini. Bagitu juga saya suka me- negaskan di-sini bahawa apabila Kera- jaan hendak mengadakan peratoran berkenaan dengan mengambil aleh kuasa daripada Public Services Com- mission ini, Kerajaan akan berunding dengan Staff Side Whitley Council supaya Staff Side Whitley Council itu boleh memberi apa juga pandangan yang mereka itu kehendaki. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, peluang telah juga di-ambil untok membetulkan ke- salahan yang saya katakan gramma- tical errors, printing errors yang kechil yang telah di-jumpa dari masa ka- samasa. Kenyataan berkenaan dengan pindaan ini boleh-lah di-dapati dalam Explanatory Statements bersama de- ngan Rang Undang ini. Ada sadikit pindaan kapada Rang Undang ini yang saya akan chadang- kan apabila Dewan ini membinchang- kan Rang Undang ini dalam Jawatan- kuasa atau Committee Stage. Pindaan ini telah pun di-edarkan kapada Ahli Yang Berhormat. Pindaan ini ada-lah berkaitan dengan Bahagian II (Part II) dalam Tenth Schedule yang mengan- dongi chara dan sharat untok me- ngira "State Road Grant" yang di-beri kapada Negeri. Mengikut Sekshen 2, Jadual Ke- sapuloh, perbelanjaan bagi menjaga atau pun memperbaiki jambatan, via- duct dan culverts, tidak di-ambil per- timbangan pada masa mengira harga menjaga jalan itu. Oleh sebab jam- batan, viaduct dan culverts ada-lah sa-bahagian daripada jalan raya, maka dari itu mustahak-lah di-pinda Sekshen 2 dalam Jadual Kesapuloh supaya belanja menjaga jambatan dan juga viaduct dan culverts itu boleh di- masokkan ka-dalam perkiraan apabila mengira "State Road Grant" yang di-bayar kapada tiap Negeri. Sekshen 4 dalam Jadual Kesapuloh menetapkan bahawa hanya-lah jalan raya yang sa-benar di-jaga oleh Jabatan Kerja Raya Negeri itu yang boleh mendapat "State Road Grant". Oleh kerana sharat ini, Majlis Tem- patan yang di-katakan "financially autonomous" telah menghadapi ke- sukaran oleh kerana jalan raya mereka tidak di-jaga oleh Jabatan Kerja Raya dan oleh kerana itu Majlis itu tidak dapat menerima "State Road Grant". Oleh yang demikian ada-lah di- chadangkan untok meminda Sekshen 4 dalam Jadual Kesapuloh supaya mem- bolehkan jalan di-dalam kawasan "Local Authorities" mendapat "State Road Grant" apabila telah di-aku oleh Jabatan Kerja Raya bahawa jalan itu telah di-jaga mengikut darjah yang di-tentukan oleh Pejabat Kerja Raya bagi jalan raya di-negeri2. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya me- mohon menchadangkan.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the amendment which signifies a really big change in this Bill is the amendment to Article 139 (4) and also, Sir, the proposed Clause (5B) to Article 144 of the Constitution, and I rise, Sir, in particular to oppose the addition of this proposed clause. I remember it was suggested at one time somewhere that one of the reasons justifying the transfer of some of the powers and functions of the Public Services Commission to Heads of Departments was that it was desira- ble to move away from the practices of the colonial past. We might get the record straight, Sir. We have it on excellent authority that the institution of Public Service Commissions was not heard of in the developing coun- tries of Afro-Asia before constitutional changes brought about self-government and independence. In the colonial era such appointments to the Public Service as were not made by the Colonial Office and the Crown Agents were made by officers of the countries' colonial secretariat. The selection pro- cedures, whether for appointments or for promotions, were regulated by administrative instructions issued in the name of the Governor, who was in effect the appointing authority in all local cases. It was only with the advent of self- government and independence that the Civil Service in countries which had formerly been British colonial terri- tories came more and more under local control and the Public Service Com- mission system was generally intro- duced in all these countries, sometimes as a constitutional provision (as in Malaysia) and sometimes by an Act of Parliament, with the primary intention of insulating appointments, promotions and discipline from politics and poli- tical considerations. Far from being a relic of the colonial past, the Public Services Commission and its powers and functions were in fact the first fruits of independence. The case as advanced and accepted in most of the Commonwealth coun- tries which were former colonial terri- tories for an executive Public Service Commission was that if politicians were given any responsibilities in sen- sitive areas, like appointments. pro- motions and discipline, in respect of posts in the Civil Service, there would be a great danger of political patronage and nepotism undermining the integrity and morale of the Civil Service. An independent and impartial Commission enjoying full executive powers, and therefore not subject to Ministerial influence or manipulation, would apply the principles of merit, impartiality and justice in the discharge of these responsibilities. In such circumstances, the integrity of the Civil Service would be safeguarded. In our country, these dangers of political interference and manipulation have by no means receded with the passage of the years since indepen- dence. Indeed, the general apprehen- sion seems to be, Sir, that such dangers have, if anything, increased rather than decreased over the years. This explains the undoubtedly widespread apprehension entertained by Civil Ser- vants in regard to the proposed consti- tutional amendment. Sir, the Public Services Unions have not been satisfied to-date that the interests of justice and equity will be served by the amend- ment. It surely does not speak well for the Government that it has thought fit to completely by-pass the Public Service Unions which represent the great majority of the Civil servants who are going to be directly affected by this amendment. Instead of allaying their fears, and their apprehensions, the Government has shown utter dis- regard for the views and representa- tions of these unions and this, Sir, bodes ill for future relations between the Government and its employees with its consequent repercussions on governmental efficiency and morale. The Government's claim, Sir, would appear to be that the proposed consti- tutional amendment would lead to greater efficiency and discipline in the Civil Service. Very grave doubts, Sir, exist as to whether the proposed amendment will achieve anything of the kind. The morale, the efficiency and the discipline of the Cviil Service, Sir, are indivisible. Efficiency is materially affected by morale in the Service. In like manner, morale and efficiency have an effect on the attitude of officers towards the disciplinary code, disciplinary procedures and so forth. If this assessment, Sir, is accepted-and one wonders how it cannot be, as it would appear to be almost axiomatic-the proposed amendment is likely to have exactly the opposite effect. Demoralisation in the Civil Service, which is even more widespread than the Government thinks it is, most inevitably lead to less and not more efficiency. And any discipline that we achieve would be the unhealthy variety of discipline, Sir, not accepted and practised individually and collectively as a voluntary act but imposed externally by the fear of victimisation, injustice and inequity. Let us remember, Sir, that the Public Services Commission as pres- ently constituted is a quasi-judicial body, the members of which have been chosen on the basis of possession of quasi-judicial qualifications, including, among other things, immunity from political pressure or manipulation of any kind. And this is rightly so, as the Commissioners are expected to ensure that merit, impartiality and justice are the criteria for regulating the sensitive functions of appointments, promotions and discipline in the Civil Service, and also for ensuring that political patronage and influence and nepotism have little room to flourish. What is now proposed by this amendment is that all these highly sensitive powers and functions of the Public Services Commission, other than the power, we are told, of first appointment to the permanent or pensionable establishment, may now be exercised by a Board which nobody pretends will have a quasi-judicial composition, qualification or proce- dure, and the same thing goes for the proposed Appeal Board. There is nothing in the constitutional amend- ment which guarantees that either the Board or the Appeal Board will enjoy a quasi-judicial composition, or discharge its functions in accordance with quasi-judicial procedures. The consequences, Sir, can be devastating and can gravely undermine the confidence, integrity and impartiality of the Civil Service. I would appeal, Sir, to the Deputy Prime Minister to consider these sub- missions with the utmost care. In the pursuit of efficiency, let us not reck- lessly abandon one of the essential prerequisites for efficiency and disci- pline, which must be the preservation of a high morale in the Civil Service. If this amendment is pushed through, demoralisation will undoubtedly set in, and among the first casualties will be the efficiency, integrity and im- partiality of the Civil Service which the public has come to value. I concede, Sir, that the present Public Services Commission is snowed under at the moment by interviews and that disciplinary cases sent before the Commission take a great deal of time before clearance by the Commission. All such delays are unhealthy and, one concedes, does tend to lower the efficiency of the Civil Service. But the right way to go about rectifying this state of affairs is not to hand over the powers and functions of the Public Services Commission to persons, who do not enjoy quasi-judicial qualifica- tions and immunities from political pressure or manipulation, but to pro- vide for the delegation, which, I submit, the Government should con- sider, of the powers and functions of the Commission to quasi-judicial officers of the Commission, who will enjoy a status and possess qualifications and immunities similar to those of the members of the Commission. And I must urge, Sir, that the Government as a matter of utmost urgency should desist from pushing through this particular amendment and should re- examine the whole problem of securing greater efficiency and discipline in the Civil Service in the light of preserving the morale of the service and of safe- guarding its integrity and its impartial- ity. Much obliged.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya menyokong atas pindaan untok Per- lembagaan kita ini. Saya hendak ber- chakap khas kapada pindaan kuasa Surohanjaya. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, semenjak kita merdeka, kita telah menjalankan sistem berkenaan dengan Surohanjaya ini, apa akibat-nya semenjak lapan tahun yang telah sudah yang kita alami? Maka daripada pengalaman ini-lah rasa saya Kerajaan telah mengambil langkah untok membuat pindaan yang di-bentang pada hari ini. Pada masa yang lampau, Tuan Yang di-Pertua, pada permulaan kita meng- adakan chara bagini ia-lah berhajat supaya perkhidmatan dalam segala perengkat Kerajaan dapat berjalan dengan lichin, tetapi dengan pengala- man kita tujoh tahun yang sudah, kita dapati ia-itu tidak sa-bagaimana chita dahulu, sebab telah banyak di- perkatakan oleh sahabat saya tadi, saya sendiri telah ketahu beberapa kejadian yang timbul dan beberapa pejabat yang saya fikir pindaan sangat mustahak, banyak Ketua Peja- bat yang pada masa ini tidak di- indah langsong oleh Pegawai yang di- bawah-nya. Baru ini dalam satu meshuarat Luar Bandar, satu perkara timbul berkenaan dengan satu jabatan, di- mana Wakil Ra'ayat bagi pehak orang ramai, mengatakan, apa sebab kele- mahan dalam pejabat ini dari segi pentadbiran saperti Jabatan Kerja Raya di-mana satu ferry-yang pega- wai2 ia-itu buroh-nya tidak bekerja sa-bagaimana sa-patut-nya. Jawapan daripada Ketua Pejabat kami tidak boleh buat apa oleh kerana perkara ini banyak kelemahan yang dia ini tidak ada kuasa mengambil apa tindakan terhadap pegawai yang di- bawah-nya. Jadi ini-lah satu chontoh yang rasa saya sangat perlu. Bagitu juga baru ini saya juga ada mendapat tahu dalam hal keadaan kelalaian pegawai yang di-bawah saperti pegawai rendah terhadap pegawai tinggi bahkan kapada sa- orang Menteri kita, ia-itu sa-orang office boy-nya masok pejabat dengan pakaian yang tidak tentu tetapi Men- teri kita sendiri tidak boleh menegor kerana dia tidak ada kuasa boleh mengambil tindakan terhadap pegawai ini. Ini-lah, rasa saya, dua tiga perkara yang saya bentangkan tetapi dalam pada itu, Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya juga berharap dalam peratoran yang akan di-adakan itu ia-itu peratoran Appeal Board, jikalau pegawai di- atas itu menggunakan kuat kuasa-nya dengan sa-suka hati-nya boleh menye- babkan melanggar ke'adilan ia-itu di- chadangkan supaya satu Appeal Board di-adakan dan dalam Appeal Board ini saya minta supaya kepentingan buroh juga atau kepentingan pegawai rendah juga di-awasi ia-itu mesti-lah ada wakil daripada Trade Union yang ada dalam Appeal Board ini supaya dapat mereka memerhati dan juga memperchayakan diri-nya ia-itu tinda- kan yang telah di-ambil oleh Ketua Pejabat itu sesuai dan betul. Ini rasa saya untok mententeramkan kegelisa- han daripada pegawai yang di-bawah tangan tiap Ketua Pejabat. Jadi, itu-lah rasa saya perkara yang penting yang saya hendak berchakap pada hari ini tetapi sa-kali lagi saya meminta perhatian terhadap lantek pegawai dalam tiap perengkat Appeal Board ini. Oleh itu, Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya menyokong penoh atas pindaan yang telah di-bawakan kapada Dewan pada hari ini.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to refer to the proposed amendment to, firstly, Article 54. I think there was a provision in the Constitution under Transitional and Temporary Provisions that any Act of Parliament or other law passed by the Federation before Malaysia Day, in any way, may by order of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong be extended to any State with, I think, the concurrence of the Governor and has to be adopted by an Enactment of the State Legislature. That is under sub-section (5) of section 74 under Part IV there is another sub-section 8 which reads: "Any power to make orders under this section shall continue until the end of August, 1965, and thereafter until Parliament otherwise provides". Sir, I am not sure what the Parlia- ment has otherwise provided under this section. Whatever it may be, I think it is essential that we must keep up with the spirit of the Constitution-and that is, Sir, that any proposed amendment to the Constitution affecting any State the proposal should in the first place, be referred to the State Legislature concerned. No reference, as far as I know, was made to the Sarawak State Legislative Council about the proposed change. Therefore, one would ask why was this not made. After all, the pro- posed amendment was supposed to be for the convenience of the Sarawak electorate. Surely Sir, the State Legis- lature would be a better judge than this Chamber about this matter, because how many of the Honourable Mem- bers in this Chamber would know about the conditions in the Bornean States? I hasten to add, Sir, that I am not concerned at this stage with the merits or demerits of this proposed amendment, but I am concerned with the principle and the manner in which constitutional amendments are to be made. It may sound trivial to others, but to us it is a matter of great impor- tance that in any amendment to the Constitution affecting Sarawak the State Legislature be either consulted or informed beforehand. The period which is now to be increased to 90 days could be a matter of expedience, but I would have thought that it is not a matter of such great urgency that it should be brought at this stage in the House for amendment, without prior consultation or reference to either the Governor or to the Council Negeri of Sarawak. Now, Sir, the other matter that I would like to touch on is the proposed amendment to the constitution of the Public Services Commission. Much has been said about the apprehension of persons concerned, people in the Ser- vices, about the eventual working out of the new proposal. As stated here, Sir, the amendment still maintains the Public Services Commission as far as the first appointment is concerned, whereas the other powers will be taken away from them by a Board to be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and also the setting up of a new Board of Appeal. Therefore, Sir, we will have now instead of one body, two bodies dealing with this matter concerning people in the Service. One wonders whether or not the Public Services Commission itself cannot be reconstituted in such a way without amending the Constitution to achieve the aim as set out by the Honour- able Deputy Prime Minister. There is no doubt that the members of the Public Services Commission are free from political interference and without any fear of their own posi- tion as any political appointee would feel. The set-up as we had before would ensure, as some earlier speakers have stated, the absence of favouri- tism, nepotism, and so on. We, of course, do not say that we should not make changes, but has the Govern- ment made out a case for a change for the better? It is my submission, Sir, that unless one can satisfy not only the public but also the people in the Service that this will be for the better, then I think we should be chary in making changes, particularly as we are now dealing with matters of Constitu- tion; and, if we are not careful, the danger of lowering standard and of feeling of despondency might set in. Therefore, it is my view that unless we can show that the present Public Services Commission cannot work in a way which is effective, which is suffi- cient to give proper efficiency to the Service we should not tamper with the present set-up. Lastly, Mr Speaker, Sir, though this has nothing to do with the Bill, I would like to know whether it is possible or not in future for Bills, which have not been disposed of, in any meeting and which have to be discussed in the next meeting, to be sent to Members in Eastern Malaysia. I raise this because some of us who could not come to attend meetings here sometimes find that we are without these Bills. Take this Bill, for instance, we did not know of it until today. Some of us were attending meetings in the State Legislature and could not come, and instead of the Bills being sent to us, they were left on the table, and after the conclusion of the meeting, the Bills were gone and we could not get copies from the Clerk, because as he said the stock had been exhausted. Therefore, I would suggest, Mr Speak- er, Sir, that Bills which are to be considered in the next meeting should be sent to all Members in Eastern Malaysia for their consideration.

