RENEWAL OF NEGOTIATIONS ON CLOSER RELATIONS WITH FEDERATION AFTER PUBLICATION OF COBBOLD COMMISSION REPORT

Mr David Marshall asked the Prime Minister whether Government will seek to renew negotiations on the proposed closer relations with the Federation after the Cobbold Commission Report has been published.

The Prime Minister: Sir, until the Cobbold Commission Report is published, it is not possible to answer this question.

Mr David Marshall: Am I to understand, Mr Speaker, that the Prime Minister is unaware of the contents of the Cobbold Commission Report?

The Prime Minister: I think the Member for Anson can assume that until the Report is published, it will be inappropriate for anyone to indicate whether he does or does not know what is in the Report. But I would like to assure the hon. Member that, in my duty as the Prime Minister of Singapore, every stage in the development of the creation of Malaysia, which is gathering momentum month by month - almost week by week - is watched closed by my colleagues and myself in order to see that the interests of Singapore within this larger federation are properly safeguarded.

Mr David Marshall: Mr Speaker, I was not seeking information as to the contents of the Cobbold Commission Report. I seem to have been misunderstood. I was only enquiring whether, in the light of the knowledge that he has, he would be seeking renewal of negotiations in respect of the White Paper proposals?

Mr Speaker: The answer has been given.

The Prime Minister: May I reply?

Mr Speaker: Yes.

The Prime Minister: I think the Member for Anson is on this occasion wilfully slow on the uptake. I have not indicated whether I know or do not know the Cobbold Commission Report. It would be improper for me to indicate one way or the other. All I have indicated is that my colleagues and I, as persons entrusted with the interests of Singapore, are watching with considerable interest and painstaking care developments which are, as I have said, gathering momentum week by week. I can assure the Member for Anson - as I did assure the people of Singapore - that before the Federation of Malaysia takes place, all the necessary safeguards regarding equal rights for all of us shall be written into the Constitution.