the special problems of the years immediately following Federation. I regard it as vital that Governments should reach an early decision of principle, subject to debate in, and approval by, the legislative chambers in North Borneo and Sarawak.
240. I strongly endorse the recommendations that consultative machinery, including joint working parties, should be set up as soon as possible after a decision is taken to proceed with the Malaysia project, in order to work out the details of integration of the Borneo territories into a new Federation. 241. Finally, I underline what has been said in earlier Chapters about the gratifying way in which the peoples of the territories came forward to make their views about Malaysia known to the Commission. Apart from a few groups in Sarawak which took a somewhat aggressive attitude and were, as could be clearly recognised, under Communist influence, groups of all races and of every shade of opinion expressed their support, their opposition, or their doubts in a reasoned, thoughtful and constructive way.
CHAPTER V
OTHER MATTERS
242. We should not regard Federation of the Borneo territories as an alter- native which would offer prospects as attractive as Malaysia. Nevertheless we should see every advantage in closer association within a Malaysian Federa- tion between the Borneo territories. Progress is already being made in several fields, including Customs and tariffs. Closer association will be an advantage in itself and will also give useful experience for alignment of policy and practice in the wider Federation.
243. We recognise that great efforts have already been made in the short time available to explain the Malaysia proposals to the public. When this Report is published and when Governments have taken decisions of principle, these efforts will need to be redoubled. We suggest that every possible step should be taken to spread information as widely as possible through Press and Radio, and, most important of all, that extensive touring should be undertaken by Government officers in the native areas which they know best, at the risk of some interruption for a few months to the normal work of Government.
244. We should not wish to conclude this report without making an appeal to the leaders of public and political life-in North Bomeo and Sarawak, very many of whom we had the pleasure of meeting during our tour. These have for many years been countries blessed with great harmony in racial and personal relations. In recent months, partly because of the natural development of political parties, but more particularly because of the controversy arising from the somewhat sudden introduction of the Malaysia proposals, this harmony has been disturbed and there are unwelcome signs of division on racial lines, going so far as to prejudice long-standing personal friendships. Whatever decision may be taken about Malaysia, Sarawak and North Borneo cannot afford to allow these divisions to continue or to widen. We suggest to the leaders of public and political life that they could make no greater contribution to the future of the territories than by joining in a determination to arrest these tenden- cies and to re-establish the racial harmony which has distinguished the territories for so long.