"The Congress unanimously resolved that the arbitrary decision will

• be contrary to all accepted principles and established practices in the adminis- tration of justice pertaining to the Civil Servant; * mean a licence to breach universally accepted principles of industrial relations which emphasise voluntary exchange of freely bargained service conditions; * deprive the Civil Servants of his oppor- tunities to establish a case, and permit the head of the department to drown justice beneath his more powerful and over-riding influence. The Congress therefore resolved to press on the Government that any proposal to amend the Constitution should be thoroughly discussed at the National Whitley Council in accordance with the existing procedure for consultation and negotiation. The Government has assured that discus- sions will take place with the Civil Services through the medium of the National Whitley Council on draft legislation which follows amendments to the Constitution but this is not acceptable to the Civil Servants." Mr Speaker, Sir, it continues under the heading "Security of Tenure" as follows: "The Civil Servants have all along enjoyed some measure of security of tenure. The Commission's jurisdiction over matters affecting disciplinary action and promotion can be described as a guardian of justice, and to deprive Civil Servants of this right strikes at the root of our demo- cratic system of government. The retention of these powers of discipline and promo- tion with the Commission is a constant source of confidence and trust that the rights of the Civil Servants as well as the interest of the Civil Service are well protected. The Congress therefore appeals to the Government to uphold the funda- mental provision contained in Article 144 (1) of the Federal Constitution in the very same spirit that pervaded on that memorable morning of 31st August, 1957, when the Independence of this Nation was proclaimed." Now, Sir, I have quoted extensively from the Suara CUEPACS. I will now quote the Official Organ of the Amal- gamated Union of Employees in Government Clerical and Allied Ser- vices, and it reads:

Not very long, Mr Speaker, Sir. This is of the utmost importance to the civil servants sitting behind the Ministerial benches and of the utmost importance to the civil servants up and down the country and they number in thousands; they have no voice in this Chamber. If in a small way I can voice their opinion, my stay in this Chamber will be justified, and I hope Members will bear patiently with me.

This is not my article, Mr Speaker, Sir. (Laughter). "Will it create efficiency?" In the headline of this article. It says: "The transfer of the two most vital functions of the Public Service Commis- sion, that of Promotions and Discipline is fraught with dangers for the subordinate officers in the civil service. The creation of the P.S.C. and its clearly-defined powers enshrined in the Constitution of our country is proof enough that suitable safe- guards were thought necessary by the legislators then to protect the interest of these subordinate officers in the civil service. It is far from the truth to say that the creation of the P.S.C. and its attendant powers were a legacy from the Colonial era. In fact that absence of such a body to regulate and conduct the affairs of the subordinate officers was strongly felt at that time in that favouritism, nepotism and corruption had begun to rear its ugly head. Therefore to suggest, that to revert, to the old order of things is a forward step, is difficult to accept. The idea of the creation of the Public Services Commission by the legislation originally was for a third party (an impartial body) to weigh the facts presented by both sides, and meet out a decision in conformity with the regulations embodied in the General Orders. Yet it is now thought fit to grant powers of promo- tion and discipline to a single individual instead of to a body of men. After protests by unions, Sir, the Government has come out with the suggestion that appeal boards will be created to look into the cases of these subordinate officers who feel aggrieved by the decision of the Heads of Department. This creation of Appeals Board is only a slight departure from the present system of obtaining a decision from the P.S.C. The only difference being that the power of promotion and discipline are being held by an individual Head of Department, while appeal against his decision rests with the appeal board. We would also like to point out that there are a host of problems that have to be overcome before a satisfactory solution could be arrived at. That is why we would strongly urge the Government to get the views of the Unions before any more is made to bring the suggestion, suggested proposals into fruition. Further we are at the moment not clear as to the definition of the words 'Head of Department. Also the method the Head of Department would adopt to effect promotion for closed Departments and common user services. Then there comes to mind the position of Federal clerks in State Departments and State clerks in Federal Departments. Therefore as was stated earlier quite a few points need clarification and it is hoped that these points would be cleared by the Govern- ment to all the expressed fears of the subordinate officers".

