498
RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
11111C.0.882/12
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE AF REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO:
76
maximum degree of State autonomy compatible with an effective Federal administra- tion in all matters of essentially common interest will blind Their Highnesses to the fact that any measure of financial devolution in excess of that indicated by the Com- mittee would not be so compatible. The Rulers, though not perhaps adepts in finance, are nevertheless shrewd enough men to attach to the concluding paragraphs of the Report their full meaning and value.
in
my
4. There are passages in the Report which call for further consideration, and paragraphs 15, 16, and 17 in particular require reference to the Government of the Straits Settlements. They are intimately connected with the proposals for a Malayan Establishment Office, which I have recommended for your approval Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements Confidential despatch of the 14th March, 1932.* 5. Paragraph 12 refers to the reorganization of the Postal Services in Malaya, which formed the subject of my despatch, Federated Malay States, No. 766 of the 17th December, 1931. The Committee, however, was not in possession of a copy. of that despatch and has slightly misunderstood the purport of my recommendations. The Post and Telegraph expenditure and revenue should not have been omitted from the Annexures to the Report, as the proposed Postal Board is not intended to be a separate financial corporation, but would apportion expenditure and revenue to the members of the Postal Union in accordance with Clause 20 of the draft Agree- ment, which was the fourth enclosure to my despatch.
6. Paragraph 10 mentions the inevitability of a further reduction in expenditure. I have just appointed a Retrenchment Commission, particulars of whose personnel and terms of reference I will shortly communicate to you in an open despatch.
7. There are various problems and subjects for further deliberation which emerge from a careful reading of the Report, and these will, in due course, form the subject of a further despatch or despatches. But I hasten to supply you with advance copies, because a sound system of finance is essential as the foundation of any political structure; and the Report has, therefore, an essential bearing on the general plan for decentralization adumbrated in the memorandum forwarded with my Confi- dential despatch of the 24th December last‡ and on all the ancillary proposals which I have placed before you in other recent despatches. I desire at once to associate myself with the general findings of the Committee on the subject matter of its report, the principles enunciated in the first paragraph of which have been impressed by me on all concerned from the beginning; and any recommendations that I may have to put forward in subsequent despatches regarding it will be on matters of detail or with regard to the temporary stages by which it should be gradually carried into effect.
I have, &c.,
C. CLEMENTI,
High Commissioner
IIL RECONSTITUTION OF THE STATE COUNCILS.
C. 92300/32 [No. 5].
SIR,
No. 36.
FEDERATED MALAY STATES.
THE HIGH COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 11th January, 1932.)
(Confidential (2).)
[Answered by No. 14.]
Government House, Singapore, 17th December, 1931.
WITH reference to my Confidential despatch of the 1st September last, § and to 6 of the Proceedings of the Sri Menanti Durbar which accompanied it, I have the honour to report the action which has since been taken by Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Federated Malay States for the reconstitution of their State Councils.
page
* C. 92300/32 [No. 42]: not printed.
† No. 45.
↑ No. 12.
§ No. 6.
77
2. In PERAK it has been decided to have two chambers, of which the lower (to be termed the "Council of Chiefs and Ulamas "), will advise the Ruler on matters of Malay Custom and Mohammedan religion only. Its composition is as follows:-
The RAJA MUDA, President,
The RAJA BENDAHARA, Vice-President,
Ten major chiefs by office,
Two representatives of the Raja class nominated by the Sultan,
The SHEIKH UL-ISLAM,
Four men learned in the Scriptures (Ulamas) selected by the Sultan.
3. If this Chamber functions satisfactorily in its initial advisory capacity, the following executive and appellate duties may perhaps be entrusted to it at a later stage :-
(a) appointment of penghulus (Headmen), and
(b) consideration of appeals to the State Council from the Mohammedan
Religious Courts.
4. The Upper Chamber (to be termed the "
Council of State") will perform all
the duties appertaining to the present State Council, together with those about to be devolved to it from the Federal Council. It has been constituted as follows:-
Official Members.
The SULTAN, President;
The RAJA MUDA, Vice-President;
The BRITISH RESIDENT, ex officio;
The SECRETARY TO RESIDENT, ex officio; The RAJA BENDAHARA, ex officio;
Two representatives of the Raja class
nominated by the Sultan;
Not more than six Chiefs selected by the
Sultan from the Lower Chamber; Not more than six State officers appointed by the Sultan with the advice of the British Resident.
Unofficial Members. Not more than 3 Malays.
17
"J
3 Europeans.
23
31
3 Chinese
1
1 Indian.
5. In SELANGOR a single Chamber has been considered sufficient, the composition
of which will be as follows:-
Official Members.
The SULTAN, President;
The RAJA MUDA, Vice-President; The BRITISH RESIDENT, ex officio;
The SECRETARY TO RESIDENT, ex officio; The STATE TREASURER;
Two other State officers nominated by the Sultan with the advice of the Resident;
Four Malay officials nominated by the Sultan with the help of the British Resident.
Unofficial Members.
Not more than 3 Malays.
""
"
3 Europeans
"
2 Chinese.
1 Indian.
13
6. The peculiar political complexity of the Confederacy of small States known as NEGRI SEMBILAN renders a two-chamber system of government essential. The Upper Chamber will consist only of the Rulers and the British Resident, and will probably be called in the Malay language,
the Council of the Fountain of Justice and the Law- givers." Its membership is as follows :-
"
The YANG DI Pertuan Besar, President. The DATO' KLANA PETRA OF SUNGEI UJONG,
The DATO' PENGHULU OF JELEBU.
The DATO' PENGHULU OF REMBAU.
The DATO' PENGHULU OF JOHOL. The BRITISH Resident.
(The TENGKU BESAR OF SRI MENANTI.)
7. In the absence of the Yang di Pertuan Besar the Dato' Klana Petra of Sungei Ujong would take the chair or, if he too were absent, the next senior Dato' by date of appointment. The Tengku Besar of Sri Menanti is not a Ruler and is temporarily included only because the present holder has served the State well on the existing
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.