Item 1: Lord Reid Commission

Item 1 Lord Reid Commission

Members of the Federation of Malaya Constitutional Commission

1.  The Rt Hon Lord Reid, LLD, FRSE, a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (nominated by the United Kingdom) (Chairman).
2.   Sir Ivor Jennings, KBE, QC, Litt D, LLD, Master (nominated by the United Kingdom).
3.   The Rt Hon Sir William McKell, GCMG, QC, a former Governor-General of Australia ( nominated by the Australian Government).
4.  Mr. Justice B Malik, a former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court (nominated by the Government of India)
5. Mr. Justice Abdul Hamid of the West Pakistan High Court (nominated by the Government of Pakistan).

A member was nominated by the Canadian Government but he had to withdraw at the last moment on medical grounds.

At the initial stage of the nomination, the candidate made enquiries with regard to his young children and wife, who he intended to bring to Malaya. It appeared that this issue was not resolved and he was not able to take up the appointment (Public Record Office documents).

It should be pointed out that the members were all non-Malayan, i.e. from the Commonwealth countries. The formation of the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya  was decided at the Constitional Conference in London attended by the leaders of the Alliance, representatives of the Malay Rulers, and the British Government.