Mr Speaker, Sir, I have not come with a prepared text, nor have I here with me a whole lot of references, because I anticipated that my Honourable friend from Bungsar and my Honourable friend from Batu would have taken the opportunity and the grace of the 60 days from the First Reading of the Bill to its Second Reading to prepare themselves and equip themselves with all these documents. Sir, I must say that for the first time, wittingly or unwittingly, through the exigencies of the process of parliamen- tary procedure, we have the good fortune of the Government presenting an amending Bill to the Constitution, where the First Reading was made 60 days before the Second Reading, thereby giving the House and the country at large an opportunity to discuss the merits of the Bill. Sir, I am not trying to anticipate another Bill, which comes under my own name. However, I must say that, whether the fate of that particular Bill when it comes will receive the same fate, which I am sure this Bill will receive, I hope that the precedence of these 60 days grace or 30 days grace between the First Reading and the Second Reading shall be taken to heart by Government. Sir, it is quite clear that in that period of time the country at large and cer- tainly the Civil Servants through their respective organs have had an opportu- nity to look at these proposed amend- ments, and they have brought up their grievances. Sir, I would like, first and foremost, to say that this particular Bill is not as innocuous or as simple as it appears to be. I remember on August 15th, about a week after the separation of Singapore, in the heat and emotion of the time at a public rally in Penang, I used this particular document-the Constitution of the Federation; and in the heat and excitement I said, "What has happened was that the Honourable the Prime Minister had literally torn this to bits and I now have to stick it altogether again". Then I was imme- diately criticised by the most prominent national paper in this country as being disloyal and discourteous to the most sacred document in our country. In actual fact, that physical act of trying to tear this document is today perpe- trated by the Government Benches in this particular Bill, because every single item-50 over items-represents in actual fact, in actual legal terms, the spiritual and political, economic and social separation of Singapore. That part of it is important only from this point of view-that if in fact we went through every single item in detail, there may be instances where some of the States in the Federation of Malaya, States who are at the present moment controlled by the Alliance and States which are not controlled by the Alliance, who would wish for greater autonomy of State power and who would wish to incorporate in our Cons- titution certain of the powers which are now taken away, particularly in relation only to the former State of Singapore. Sir, however that is bygone and we should not raise this issue. Sir, I want, however, to deal also at great length with this question of the proposed amendments to Articles 139 and 144, namely this question of changes to the structure and functions of the Public Services Commission. The Honourable Members for Bungsar and Batu have very clearly indicated to us the fears inherent in the Civil Service arising out of any tampering of the appointment of the Public Services Commission. However, Sir, I must give the Government a certain amount of credit in the sense that I think the Government has in actual fact reacted to some of the complaints and is now making certain proposals to provide us with a system of control of the Civil Service which will be probably for the betterment of the Civil Service. But in so doing, Sir, I do think that the amendments that are proposed by the Government are not thorough and the amendments proposed by the Govern- ment may lead to further abuse. The Honourable Member for Batu very rightly drew our attention to the spirit and the concept of the Public Services Commission as it was determined in 1956 during the signing of the London Agreement. By and large, Sir, all of us appreciate that the necessity of having an independent Public Services Com- mission is due to the fact that one of the stable and most important pillars of a successful nation is an indepen- dent, free, and dynamic Civil Service. In so accepting that principle. we agreed in the original Constitution to create a Public Services Commission, or to give the powers of appointment of the Public Services Commission to His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Sir, by and large-I stand to be corrected by the Honourable the Mover of the Motion as he is a member of the learned profession-the Consti- tution of our country is one whereby there are powers which are popular powers and certain powers which are monarchical. The Honourable Member for Kota Star Selatan has referred to the neces- sity of giving way to popular power. Admittedly, we are a functioning democracy, but we are also a function- ing democracy with a Monarch and the Monarch under the Constitution has certain powers, and one of the very few powers that he has his power of appointment of the Public Services Commission. Admitted too, Sir, that under Article 139 of the Constitution these powers are to some extent tem- pered by advice by the Honourable Prime Minister. However, Sir, these powers of appointment of the Public Services Commission are monarchical powers and as such they take the Public Services and the Public Services Com- mission outside the legislature and outside the political controversy, there- by giving a certain prestige and a certain dignity to the Services Commis- sion which is equivalent to the judiciary. Under the circumstances, Sir, I think that any amendment in the Constitu- tion, dealing with the Public Services Commission, must necessarily touch upon the powers of His Majesty. We are in actual fact, under these circum- stances, beginning to nibble-the Alliance Government, the party in power, has been nibbling at the Consti- tution all through the years at the powers of His Majesty and of the Rulers. This is a small nibble. So, it is not immediately apparent, but it is the thin end of a wedge; it is a small cloud in the horizon. This nibbling at the power which is derived from this Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan: Agong is extremely important. Sir, for example, I can appreciate that the Public Services Commission, as it is now constituted, is inadequate, or has not got enough personnel to meet the demands which the Public Services Commission is supposed to fulfil under Article 139' of our Constitution. Sir, I have no objection to the increase as provided in the amendment to Article 139- increase of the Commission from 10 to 12. I would have no objection to the increase from 10 to 20 if the Govern- ment feels it necessary. Sir, what the Government is propos- ing to do under Article 144 is to take away certain powers and functions of the Public Services Commission under Article 139-to take away these powers-and to establish a Board and give these powers to the Board. I would have no objection even to this proposal, if this particular Board also came under the provisions of Article 139. I would be happier, Sir, to have seen that there had been a proposed amendment corollary to the amend- ment that now stands, suggesting that the Board that is so appointed shall come under some jurisdiction under Article 139. Under Article 139 one reads: "There shall be a Public Ser- vices Commission, whose jurisdiction shall, subject to Article 144, extend to all persons", and so forth and so on. Then it goes on to say in Clause (4), "Subject to 146 (B) the Public Services Commission shall consist of the follow- ing members appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in his discretion but after considering the advice of the Prime Minister " It means that the Public Services Commission is a very important organisation in our country. It is a bulwark in the structure of the nation. By having given His Majesty these powers and giving His Majesty the power of appointing the Commission, we are now trying to take away some of the powers of this Commission and give it to a special Board. That I feel to some extent derogates these powers of the Public Services Commission. No person, who is worth his salt, or his name, would willingly serve under the Public Ser- vices Commission, because his position as at the present moment would be different from his position, if this amendment, goes through. Sir, I suggest, and I propose, to the Honourable the Mover that the Govern- ment could well have considered a suggestion that was made by the Honourable Member from Sarawak earlier, that certain iniquities and certain difficulties in the administration could have been solved not by an amendment of the Constitution but by normal legal administrative amend- ments. I further suggest, Sir, that if Govern- ment felt that it would be necessary now to derogate the powers of the Public Services Commission and create a new Board with powers of dismissal, powers of discipline, and so forth and so on-and these powers, mind you, are derived not from the Legislature, but by theory and by constitutional rights they are derived from His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong- there should be a co-equal provision and an amendment to Article 139 for the provision of that Board. Sir, I suggest that the Government could well have set up a Royal Com- mission of Enquiry into the grievances of the public services, into the alleged mal-functions of the Public Services Commission, and from that commission of enquiry to recommend the steps should be taken to amend either the Constitution or the laws of the country, to provide for a stable Civil Service, which is completely independent and not under the control of any political jugglery. But, Sir, no such Royal Com- mission has been appointed. What is the equivalent situation? We have also under the Constitution an Elections Commission. The Elections Commis- sion too is a constitutional body appointed by His Majesty the Yang di- Pertuan Agong, and in the case of elections in the local councils, we have found it necessary to establish a Royal Commission of Enquiry before we start changing our laws, or changing the Constitution; but no such steps was taken before Government came out with this amendment pro- posing the change in the constitution of the Public Services Commission. Sir, as I said, it was very fortunate that we have had 60 days to think about this because, if by chance at the last meeting some of the speakers had not talked so much, we would have had a situation where the Bill for amending the Constitution would have been laid at the table two days after Parliament met and would have gone through the first, second and third readings before we have had a chance to go into the actual pros and cons of the situation.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to clarify that it was never my intention to say that we could start whereby it would lead us towards a republican state. All I was suggesting is that there are certain powers which have been given to certain bodies, which if they run counter to the wishes of the people of whom we are the representatives, then this power should be curtailed to the extent that it would benefit the people, and I do not at all propose that it should become a republican state.

Sir, I must take this opportunity to tell the Honourable Member that he is under a complete misconception of the Con- stitution. When we talk of the Yang di- Pertuan Agong here, we do not mean His Majesty in person-we mean that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong here is the Cabinet. After all, the powers exercised by the Cabinet are exercised in the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. There is no question of taking away the position or the prestige of His Majesty. That is completely irrelevant to this, Mr Speaker, Sir. I think the Honourable Member should try and interpret the Constitution correctly.

Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya akan mengambil bahagian sadikit di-dalam usul Kerajaan untok meminda Perlembagaan dan, yang demikian, kuat-kuasa Surohanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam untok mengambil tindakan dan menaikkan pangkat pegawai akan di-serahkan kapada Ketua Pejabat Kerajaan. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, mengikut keterangan yang telah di-kemukakan oleh Yang Berhormat Timbalan Per- dana Menteri, sebab-nya maka Kera- jaan terpaksa membuat pindaan ini, ia- lah kerana telah di-dapati bahawa-sa- nya banyak-lah kelemahan dan kelam- batan yang telah di-buat oleh Suro- hanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam tentang mengambil satu tindakan yang di- pandang mustahak untok melichinkan perjalanan Kerajaan. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, ada-lah tujuan ini tujuan yang baik, tetapi dengan di-ambil kuat-kuasa yang saya sebutkan tadi daripada Surohanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam dan di-beri kapada Ketua Jabatan, maka ini ada- lah satu kuat-kuasa yang paling besar yang membolehkan Ketua Pejabat menjalankan kuat-kuasa ini tidak mengikut kehendak dan tujuan Kera- jaan yang lain, kerana saperti mana perkara yang telah di-sebutkan oleh wakil dari Batu tadi banyak kejadian yang telah di-buat oleh Ketua Pejabat yang telah melanggar undang Kera- jaan. Sa-lain daripada itu, ada-lah per- kara kuat-kuasa ini akan melibatkan beribu pegawai dan kakitangan Kerajaan di-dalam sakalian Jabatan Kerajaan, dan ini ada-lah satu perkara yang sangat penting dan pengaroh-nya dan akibat-nya sangat besar. Oleh yang demikian, saya harap-lah kapada pehak Kerajaan oleh kerana union yang bagitu banyak telah mengemukakan pendapatan mereka itu dan tidak bersetuju mereka itu dengan tujuan Kerajaan dan usul ini, saya pandang sangat-lah baik bagi pehak Kerajaan kalau di-kaji sa-mula per- kara ini, kerana ada-lah kuat-kuasa yang akan di-beri kapada Ketua Jabatan ini sangat-lah besar dan akibat-nya sangat-lah mendalam, kerana kita tahu tiap Kerajaan meme- rentah di-dalam satu negeri bukan- lah akan dudok sa-lama²-nya menjadi Kerajaan, kerana dengan pusingan roda pilehan raya yang akan di-adakan tiap lima tahun sa-kali, harus satu Kerajaan baharu yang akan datang memegang teraju Kerajaan dan harus Kerajaan itu akan menggunakan kuat- kuasa ini untok kepentingan parti mereka itu. Kalau sa-kira-nya kita katakan ada- lah chadangan Kerajaan yang sekarang ini betul hendak memperbaiki perjala- nan pejabat dan untok melichinkan pekerja pejabat, saya minta-lah sa-kali lagi kapada pehak Kerajaan supaya jangan-lah terburu untok di- sahkan pindaan ini, bahkan minta-lah di-kaji sa-mula, kerana boleh di-katakan sakalian gulongan orang yang terlibat di-dalam perkara ini telah mengemuka- kan bantahan mereka itu ka-atas cha- dangan Kerajaan.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I must say that there has been a lot of misconception over the whole thing from the Members of the Opposition. I am sorry that none of them is in the House now to hear my reply. I would like to make it quite clear, Sir, that it is not the intention of the Government, as provided by this Amendment, to do away with the Public Service Commission. The Public Services Commission will still be there, but it is intended that certain of the functions of the Public Services Com- mission will be transferred to a Board, and the Board will exercise its powers subject to an appeal to another Board. It is not the intention also, at least at the start, to take away all the powers that are provided under the Amend- ment. This Amendment is intended to enable the Government to take away some of the powers affecting certain grades of the Public Service, not neces- sarily all the grades of the Public Service, in order, as I have stated when moving the Second Reading of this Bill, to see that the Public Service runs smoothly and the civil servants do carry out their duties efficiently without fear or favour and to serve the interest of the people and the country. The Honourable Member for Batu, and I think the Honourable Member for Tanjong also, spoke about the principle of democracy. Sir, the Public Service is a body of men and women, who have been appointed, or who have agreed to be appointed, as servants of the public. They have their duties; they have their functions; they are to serve the public. With such a body of men there cannot be real democracy. Public servants are subject to General Orders, subject to instructions, and they are supposed to obey the instructions of their superiors. Obviously, with such a body of persons you cannot exercise democracy completely, and if you want to have democracy, then obviously you should be politicians and become Mem- bers of this House, and not join Public Service. So, Sir, what Government in- tends to do is to devise a system, whereby the civil servants can carry out their duties efficiently and serve the country and people satisfactorily, and also to carry out their duties without fear or favour. Sir, there is no need, I think, for the Honourable Member for Tanjong or the Honourable Member for Batu to remind me of the Report of the Constitutional Commission of 1956. I was a member of that Commission myself, and I subscribed to the recom- mendations of that Commission. At that time, I honestly believed that this system of Public Services Commission as embodied in the Constitution was the right one, because I thought that was a change from the system we had under the colonial Government and, perhaps, this new system might lead to efficiency and better service by the civil servants. However, Sir, after see- ing the system work for nine years, we have found that the system as embodied in the Constitution now- that is to say that the Public Services Commission has all the powers of dis- cipline, promotion and appointment of a civil servant and the heads of Departments and senior civil servants are not vested at all with the powers of discipline and promotion-does not suit present conditions in our country. I have, Sir, been a civil servant my- self, although for a short period, when I was the head of the Civil Service in my own State in Pahang for five years. So, I had some experience of looking after civil servants, of controlling civil servants, of seeing to their interests and welfare, and I am convinced after seeing the present system work for nine years-we must not bring per- sonalities to this, I am only talking of the system-I am convinced that this system must be modified. We must see to it that our civil servants do carry out their work efficiently without fear and favour and incorruptibly, and the only persons who can be made respon- sible to see that civil servants do carry out their work efficiently are the senior civil servants, heads of Departments, and there is nobody else. At present, all these powers of discipline and pro- motion are vested in the Public Services Commission, and members of the Public Services Commission are in no position to supervise and to control the civil servants, to see that they carry out their work efficiently. So, it is quite clear to us, Sir, that there is no need to have any Royal Commis- sion on this, because the position is clear to us, the Government, to me, who have had considerable contact with the civil servants to see their work everyday and to go round the country to see how they work. From my observation, and the experience I had as a civil servant, it is clear that if we want to maintain discipline, the efficiency of the Civil Service, and to improve that discipline and efficiency to the highest possible level, obviously we must vest certain powers with responsible heads of Departments. At the moment, it is not possible for us to ask the civil servants, heads of Departments, to go round and see that the junior officers do carry out their work properly and not subject to pres- sure, or subject to favour or fear, because they have no power. We have come to the stage that in certain Departments even the peons, the clerks, do not care for the heads of Depart- ment, because they know the heads of Departments cannot do anything to them. In those days, when I was the head of the Civil Service in my State, no peon or clerk dared to leave the office until I left the office, because they knew I had the power to stop their promotion, to transfer them to some place, where they cannot do any improper thing; and unless we do trust our senior civil servants and make them responsible for seeing that sub- ordinate officers, junior officers, carry out their duties efficiently, honestly and impartially, then, I think, we can- not maintain a disciplined, efficient and incorruptible Civil Service. This, I am quite convinced and very clear, Sir, is necessary, and as I said there is no need to make an unnecessary fuss over this, because we have provided ade- quate safeguards. It is the intention to appoint a Board of senior civil servants who will be subject to this Board, will be subject to rules and regulations, procedures, and this Board will be a quasi-judicial Board. The Board will carry out its duties in a semi-judicial manner, and proper procedures will be provided and apportunities will be given to civil servants to be heard. Sir, as Honourable Members should be aware, there is Article 135 of the Constitution, which provides that no civil servant should be dismissed or reduced in rank without being given an opportunity to be heard, and no member shall be dismissed without being given a reasonable opportunity of being heard. So, the position of the Civil Service is adequately protected under the Constitution and, as I said, this Board will consist of senior civil servants, and there is no question of political interference in the function of this Board. It is the policy of this Government-it has always been our policy-to maintain an impartial Civil Service free from political influence, and this will be fully safeguarded- and the Board of Appeal also will consist of either senior civil servants, or some impartial persons, certainly not politicians. It has not been our practice, nor is it our intention, to interfere in any way with the Civil Service, but what we are interested in is to see that the civil servants do carry out their work satisfactorily, efficiently and incorruptibly, and the only way to do it is to have senior officers, who are in the best position, to see to the work of their subordi- nates, to go round and supervise the work of their subordinates; and they can only do that if they have the power; otherwise it is not possible to stamp out corruption and inefficiency in the Civil Service. Again I repeat that this view of mine is based on five years' experience as head of the Civil Service of a State, which, I think, is adequate for me to see for myself that the system which we were used to at that time would provide the necessary supervision and discipline, which are necessary if the civil servants are to carry out their work satisfactorily. So, that is the main purpose of this Amendment.

he suggested that before we proposed an amendment to this Article we should consult the Sarawak Legislative Council. Well, Sir, Malay- sia is a federation of States and, under our Constitution, the States are vested with certain powers, the Central Government is vested with certain powers, and Article 54 deals solely with election of members to Parlia- ment, to the House of Representatives, and to the Senate. So, this is clearly a matter completely within the compe- tence or the jurisdiction of the Central Government and of this House, and it is not required of us to consult any State Government-we may do it as a matter of courtesy. The Honourable Member asks how can we in this House know the conditions in Sabah and Sarawak-East Malaysia. Obvi- ously we should know. There are 44 representatives from East Malaysia in this House and these representatives are here to advise us on the conditions pertaining in those territories. Quite clearly, Sir, it is not possible for this Government to function, or for this House to function effectively if, before we do anything, before we take any action to amend any part of this Constitution, we have to consult the 13 States or 14 States, whatever it is; then government is quite impossible. Sir, as I said, we have given careful thought to this Amendment and we feel that these amendments are neces- sary to ensure that the Civil Service carries out its duty efficiently and without fear and favour, and this sys- tem will have its check and balances; and we can assure that no civil servant will be victimised, and the first Board as well as the Appeal Board will have proper procedure, and the procedure will ensure that the grievances or any dissatisfaction will be put right. As I said, we have found that the present system does not work satisfactorily, and it is clear that we must change the present system and I have every confi- dence that the proposed modification of the functions of the Public Services Commission will bring good to this country, and will enable the Public Service to be controlled and super- vised more efficiently and more effec- tively. After all, as a young nation, the people of this country want progress. They want to get things done, they want to get work done, and we cannot afford to have a Public Service which is not disciplined, which has no respect for its senior officers, because the senior officers have no power and no control over their junior civil servants. Sir, under those circumstances, I would ask this House to accept the Bill as proposed (Applause). Question put. The House divided: Ayes, 112; Noes, 6; Abstention, Nil.

Mr Chair- man, Sir, I beg to move an amendment to Clause 2 by adding a new sub-clause (4) as in the Amendment Slip which has been circulated to Honourable Members and which reads: '(4) The amendment of the Tenth Schedule shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of January, 1965.,' "Add a new sub-clause (4) to Clause 2 as follows: Clause 2 Amendment put, and agreed to. Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Schedule- "On page 8, insert the following imme- diately after the proposed amendment to the Ninth Schedule:

Mr Chairman, Sir, I would like to seek clarification from the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister with regard to Article 144 of the Schedule on page 5 of the Bill. Sir, in his reply to this House, the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister did mention the fact that the members of the public services need not fear the appointment or the creation of this Board, because Article 135 of the Constitution makes it such that no member of the services shall be dismissed or reduced in rank by an authority subordinate to that which at the time of dismissal or reduction has power to appoint a member of that service of equal rank. Sir, I presume that the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister was trying to assure this House that members of the public services, when this Bill comes into effect, still have the safeguards of Article 135. However, Sir, as written now in this provision of the Schedule (Article 144, third paragraph) it reads: "(5B) (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Clause (1) of Article 135 and Article 139, all the powers and functions of the Public Services Commission established under Article 139, other than the power of first appointment to the permanent or pensionable establishment, may be exer- cised by a board appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong." I presume that the intention of the Government is to take away certain powers of the Public Services Commis- sion and give them to this Board. However, Sir, in so allocating the powers to this Board, the wording of the Schedule, as it stands, create a little anomaly, because, Sir, if you say that these powers are now to be taken not- withstanding the provisions of Clause (1) which reads that "No member of any of the services mentioned in para- graphs (b) to (g) of Clause (1) of this Article," it means that in actual fact you are negating the rights and the powers that are given by Article 135. Sir, these powers which are now given to the board, as in fact the powers that were given to the Public Services Com- mission, must be subject to the provi- sions of Article 135 (1), (2) and (3). That is the only way, Sir, whereby we can constitutionally safeguard the posi- tion and the interests of the members of the public services. Sir, I raise this at Committee Stage to try and find out whether or not we cannot resolve this anomaly.

Mr Chairman, Sir, I seek clarification from the Deputy Prime Minister regarding Article 54. It says here "There shall be substituted for Article 54 the following:

1. (1) Save as provided under Clauses (2) and (3) whenever there is a vacancy among members of the House of Repre- sentatives such vacancy or casual vacancies shall be filled within sixty days from the date on which it is established that there is a vacancy, and an election shall be held or an appointment made accordingly: Provided that failure to make any such appointment within the period specified in this Clause shall not invalidate any appointment made out of time but in such case the term of office of a member of the Senate so appointed shall be six years from the end of the period of sixty days from the date on which the existence of the vacancy which he was appointed to fill was established and not six years from the date of his appointment." The clarification I wish to seek, Sir, is this. Is this amendment sufficient to cover a case that happened last year of a Senator from Kelantan not being admitted to the Senate?

