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The Democrat, Saturday, April 20, l946

Editorial

MALAYAN LEGISLATURE

The Malayan Union, which was inaugurated on April 1, is to have a Legislative Council, an Executive Council, a Council of Sultans, Sultans' Advisory Councils and State or Settlement Councils. These Councils may come into operation within a period of six months from the inauguration of the Malayan Union. The Legislative Council of the Malayan Union will consist of the Governor as President, 3 ex-officio members, 18 official members and 21 unofficial members. The Colony of Singapore will have a Legislative Council and an Executive Council presided over by the Governor. The Colony Legislative Council will consist of 4 ex-officio members, 7 official members and 11 unofficial members.

Though one of the arguments put forward by the sponsors of the constitutional reforms in Malaya is that they will contribute o the simplification of the administrative machinery, we fail to understand how 23 separate councils in the Malayan Union, which are to take the place of a State Council in each of the nine Malay States and a Federal Council, can be called "simplification." Far from being simple the administrative machinery at least in the Malayan Union is to become more complicated and expensive.

The proposals contained in the Order-in-Council for the constitution of the Legislative Councils in the Malayan Union and the Colony have greatly disappointed the people who have been expecting democratic, electoral representation. Whereas in the Colony there will be a few elected members, in the Malayan Union all the unofficial members will be nominated. It is common knowledge that nominated unofficial members do not represent the people, nor can they be expected to fight for the rights of the people. As regards the few elected members of the Colony, it is unlikely that they will be directly elected by the people. Any method which falls short of direct representation from the elector to the elected will not carry much weight. Even this pretence at electoral representation is denied to the Union.

The new Legislative Councils will be composed of an equal number of official and unofficial members, so much so that with the President's casting vote , a motion detrimental to official interests will be out of the question. It is, therefore, disappointing to note that without electoral representation and unofficial majority the new Legislative Councils can by no means be regarded as an advance from the colonial administration of the pre-war days.

Moreover the Governor's power of veto hangs like the sword of Damocles over any pogressive legislation intended to uphold the democratic rights of the people. If the Legislature passes a Bill of which the Governor does not approve or if it refuses to pass a Bill which the governor wants to have passed, its action will be subject to veto.

Furthermore, the qualifications required for the unofficial members of the Union Legislative Council - that they should be Malayan citizens of the age of 21 years or upwards, who are able to speak, read and write the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to enable them to take part in the Council proceedings are not calculated to lead the country along the path of democratic self-government.#

(The Democract was edited by William Kwok and Jacko Thamboo)

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Index page Baba jingles Book Review Burung Hantu The food guide Jungle war (10)
Letter from Pulau Tikus The plumed cockhat The Razaleigh factor The real Hang Tuah
Syed Hussein Alatas

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The Penang File Issue 51