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DIRECTIVE ON CIVIL AFFAIRS FOR MALAYA TO THE
SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER, SOUTH EAST ASIA
COMMAND
1. Upon the liberation of Malaya or within such territories thereof
or adjacent thereto as are under the control of your forces you will
proclaim martial law and set up a military administration for the
government of the civil population of the territory. To this end
you will assume for yourself by Proclamation such powers as are
necessary for the administration of the liberated territories, and
will also arrange for the delegation of such powers to the military
Commander delegated by you, as General Officer Commanding, Military
Force, Malaya. You will likewise suspend the powers and jurisdiction
of all existing courts and tribunals and in their place set up
military courts which will derive their authority from your proclamation and (pending the reinstatement of indigenous courts)
deal with all offences committed by the civil population.
courts under the immediate authority of a C.C.A.0. will administer the indigenous law modified or supplemented by proclamation as may
be necessary for the security of the liberating forces and the
maintenance of order.
Such
He
2. In order to enable you (or the Military Commander designated by you for the purpose) to carry on the Military Administration, a Chief Civil Affairs Officer, Malaya (C.C.A.0.(M)) has been appointed. will on your behalf and subject to your general directions (or those of the Military Commander) administer the civil population of the
liberated territories in his own name. For all purposes in connection
with military administration, the Military Commander referred to above will be formally designated, "General Officer Commanding, Military
Forces, Malaya". He will at no time assume the title of Military
Governor.
3.
The C.C.A.0. (M) will be provided with a staff of Military Officers
augmented, as may be necessary, by civilians and subordinate military and civil staffs. In so far as is possible, personnel for this staff
will be made available by the Colonial Office from officials of the
former Government of Malaya, who know the country, the language and
the people.
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