Mr Chairman, Sir, unfortunately, I have not cleared my point. I really must crave the indulgence of the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister, because I do not quite follow his argument, because if the Schedule reads as it stands, "Notwithstanding the provision of Clause (1) of Article 135"-Sir, Clause (1) of Article 135 reads, "No member of any of the ser- vices mentioned in paragraphs (b) to (g) of Clause (1) of Article 132 shall be dismissed or reduced in rank by an authority subordinate to that which, at the time of the dismissal or reduction, has the power to appoint a member of that service of equal rank"-if the Schedule stands as it is, "Notwith- standing" means in effect that a member of the Public Service can be dismissed or reduced in rank.

Sir, I beg to move that the Long Title be amended with the addition of the following words "and to provide for certain other matters". Amendment put, and agreed to. Long Title, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. That this House, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 83 of the Internal Security Act, 1960, hereby resolves that the Second Schedule to that Act as applicable to the States of Malaya shall be amended in the manner following: (a) For paragraph 2, substitute the following: "The Arms Act, 1960 (No. 21 of 1960)-any offence under section 9." (b) Add a new paragraph 11 as follows: "11. The Explosive Ordinance, 1957 (No. 40 of 1957)-any offence under any of the following sections: 9, 10, 11 and 12." Sir, section 83 of the Internal Security Act, 1960, provides that the Schedules to the said Act may be added to, varied or amended by reso- lution passed by both Houses of Parliament. Honourable Members will recall that in June, 1965, this House passed a resolution amending the Second Schedule to the Internal Security Act, 1960, to include the Explosive Ordinance, 1957, so that the powers given under section 75 of the Internal Security Act, 1960. can be applied in respect of offences under sections 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Explo- sive Ordinance, 1957. It is now rea- lised that although the intention of the above amendment to the Internal Security Act was to make it applicable to the States of Malaya, the wordings of the resolution were ambiguous. In view of the fact that the resolution passed in 1965 did not take into con- sideration that there are, in fact, two Second Schedules, one applicable to the States of Malaya and one to the Borneo States, vide L.N. 232/63, it is now proposed to amend the Second Schedule to the Internal Security Act as applicable to the States of Malaya only.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that the following motion standing in the name of the Minister of Finance on the Order Paper be referred to a Committee of the whole House: That this House resolves that an additional sum not exceeding $40, 303,677 be expended out of the Development Fund in respect of the financial year 1966, and that to meet the purpose of the Heads and Sub-heads set out in the First and Second Columns of the Statement laid on the Table as Command Paper No. 24 of 1966, there be appropriated the sums specified opposite such Heads and Sub-heads in the eighth and nineth columns thereof. The Development (Supplementary) (No. 1) Estimates, 1966, which are laid before the House as Command Paper No. 24 of 1966, show an additional expenditure of $40,303,677 over and above the provision already approved for 1966. Of this amount, a sum of $26,325,520 has been advanced by means of Advance Warrants from the Contingencies Reserve provided under Head 150 in the original Development Estimates of 1966. It is necessary to recoup such amount by way of supple- mentary estimates. The largest supplement required is $28.45 million in respect of Head 120-Minister of Commerce and Indus- try. Of this amount, a sum of $25 million is for the National Electricity Board. However, the real increase provided in the supplement for the N.E.B. is only $14 million, as the sum of $11 million provided in the original Estimates under the loan column against Sub-head 15-Johore Bahru Thermal Power Station 1st Exten- sion-is no longer required as a loan to the Board in view of the new arrangements adopted by the Govern- ment to invest in the Board by sub- scribing to its ordinary stock. The sum of $11 million will, therefore, be deducted from the loan provision in the Estimates. The increase is neces- sary in order to satisfy the require- ments of the World Bank that the Government should finance the local component of the capital expenditure of the Board, before the third loan amounting to $111 million from the Bank could be granted. The remaining sum of $3.45 million is required as an investment in the equity of the Malayawata Steel Limited, in view of the fact that iron and steel project is a basic industry of vital importance to the national economy and future industrialisation of the country. The second largest supplement is $13.2 million in respect of Head 115- Royal Malaysia Police. This amount is required to meet progress payments in respect of building construction and ancillary works and also to meet con- tractual commitments carried over from 1965. Head 137-Roads and Bridges- requires a supplement of $3 million as grants to States for rural roads, and for transferring a provision of $300,000 from the "Direct expenditure" column to the "Loan expenditure" column, in order to provide for the first payment of a $4 million loan to the Pahang State Government for the construction of a bridge over Sungei Pahang at Pekan/Peramu. A further sum of $1.2 million has been provided for Head 106-Minister of Local Government and Housing- for development programmes to be undertaken by Town Councils and Town Boards in town areas, and also for the construction of a new market (Phase III) in Kota Bharu. Head 118-Treasury-requires a sum of $1.08 million for the purchase of an electronic computer for the Inland Revenue Department. Purchase of this equipment was authorised last year, but as the date of its arrival was then unknown, the provision was not entered in the original Estimates for 1966. An additional sum of $1.1 million is required for Head 107-Housing- being the balance of the $10 million loan to the Government Officers' Co- operative Housing Society Limited not fully expended in 1965. A further loan of $3 million has been granted to the Society this year and the money has been provided by virement. The remaining items requiring supplementary provisions are relatively small. A sum of $905,260 is for Head 148-Marine-of which $817,658 is required for the modification of a dredge and for meeting contractual commitments carried over from 1965, and $87,602 for meeting payments on launch replacements in Sarawak prior to 1966. An additional sum of $812,805 is required for supplementing five sub- heads under Head 146-Civil Avia- tion-as a result of the 1966 provisions for these sub-heads having been found to be inadequate. Smaller supplements are required for Head 103-Radio, Head 105-Infor- mation, Head 144-Prisons, Head 126-Minister of Lands and Mines, Head 130-Aborigines, Head 143- Telecommunications, and Head 147- Meteorological Services. There are also eleven items for which token votes are required for the purpose of obtaining the approval of the House to revise the estimated cost of certain projects and the creation of new sub-heads. Further details of the expenditure for which approval is sought will be given by the Ministers concerned when the Estimates are discussed under the various Heads during the Committee stage. From the Estimates before the House, Honourable Members will note that with the supplement now sought, the appropriation from the Develop- ment Fund in 1966 now amounts to $920,188,047. "This figure may be considered to be too high, but it is always necessary for approval to be given for a greater sum than what is expected to be actually spent, as other- wise it is not possible for the maxi- mum rate of progress to be achieved on all the projects approved under the First Malaysia Plan. With the present restraint on expenditure on projects which are susceptible for external financing, it is estimated that the actual expenditure in 1966 will be somewhere in the region of $600 million, provided no fresh bids are made during the course of the year. Sir, I beg to move.

Sir, I would like to refer to Head 114-Prisons. The estimate originally for this Sixth Mile Camp, Kuching, was $5,900,000, and then it was revised to $6,178,070. Now, we are asked to vote for a further sum of more than a quarter million dollars. Sir, many of us have not been to this camp, but this camp has taken a long time to build. It was a fairly big area, but the buildings, as far as I can see, are not at all up to the standard that one would expect to see for the very large sum of money spent; and recently it is supposed to have been completed, but we find that there are many in- adequacies in these buildings. Take, for instant, not only the quarters for the detainees but also office blocks for the administrators. These buildings are built very low, and as it is so hot in the day, that the detainees found that they could not stay inside during the day- then, again it is so very cold at night. The same ordeal apparently is suffered by the staff in the camp; they can hardly work in this building provided for them as officers. Further, there are other inadequacies such as at centres or places where relatives go to visit the detainees-and quite a number of them go at certain times of the week; there is no provision for any conveniences in the way of toilet and such like. This place is a little distance from the main road and one has to walk, as one cannot take a vehicle into the camp. One has to go through the gate and then start to walk to the interviewing centre, which is a very long distance away. Sometimes in a hot day, after arriving at the centre, one has to wait for a long time; then if one wants to ease himself or to have a glass of water, no such facilities are provided. Sir, if it was a temporary building, or a temporary structure, such facilities would not be expected to be there. But, if we have to spend so much money, and we have apparently taken a long time for the planning of this camp, all these should have been thought of. I am afraid the building is not up to standard, and a lot of things which should have been built are not there. I do not know who the architects are, and I wonder how this plan has been approved by the Department concerned. The other matter which we are very anxious to know is, why was it that, having estimated, for less than $5 million, now we should require something like over $300,000 more for this project. I think the Department concerned ought to have looked into this. It is, in a way, a waste of public funds, but if this had been properly built one might not grumble so much over the extra money to be spent. However, as I said, this building is inadequate in respect of the facilities provided and it is not worth the money spent on it. The other item, Sir, is Head 118- Treasury-Electronic Computor for Inland Revenue Department. I am not sure whether this is provided for the State of Sarawak, but I can say, Sir, that the Inland Revenue Department in Sarawak is much overworked and it is high time that the Department should be mechanised by way of the provision of an electrical computor. I think it is safe to say that if the Inland Revenue Department is under- staffed, you cannot collect the revenue which should accrue to the Government. We do know as a fact that many people take advantage of the shortage of staff in the Department in not paying tax as much as they should pay. I hope we mechanise the Department in regard to all the routine work, so that more revenue would accrue, because by so doing you will release a number of people to doing their proper job in that Department. The other matter is the question of road building which comes under Head 137. We have our difficulties in Eastern Malaysia in respect of com- munication. The work is being carried on, but it is very slow, because of the lack of proper staff, the road engineers, to carry on the work. We are fairly impressed by the main roads in the Mainland Malaya, and I think much of the experience which we have had here should be applied to Eastern Malaysia in regard to road building. Although we have a Public Works Department there, I think by having the benefit of the experience of the Public Works Department in Eastern Malaysia, the roads in Eastern Malaysia may be able to be construc- ted more cheaply and more quickly, because we do find that unless we have a means of communication and a quick one, all development can be slowed down and the money spent in development will not be seen to come back. Therefore, I would urge the Department here to extend a helping hand as was promised to Eastern Malaysia, not only in the form of money, which, I think, is fairly ade- quate, but also the experience they have got-i.e. the techniques and "know-how", which we think should be given to the States in Eastern Malaysia.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to dwell on one category of workers who dwell in "No Man's Land". I refer to the clerks, office boys, jagas, gardeners, etc., who are technically employees of the Boards of Management of Schools but who de jure are Government servants. It suits the Government to say that these workers are Board employees, for then the Government can evade their respon- sibility as model employers. But these workers are wholly paid not by the Boards but by the Government, so that de facto they are Government emplo- yees if not de jure. By the simple procedure of making and calling these workers Boards' employees the Government has got away with a whole heap of sins of omission and of commission, as I shall presently show. And, unfortunately, these workers, who must number by the thousands, have not organised themselves into unions, or a single union, so that they have no one to voice their cause. Tonight I wish to plead their cause, as I am connected with several school boards of management. Let us take the case of the school clerks. The salary scale for clerks (male) with the Senior Cambridge or Senior Middle Three qualification is as follows: $137.50 X 7.50-152.00 Efficiency Bar $193.00 X 14.00-227.00 Examination Bar $226.00 14.00-429.00 Maximum and that is the end of their career where they are concerned. That of the clerk (male in the General Clerical Service with the same qualification) is as follows: Probation- $140.00 8.00-156.00 Examination Bar Timescale- $230.00 15.00-260.00 Examination Bar $300.00 15.00-420.00 Efficiency Bar $445.00 X 15.00-535.00 Vacancy Bar Special Grade- $560.00 20.00-620.00 Vacancy Bar Superscale "C"- $650.00 20.00-690.00 Vacancy Bar. A glance at the salary scales that I have quoted will show that all the way from the probationary period to the end of the timescale the school clerk is paid less. Then while the G.C.S. clerk has other avenue of promotion to Special Grade, Superscale C, Executive Officers and Higher Executive Officers, the school clerk stops permanently at $429. If this is not exploitation of labour, I want to know what is exploi- tation of man by man? But more is to follow. Whereas G.C.S. clerks are regarded as Government servants and thus entitled to housing and medical benefits, the poor school clerk has none of these benefits-yet another form of exploitation. Coming to the case of the school office boys, jagas and gardeners, they too, if they previously have not been Government servants, would now not get medical benefits. It is true that some of the older schools provide housing for its jagas and gardeners, but by and large this category of workers have to fend for themselves. But the unkindest cut of all was that when the temporary salary increase to I.M.G. workers was announced in july, 1966, the office attendants, jagas and gardeners were specifically not included in this offer. Mr Speaker, Sir, I shall read a circular that was sent by the C.E.O. Selangor, It reads: "TEMPORARY SALARY INCREASE TO I.M.G. IN ACCORDANCE WITH PER- KELILING PERKHIDMATAN BIL. 9/1966 Perkeliling Perkhidmatan Bil. 9/1966 is reproduced overleaf for your information and necessary action in respect of your staff. 2. This circular at present applies only to Government Servants for whom you may put up reports of change for the temporary salary increases. 3. Please note that Board employees (non- Government servants) should not be paid this temporary increase unless a further instruction is received from the Ministry." Thus it will be seen that these workers are definitely left out in the cold. Their plight is just as bad, if not worse than that of the I.M.G. workers, and yet they are specifically excluded from the recent increase for the I.M.G. workers. Any Government that exploits this category of workers, the lowest paid in this country, must hang its head in shame. Added to this is the fact that these workers do not get medical benefits which the I.M.G. workers receive. I call on the Alliance Government to put a stop to this exploitation of this category of workers, expecially now that confrontation is over, so that this category of workers too can hope to have a richer and fuller life.

