CO537-4999 — Page 142

ANNEX III

Extract from Despatch No. 5 dated 30th May from

Sir Henry Gurney, High Commissioner for the

Federation of Malaya

REGISTRATION

The natural complement to efficient information coverage is registration of the population. It is a comparatively simple matter for a political malcontent to disappear underground and to continue to work and to exert influence from a hidden base or based when people go about their business with no ready means of identification and move from place to place at will. But it is not so easy, in fact it is difficult to remain out of sight of the police if a comprehensive and efficeint system of national registration exists,

The Communists in Malaya have shown a particular dislike for national registration. This was started here last July and finished in eight months, The system provides every adult with an identity card bearing his photograph, and each card is issued against a thu print record. Photographers' charges had to be controlled and photographers became targets for the bandits. Registration is not only of great help to the police in dealing with immigration and movements of individuals, but it can also, if properly put across, be made to give an added sense of security to those who have nothing to fear from the police.

Registration is made more effective if it is linked with the various contacts an individual may have with the authorities, e.§., he should be required to produce his identity card when applying for trade licences, vehicle licences, passports, ration cards, etc.

An adequate staff is necessary and sufficient supplies of photographic material.

If registration of employment can be included, so much the better.