MALAYAN DEMOCRATIC UNION'S RECOMMENDATIONS
ON THE SINGAPORE MUNICIAL, JONSTITUTION,
Although the nine items set out in the Terms of Reference cover many aspects of the question, a wider field of survey should have been provided. Within recent weeks, the Government has been inviting opinions of the public
on isolated subjects, whereas discussion should have been invited on the constitutional structure as a whole. Piecemeal suggestions and criticisms may look neat on paper, but in practice such a method cannot work out smoothly. What should have been done from the outset was to invite a comprehensive blue-print on the layan Constitution as a whole so that any person or Association invited to submit its views would be given the opportunity to send in a working plan for the various ramifications of the constitution in terms of citizenship, Legislature, Executive, State Council, District Council, etc.
For instance, the question of qualification of voters, of Commissioners, and the method of electing Commissioners are unavoidably linked up with questions of citizenship, and the election of members to the Legislative Council. The Malayan Democratic Union therefore wishes to make it clear that the following recommendations are made within the Terms of Reference, and represent only the bare outlines of the Malayan Democratic Union's full working plan. on the subject.
Number of Commissioners.
(1)
Not less than thirty six.
(2)
They should all be elected,
(3)
(4)
Qualifications for office of Commissioners.
Persons who pre
Malayan Citizens or British subjects domiciled in Malaya; and of full age; and
literate in any language; and
resident in Singapore for at least twelve months immediately preceding the date of clection.
Method of Election.
By Wards.
The Malayan Democratic Union suggests that for this purpose Singapore be divided into eighteen Districts on a population basis. Each District will be divided into five Wards.
Each Ward will elect fifteen persons to the Ward Council who will elect from among their number three persons to the District Council anl from each District Council two will be elected to the Municipal Council.
(5)
(6)
Qualifications of Electors.
Persuns who are :~
(b)
Malayan Citizens or British subjects domiciled in Malaya; and of full age; and
resident in the Ward for which they are electing for at least six months immediately preceding the date of election.
Disabilities.
Commissioners.
Persons who:~
fail to satisfy requisements of Paragraph 3 above, or
have been convicted of a felony, provided that political offenders should not be disqualified from taking office as Commissioners unless they are Fascist or Japanese collaborators;
Or