Mr Speaker, Sir, on a point of clarification, my I ask the Honourable Assistant Minister of Education, pending this study of the Ministry of Education's special com- mittee by the Ministry itself and by the Cabinet, which may well run into months, will the Ministry not consider giving an immediate award of $12.50 to this category of workers that I mentioned (jagas, kebuns, and the like) that has been denied them?

According to the present scheme of service the Department of Veterinary Services can employ only those graduates who possess veterinary qualifications. All Veterinary graduates are trained animal husbandmen in addition to training in the art and practice of veterinary science. Graduates from the Faculty of Agri- culture not only of the University of Malaya but also those universities over- seas where Faculties of Agriculture exist, are principally agriculturists although a few of them may have undergone a short course in animal husbandry during their under-graduate training. As such, they are more fitted to serve in the Agricultural Department than the Veterinary Department, since their training biased towards agri- culture. However, agricultural graduates with animal husbandry qualifications could be considered for appointment in the Veterinary Department if the need arises. Enche' Mohamed bin Jamil

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Agriculture and Co-opera- tives if he is aware of the statement made by Enche' Mohamed bin Jamil, Director of Agriculture that Formosa, with about half a million acres of rice fields was not only producing enough rice to feed 14 million mouths, double that of Malaya, but is also exporting rice, while Malaya with one million acres of rice field could only produce about 70% of the rice consumed in Malaya, and if so, what steps his Ministry has taken to increase the productivity of our rice farmers and how effective are these measures.

This statement was based on facts obtained from investigations on backward and mismanaged co-operative societies. Some of the steps taken by the Ministry to overcome such pro- blems are as follows: (a) Amendments to the Co-operative Societies Ordinance to give more powers to the Registrar to take appropriate action as necessary. (b) The calling of Special General meeting by the Registrar under Section 11 of the Co-operative Societies Rules for the election of new committees. (c) Educating the members in the selection of Committee members so that active and responsible persons are elected. Delay in Publication of Report

1. Tuan C. V. Devan Nair asks the Minister of Agriculture and Co- operatives the reasons for the delay in publishing the report of the two Ford Foundation experts on improvements to the Padi Cultivators Control of Rent and Security of Tenure Ordinance, 1955; and whether the Report is now

In March 1966 the General Services Administration of the U.S.A. released 15,020 tons of rubber from the stockpile. Malayan Flour Mills Ltd

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Commerce and Industry to state the number of people who are now being employed by the Malayan Flour Mills Ltd, and what will be the labour force when the Mills work at full capacity.

What the Hon'ble Member for Batu terms as "barter trade" is really petty smuggling by fishermen who smuggle in small quantities of Indonesian rubber and palm fibre through the fishing "kelongs" off the kampongs of SRI-GENTING (not "Sengenting"), MINYAK BEKU and SUNGEI AYAM. The Customs Department is fully aware of this activity and has taken action to stop this petty smuggling. The Marine Police has been actively co-operating with the Customs Depart- ment in this respect. Five cases were taken to court by the Customs Department in May 1966 leading to conviction and forfeiture of the smuggled goods comprising small quantities of copra and rubber which were subsequently sold by public auction to realise a sum of $1,807. The vessels involved were confiscated. Two other cases are still pending at the moment. During the first half of this year, the Royal Malaysian Police made 19 arrests and seized a total of 118.27 piculs of rubber and 27.87 piculs of copra in similar cases of smuggling. Foreign Capital

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Finance to state if he is aware of the resolution tabled at the recent annual UMNO General Assembly calling on the Alliance Government to restrict the outflow of capital of foreign firms from Malaysia, and if so, to state what action the Alliance Government intends to take regarding this resolution.

In a demo- cratic country, like Malaysia, party officials are free to express their grievances and views on foreign affairs and such views should not therefore be taken to reflect the Government's thinking on the subject. As I have said before, Malaysia has no intention of leaving the Commonwealth, as the refusal of Britain to lend us the paltry sum of $630 million is not sufficient enough to justify a rupture with Britain to the extent of our having to leave the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth does not belong to Britain alone but is an association of commonwealth countries which extend through the five continents, viz., America (Canada), Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. Britain in parti- cular have given us yeoman service in connection with Indonesia's aggres- sion. That Britain has withdrawn her offer of financial aid, has undoubtedly caused us disappointment but this alone is not enough to break up our friendship with her. Vietnam Conflict

1. Tuan Lim Kean Siew asks the Minister of Foreign Affairs whether it was true that it was officially stated recently that Malaysia considers the Vietnam conflict could only be resolved by a peace conference; if so, whether the Alliance Government does not realise that the Geneva Agreements of 1954 provided for the solution of the Vietnam question and that it was the United States which refused to accept and ignored these Agreements by intro- ducing troops and military personnel into South Vietnam and encouraging the Government of Ngo Dinh Diem not to agree to a general election stipulated by the Agreements.

I am aware of an oral complaint made to me by an Assistant Nurse at the Annual General Meeting of the Assistant Nurses' Union, whereby it was stated that the nurse concerned was asked to perform duties which she considered were not part of her job. I told the members present at the meeting that the best way to solve such a misunder- standing is to form a liaison committee between the Assistant Nurses' Union and the Nurses' Union. Mr N. S. Wigneswaran

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Health if he is aware of the complaints by Mr N. S. Wignes- waran acting general secretary of CUEPACS that of the 100 vacancies for sisters only 24 were filled and that many senior staff nurses now acting as sisters have been completely over- looked, and if so, whether this complaint has been investigated, what is the result of the investigation.

(a) General Medical out-patients (b) Surgical Casualties and Medical Emergencies (c) Medical In-patients (d) Surgical In-patients (e) Dental Clinic services patients (g) Paediatric In-patients (h) Physiotherapy service (i) Specialist Medical and Surgical Out-patient Clinics. The target date for the completion of the said hospital is July, 1968, and the estimated cost of construction is $15,200,000, excluding the cost of equipment.

There are no detainees currently in detention in both East and West Malaysia whose date of detention precedes 1st December, 1962. The details given in this answer, there- fore, relate to the period since 1st December, 1962. It is not possible, without an extensive examination of the medical reports of each of the detainees who have been in detention since December, 1962, to state how many detainees received outpatient treatment for mental depression either in a Government hospital or in the Detention Camp itself. Three detainees were admitted to the Tampoi Mental Hospital. One detainee was admitted on 4th October, 1964 and discharged on 19th November, 1964; another was admitted on 25th June, 1966, and is still in hospital and the third detainee was admitted on 26th June, 1966 and discharged on 3rd August, 1966. Two detainees were admitted to the Central Mental Hospital at Tanjong Rambutan. The Detention Order of one (f) Obstetric and Gynaecology In- of these was cancelled on 5th July, 1960, and the other detainee was released from detention, immediately upon his discharge from hospital, when the medical authorities suggested that his mental health would improve if he was released. In addition, three other detainees in Sarawak were also admitted to hospital in Sarawak for treatment. One of these three was also released from detention on the suggestion of the medical authorities. In matters concerning the mental health of detainees, the Government invariably accepts the advice of the medical authorities if they recommend that the mental health of a particular detainee would improve if he was released from detention.

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Home Affairs how many detainees have died in detention camps for the years 1957 to 1966 and the causes of death in each case.

Since March 1966, the Ministry has received a total of 140 letters from members of the Amnesty International appealing for the release of Dr M. K. Rajakumar. The following is a breakdown of the above figures: England 82 U.S.A. 22 Sweden 10 Canada 5 Italy 5 Holland 4 Norway 3 Australia 3 Finland 2 Ireland 1 Ghana 1 France 1 Germany 1 In the reply to these appeals, the Government stated that Dr Rajakumar was detained primarily for having been involved in a conspiracy to over- throw the Government of Malaysia and that he could not as yet be released as he was still considered a threat to the security of the country. Telephone Call

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Home Affairs if he is aware that the police in Sentul Police Station, Kuala Lumpur, have charged a person 20 cents for a telephone call, thereby committing an offence, and if so, what steps he has taken to see that police stations elsewhere do not commit the same offence.

