it was proposed that a two-thirds (some said four-fifths) majority should be required for amendments. A further point made was that where there was a conflict between the Federal and State Constitutions, the State Constitution should prevail.
Many Chinese proposed that there should be a trial period during which North Borneo would be free to decide to leave the new Federation if she wished.This is a matter on which the Chinese in North Borneo, as in Sarawak, feel very strongly indeed. They do not always understand fully the situation in Malaya and entertain various fears of discrimination against the Chinese in the acquisition of Federal citizenship. There was also the question of a test in the national language; if that is to be Malay without the option of English, such a condition would not be acceptable.
A request was made to us by many groups of Chinese that the conditions for the acquisition of citizenship which at present apply in North Borneo should not be changed for persons who are already in the country at the date of establishment of the new Federation. No similar request was made on behalf of persons who might be admitted to the country after that date.
- Political Parties
124. In the following paragraphs we set out the views of the main political parties which appeared before us or sent us written memoranda.
- United National Kadazan Organisation (U.N.K.O.)
125. The United National Kadazan Organisation was formed in August 1961 and was based on earlier Kadazan Associations. At the time of our visit it was claimed that a total of 60 branches had been established or were in the process of being established. The great majority of these are in the West Coast and Interior Residencies, where the party undoubtedly commands substantial support among the non-Muslim native population, especially perhaps in the areas within easy reach of Jesselton. The membership of the party is estimated at 20,000.
126. The party's attitude towards the Malaysia proposals has undergone a considerable change since it was first formed, but the earlier fears and misgivings have steadily been dissipated and the party now fully supports the proposals, subject to the acceptance of a number of safeguards which it considers to be of great importance to the Kadazan people. The president of the party was elected chairman of the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee (see Introduction, paragraph 4) and, although satisfied with the assurances given by representatives of the Federation of Malaya Government who were members of that Committee, and in full support of the recommendations made in the Committee's report, the party felt it desirable to restate its case in favour of Malaysia in full to the Commission. The main arguments put forward were:
