DRAFT CONSTITUTION FOR MALAYSIA (Date of publication)

Mr David Marshall asked the Prime Minister when it is anticipated that the Draft Constitution for Malaysia will be published.

The Prime Minister: Sir, although the constitutional provisions have been agreed upon in the White Paper and in the exchanges of letters between the Tunku and myself, there has been some difficulty over the financial arrangements as I have explained just now, in particular, the cost which will represent Singapore's fair share of Federal services in Singapore as Singapore's contributions for Pan-Malaysian services like Defence, Foreign Affairs, and a few other items. We hope that this vital question of finance can be resolved soon in time for us to table all the constitutional amendments for adoption by May in order that the treaty can be signed in June.

Mr David Marshall: If it please you, Mr Speaker, I am misunderstood. The phrase there is "Draft Constitution for Malaysia", not merely that section of the Constitution for Malaysia referring to Singapore. I would inquire when it is anticipated that the Draft Constitution for Malaysia will be published, and whether the Government will give an opportunity for debate here.

The Prime Minister: Sir, I am sorry the Member for Anson again has misconstrued me. He has given me the worst possible interpretation. There are only certain sections of the Federal Constitution which will require amendment, either because of Singapore or because of the Borneo territories. And there will he, therefore, the Federal Constitution - a copy of which I have here and which I hope Members of this House interested in the matter will familiarise themselves with. Then there will be the amendments which will be inlaid into this Constitution. That, together with the Singapore State Constitution, will provide the whole picture of Singapore in Malaysia. There is no intention to fob the Member for Anson off with just a few constitutional amendments.

Mr David Marshall: Sir, perhaps it was an oversight that the Prime Minister has omitted to indicate whether the Government will give this Assembly an opportunity to debate the whole Draft Constitution, including the Constitution of Singapore in the context of the Constitutions for the Borneo territories.

The Prime Minister: Sir, I have to check the exuberance of the Member for Anson here. I remember on one famous occasion he ---

Mr Speaker: Order. This is not the time for debate. I ask the Prime Minister just to give a reply.

The Prime Minister: Indeed my reply, Sir,I have already on one famous occasion over the radio reminded the Member for Anson that it is not my duty to explain what proportion of Brunei's responsibilities go to the centre and what proportions remain in Brunei. I am concerned with Singapore, in the context of the whole of the Malaysian Constitution and Singapore. I am not obliged, nor is it my responsibility, to explain the constitutional arrangements which have been agreed to by the Council Negri of Sarawak or by the Legislative Council of North Borneo or by the Sultan and his advisers in Brunei. That is not my problem. I am not charged with these responsibilities and I see no reason why I should move their State amendments in this Assembly or allow it as a subject for debate, in which ease I shall have to defend or condemn it. But I will certainly allows the fullest debate on the whole of the Malaysian Constitution and on the Singapore State Constitution but not the Constitutions concerning Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.