To date four persons have surrendered. For security reasons further details cannot be furnished. Peaceful Demonstration

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Home Affairs the reasons for not allowing the students of the University of Malaya to stage a peace- ful demonstration against the American escalation of the war in Vietnam.

No, I am not aware of any such letter being sent to the Honourable the Prime Minister alleging discrimi- nation and victimization against non- Malays in Radio Malaysia. However as the allegation is a serious one and in order to put the Honourable Member on the right path, I would like to state categorically that there is no such victimization or dis- crimination in the Department of Radio.

Actual figures of unemployment in respect of these years are not available. The figures of regis- trants at the Employment Exchanges in the States of Malaya at the end of the years concerned are given below, but it should be noted that not all the registrants at these Exchanges are unemployed: 1963 79,979 1964 90,798 1965 96,733 Employment Groups in Malaysia

1. Tuan Lim Kean Siew asks the the Minister of Labour to give figures for the various employment groups in Malaysia-how many Government employees, traders, estate workers, tin- mining workers, fishermen and padi farmers.

Employment, Unemploy- ment and Underemployment Survey, 1962. Payment of Arrears to Shop Assistants

1. Tuan C. V. Devan Nair asks the Minister of Labour with reference to para. V (f) of the monthly report of the Ministry of Labour for May, 1966, to confirm that payment of arrears of underpayments of the statutory mini- mum rate totalling $803.78, overtime wages amounting to $25,095.39 and holiday pay amounting to $3,148.68 was in fact subsequently made to the 150 shop assistants employed in 31 shops in Malacca.

(a) The following trade unions have been registered in the States of Malaya in 1966- 1. Kesatuan Guru² Malaya. 2. Kesatuan Guru² Ugama Pahang. 3. Taiping Local Authorities Em- ployees Union. 4. Port Ancillary Services Suppliers Association, Port Swettenham. 5. Selangor Building Workers' Trade Union. 6. Port Swettenham Authority Staff Union. 7. Senior Officers' Association, Port Swettenham Authority. 8. Electrical Industry Workers' Union of Malaya. (b) Nil.

1. Tuan C. V. Devan Nair asks the Minister of Labour to state (a) how long does it normally take for a union to get a final answer to its application for registration; (b) the number and names of trade unions whose applica- tions are pending, giving the date each union first applied for registration; and (c) when will such unions be registered or be refused registration.

(a) Serial Name of Union Member- Date of No. ship Registration 1. Women Teachers' Union, Federation of Malaya 1,363 17-6-60 2. National Union of Teachers, Federation of Malaya 4,332 23-6-60 (16-8-55) 3. The Association of Teachers of English in Chinese Schools, Federation of Malaya 197 29-6-60 (22-12-54) 4. Malacca Malay Teachers Union 396 8-7-60 (20-12-51) 5. Kesatuan Guru Melayu Perak 292 12-9-60 (29-7-52) 6. Kesatuan Guru2 Ugama Kerajaan Kelantan 359 27-9-60 7. Kesatuan Guru2 Melayu Negeri Sembilan 341 30-9-60 (22-9-58) 8. Kesatuan Guru Melayu Johor 637 12-10-60 (22-11-51) 9. Kesatuan Kebangsaan Guru Sekolah Kebangsaan, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu 4,006 20-10-60 (6-4-55) 10. Kesatuan Guru Bahasa Kebangsaan, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu 412 22-10-60 (11-10-55) 11. Kesatuan Guru2 Melayu Perlis 158 29-10-60 (16-6-52) 12. Persatuan Guru Melayu Kedah 1,556 7-11-60 (21-10-52) 13. Pre-War Registered Junior Middle III Teachers Association, Federation of Malaya 504 18-11-60 14. National Union of Graduate Teachers 168 30-11-60 (1-4-53) 15. Kesatuan Guru Melayu Kelantan 1,738 6-12-60 (31-10-57) 16. Union of Teachers of English in Vernacular Schools, Federa- tion of Malaya (1959) 107 30-12-60 17. Kesatuan Guru Sekolah Kebangsaan, Pahang 165 30-12-60 (22-12-54) 18. Kesatuan Guru Melayu Pulau Pinang dan Seberang Prai 789 17-1-61 (4-2-53) 19. Kesatuan Guru Melayu Trengganu 136 18-1-61 (7-7-55) 20. Persatuan Guru2 Ugama Selangor 771 27-4-61 21. Kesatuan Guru Melayu Ra'ayat Kelantan 243 13-6-61 22. Kesatuan Guru Pelawat, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu 105 3-10-61 23. Kesatuan Guru2 Latehan Maktab, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu 132 12-10-61 24. Johore Indian School Teachers Union (1961) 83 19-10-61 25. Kesatuan Guru Ugama Kerajaan Perak 671 21-10-61

(a) The education opportunities afforded to the Orang Asli are a matter of high priority to the Department of Aborigines. Mea- sures are taken to ensure that they have the opportunity to acquire education at all levels on an equal footing with the other section of the population. In places where schools already exist, the Department of Abori- gines continues to encourage the Orang Asli children to attend them. Where necessary, school uniforms, rations and other help are provided by the Department. In reasonably accessible areas, there is a close co-operation between the Department of Edu- cation and this Department. The Education Department provides the teachers while the Department of Aborigines provides the school buildings, teachers quarters and other special helps to the children. In deep jungle areas, the Depart- ment of Aborigines continues to accept responsibility for the edu- cation of the Orang Asli. As far as possible, qualified teachers are recruited. For the adults, Adult Education Classes have been going on for sometime and now there are more than eighty centres for the Orang Asli adults all over the country. (b) The Department of Aborigines have built 73 schools for the Orang Asli children so far. There are at present 4,171 Orang Asli children attending schools.

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Lands and Mines how many aborigines are employed in the Department of Aborigines and what are the reasons for the number which are employed.

Yes, but I am not aware of indiscrimi- nate exploitations being carried out. All exploitations are planned and controlled particularly in Forest Reserves. I believe the indiscriminate exploitation referred to by the Hon'ble Member is the opening of large areas of forest for exploitation. If this is so then it can be pointed out that such areas of forests are opened up for planned agricultural development. On the ques- tion of proper land use the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department has, since 1963, appointed Technical Sub-Committee on Land Capability Classification with its main objective the preparation of land capa- bility maps on a country-wide basis. Systematic Forest Resource Survey work on a large scale was started as early as 1962. As regards re-afforestation, the sys- tems of silviculture adopted in this country ensure regeneration of commer- cially utilisable species in indigenous forests and where natural regenerations are considered inadequate then planting programmes are initiated.

If the question relates to an application by Dr Sivapalasundram Vaithilingam for an award under the Colombo Plan to study for the Diploma in Public Health the facts are as follows: The Federal Government was invited to submit to Colombo Plan Donor Countries the Government's require- ments for training awards in 1967. Accordingly the Federal Capital was requested by the Ministry for Local Government and Housing to submit any bids for training awards in 1967. An application was received from Dr Sivapalasundram Vaithilingam by the Pesurohjaya Ibu Kota in response to this invitation and the application was recommended by the Municipal Health Officer. The Federal Government had emphasised that the number of awards available was very limited and bids should be made only if "a real and urgent need for training exists". The Pesurohjaya Ibu Kota felt that there was no real and urgent need to send the applicant for the course in Public Health. It is to be explained that in the Municipal Health Service only the Municipal Health Officer and the Deputy Municipal Health Officer are required to possess the Diploma in Public Health as a qualification for filling their respective posts. The need for another Medical Officer with a Diploma in Public Health does not therefore arise at present. It is also to be mentioned that there was a third Medical Officer in the Municipal Health Service who was in possession of a Diploma in Public Health and all the three had been sent to obtain this Diploma at the expense of the Municipality. This latter officer finding that he had no immediate prospects of being promoted to the post of Municipal Health Officer or Deputy Municipal Health Officer has given notice of resignation and is joining another Local Authority. The Pesurohjaya Ibu Kota feels that the sending of another Medical Officer to obtain the Diploma in Public Health will not be a fair charge on the ratepayers and although the award is under the auspices of the Colombo Plan, the Pesurohjaya Ibu Kota must nevertheless bear his salary, allowances and other expenses. It will be seen therefore that there is no immediate prospect for the officer returning with a Diploma in Public Health of being promoted to the senior post of Municipal Health Officer or Dy. Municipal Health Officer and it is very likely that the position will be reached where the officer will become frustrated and may contemplate resignation to better his prospects elsewhere. This as mentioned earlier has in fact happened in the case of another officer. If, how- ever, the need should arise that a Medical Officer. should be sent to obtain a Diploma in Public Health the Pesurohjaya Ibu Kota will certainly give due consideration to the matter.

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister for Local Government and Housing if he is aware that since the inception of the Pesurohan Jaya Ibu Kota, Kuala Lumpur, only one of its medical officers has been sent abroad for further studies, and if so, to state what is the reason for not sending more local medical officers for courses like the D.P.H. and D.I.H. and whether he will take steps to see that more local medical officers are sent abroad for further studies.

I am not aware of any agitation by the Railway Clerical Assistants of Taiping that they be emplaced on the Railway Clerical Officers Service. Overloading of Wagons

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Transport to state whether he is aware of the overloading of wagons with iron ore at the Ipoh Goods Office which results not only in loss of revenue, but also in financial loss due to excessive wear and tear on wagons and permanent way, and if so, what steps he has taken to stop such mal- practices.

I do not know what Welfare Committees are intended by the Honourable Member, but if what he means is the Central Welfare Council, Nibong Tebal Dis- trict Branch, then his allegation that welfare materials have been stored in the office of the M.I.C. Nibong Tebal Branch or that there is political inter- ference in the work of the welfare committee, is completely untrue.

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister for Welfare Services if he is aware of the accusation that officials of the Nibong Tebal Branch of the M.I.C. distributing foodstuffs donated by the Catholic Welfare Services only to its members and that other Indians were denied this because they were not M.I.C. members, and if so, whether he has investigated into this accusation.

I regret that it is not proper for me to state the arrears, if any, owing by Malayan Times Limited or any other subscriber to the Telecommunications Department as it is the policy of the Department not to disclose the accounts of a telephone subscriber to a third party. Lost Registered Letters

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Works, Posts and Tele- communications if he is aware that in the readers columns of Straits Times of 28-6-66 and 18-6-66 there have been complaints by Enche' Ismail Sardon and Enche' A. Z. O. respectively of their registered letters being lost in the post, and if so, whether he has investigated these complaints.

The Election Commission is currently studying the system of automatic registration of electors and hopes to submit its recom- mendation in the near future. It may be possible to introduce the system in time for the next general elections in 1969. Division One Posts

1. Tuan C. V. Devan Nair asks the Prime Minister to give the number and list of persons promoted or appointed to Division One posts in 1964, 1965 and 1966.

The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services has made represen- tation to the Government concerning the proposed transfer of promotion and disciplinary powers to Heads of Depart- ments. The Congress submitted a resolution adopted at a rally held on the 15th of July, 1966, under the auspices of the Congress. The resolu- tion calls upon the Government- (a) to discuss the proposed transfer of promotion and disciplinary powers to Heads of Departments with the civil servants in accordance with the established procedure for consultations and negotiations; (b) to maintain the impartiality of the Public Services Commission in accordance with the spirit that pervaded the Federation of Malaya Constitutional Conference 1956; (c) to establish a Commission of Inquiry if there are any weak- nesses in the administration of the Services Commission; (d) to assure the Civil Service that it will uphold the Constitution and guarantee the Civil servants the right to enjoy an independent and impartial attitude without fear of political or other outside in- fluence. In addition to the above representa- tion the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council representing the majo- rity of Staff Associations and Unions requested in April 1966 that imple- mentation of the proposal be withheld pending a thorough discussion in the National Whitley Council. Religion, National Politics and Islamic Concepts

(a) Ugama tidak boleh di-pisahkan daripada politik bukan sahaja di-negeri ini bahkan di-mana negeri pun, tetapi Kerajaan seka- rang tidak bersetuju di-salah gunakan Ugama semata sa-bagai alat dan kepentingan politik yang sempit untok faedah parti politik dengan di-gunakan nama Negara. (b) Ugama Islam ada-lah kuasa Kerajaan Negeri dan Raja, tetapi sunggoh pun demikian, Kerajaan Persekutuan dengan nama Allah menjalankan peme- rentahan negara dengan 'adil dan saksama. Ini ada-lah dasar Ugama Islam. Malaysian Nationality 56. Tuan Haji Abu Bakar bin Hamzah bertanya kapada Perdana Menteri: (a) apa-kah rupa bangsa Malaysia ini, atau jika belum ada lagi, apa-kah rupa bangsa Malaysia yang baharu; (b) ada-kah Kerajaan menganggap "Melayu" sa-bagai rupa bangsa Malaysia, dan jika tidak, me- ngapa; dan (c) ada-kah benar bahawa Kerajaan Perikatan memandang tidak perlu mempunya satu rupa bangsa Malaysia yang tegas, sa-lagi ia berkuasa dalam negeri ini.

It is not the policy of the Government to give information on racial or communal basis.

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Education to give the centres for secondary schools in the medium of the National Language indicating the status and enrolment of each. 1966

The figure is as follows: Number of students in Secondary Schools in the National Language Medium Year Assisted Private Total 1957 Nil Nil Nil 1958 510 Nil 510 1959 2,567 Nil 2,567 1960 4,979 Nil 4,979 1961 9,059 93 9,152 1962 14,385 149 14,534 1963 21,484 278 21,762 1964 28,845 459 29,304 1965 64,585 143 64,728 1966 95,037 394 95,431

1. Tuan Haji Abu Bakar bin Hamzah bertanya kapada Menteri Pelajaran (a) berapa bilangan murid Melayu dalam negeri ini yang patut masok ka-Sekolah Menengah dalam tahun 1966, dan berapa bilangan pula yang tidak masok, dengan memberi angka tersebut satu persatu-nya bagi tiap negeri; dan (b) apa-kah faktor yang boleh di- perchaya mungkin telah men- jadi sebab mengapa murid ini tidak masok ka-Sekolah Menengah.

Yes, a copy of the letter in question has just been received by my Ministry. The Chief Education Officer, Selangor, has con- sidered the request to employ an extra caretaker/jaga and has given his approval to the school to do so. It is regretted that street lighting for the school road cannot at present be provided because of lack of funds. Secondary Trade School, Johore Bahru

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Education to state: (a) the reason for the 200 odd students of the Secondary Trade School at Johore Bahru going on strike; (b) now that the strike is over, what has the Minister done about the grievances of the students.

I have received a copy of Mr Colin Abraham's research paper on Malaysians studying in Great Britain from the Ministry of Welfare Services. My Ministry has since received the comments of the Director of the Malaysian Students Department in London on this report, which is at present under study in the Ministry. As regards the provision of Malay sian newspapers in Malaysia Hall and other student centres in Great Britain, I have informed this House in my written reply to a question raised by the Hon'ble Member on 21-3-1966 that there is no shortage of such news- papers in Malaysia Hall. Local news- papers such as the Straits Times, Sunday Mail, Straits Budget, Berita Harian, Sabah Times, Sarawak Tribune, Sin Chew Jit Pau and Utusan Melayu are available in these Centres. Second College of Agriculture

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Education when the second College of Agriculture will be set up in Kuala Trengganu, in view of the desperate shortage of agricultural personnel in Malaya.

I have received a letter from Enche' Ghazali bin Basir, Tong Chong Fui and Anthony Chelliah alleging malpractices and corruption on the part of Enche' Nasruddin Isa, Schools Audit Examiner-in-Charge of Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Malacca. I have for- warded the letter to the Anti-Corrup- tion Branch for investigation and appropriate action. Teachers in Fully Assisted Schools

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Education the number of teachers in fully assisted schools as on 1st January, 1966; of these how many are: (i) in National Language, English, Chinese and Indian Medium Schools; (ii) Graduates, Normal Trained, College Trained and D.T.C. Trained; (iii) of the D.T.C. teachers how many are (a) with School Certificate and Higher qualifications, (b) Lower Certificate of Education; (iv) in the Unified Teaching Service.

First of all I would like to clarify that the "Standing Committee on the Evalua- tion of Foreign Qualifications" referred to in the question is not a committee under my jurisdiction but is constituted by the Government and is under the chairmanship of the Principal Establish- ment Officer, Malaysia. Its term of reference is to consider foreign qualifi- cations for the purpose of entry into the Government service. The Com- mittee that exists in my Ministry and which was set up under Rule 28 of the Education (Salaries and Appoint- ments Rules), 1961, is known as the Committee on Equivalent Qualifica- (a) Foreign degrees considered by Ministry since beginning of year. (i) Bachelor of Science, University of Massachusettes, U.S.A. and Tea- chers Certificate from the Depart- ment of Education, State of Minnesota. (ii) Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Sir George Williams University, Montreal, Canada. (iii) Canadian Honours degrees for which Malayan Colombo Plan Scholars are now reading in Univer- sities there. (iv) B.A. (Rangoon) and M.A. (Delhi). (v) Bachelor of Science (Madras) and Bachelor of Education (W. Aus- tralia). (vi) Bachelor of Science (Newfound- land). (vii) Bachelor of Education (Mel- bourne). (viii) B.A. from George Peabody College, U.S.A. (c) Currently under consideration. (i) B.A. George Peabody College, Tennesse, U.S.A. (ii) Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Edu- cation (High Honours) University of Illinois, U.S.A. (iii) Degree awarded by the Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.A. (iv) Bachelor of Education, University of Toronto. (v) B.A., Syracuse University, New York, U.S.A.

1. Tuan C. V. Devan Nair asks the Minister of Education (a) how many teachers have applied for their degrees to be recognised as a result of the tions whose work is to evaluate foreign qualifications for the purpose of entry into the Unified Teaching Service which is a non-Government service and not for the purpose of entry into Government service. I presume that in the context of the question, the Hon'ble Member is referring to this Committee and not to the one under the Federation Establishment Office. If this presumption is correct, then the following is the answer to the question: (b) Recommendation of the Committee in each case. Equated to H.S.C. only. The Teachers Certificate was not accepted as a training certificate. Equated to H.S.C. Equated to recognised Hons. pro- vided they complete the course after a minimum of 3 years. If less the Committee will have to examine each qualification individually. Equated to H.S.C. only. Equated to H.S.C. with training. Recognised and equated to Pass degree. Equated to School Certificate plus College training. Equated to H.S.C. government's recent recognition of accredited American degrees; and (b) the result of such applications.

The annual number of trained teachers who have resigned from the teaching service on immediate completion of their five-year contracts since 1955 are as follows 1958 1 1962 1 1964 2 1965 18 1966 18 Graduate Teachers

1. Tuan C. V. Devan Nair asks the Minister of Education whether he agrees that one way to attract graduates into the teaching service is to revise the Unified Teaching Service with a view to providing housing and medical benefits; and whether his Ministry would recommend to the Cabinet such a revision for immediate implementa- tion to help relieve the acute shortage of graduate teachers in Malaysia.

(a) Annual intake of teacher-trainees since 1957 as follows: 1957 1,813 1958 2,108 1959 2,543 1960 2,541 1961 2,694 1962 2,665 1963 2,444 1964 2,184 1965 4,463 1966 4,652 Total 28,107 (b) Number leaving before complet- ing their teacher-training as follows: 1957 11 1958 24 1959 9 1960 11 1961 18 1962 23 1963 29 1964 39 1965 94 1966 (to July) 64 Total 322 Teachers' Panel

1. Tuan C. V. Devan Nair asks the Minister of Education if he will now announce the full list of names of representatives constituting the Teachers' Panel of the N.J.C.T., indicating the union which each member represented.

Selection for entry into Sixth Form classes is not made on the basis of a pupil possessing a Grade I or II certificate in the Cam- bridge School Certificate examination but on the basis of passing the Sixth Form entrance examination and/or securing the required number of units in the relevant cognate subjects in the Cambridge School Certificate examina- tion. In view of the acute shortage of graduate teachers and the expensive nature of Sixth Form education, consi- deration for opening of Sixth Form classes had to be made on a country- wide basis and every consideration will be given as to whether more Sixth Form classes should be opened in Negeri Sembilan and the position is reviewed regularly.

1. Dr Tan Chee Khoon asks the Minister of Education to state: (a) the number of students who sat for the Entrance Examination for the H.S.C. from its inception till 1965, giving the figures sepa- rately for (i) Arts, (ii) Science for each year, and showing how many passed; (b) of those who passed how many in the following December either failed the Senior Cambridge Certificate Examination or passed but did not do well enough to be allowed to remain in the H.S.C.

Figures in respect of the years 1963 to 1965 are given in the Appendix below. Figures in respect of the years from 1947 to 1962 are not available. APPENDIX (Failures in Entrance Exam.) Year No. admitted as a result of of passing well in the O.S.C. Exam. Arts Science 1963 226 130 1964 185 208 1965 189 344

(a) Approximately 120 applications were received for the first batch of the National Youth Pioneer Corps. (b) As the time given for this ques- tion is so short and as the number of trainees is large, it is not possible to give the list asked for together with all the particulars requested. This will however, be forwarded to the Hon'ble Member in due course.

1. Tuan C. V. Devan Nair asks the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (a) how many youths applied during the second recruitment for the National Youth Pioneer Corps; and (b) to list the names of the successful applicants, giving the following particulars for each Pioneer trainee; (i) age, (ii) educa- tional standards attained, (iii) town/ kampong and State of origin.