Item 3: Terms of Reference

Item 3 Terms of Reference

* To make recommendations for a constitutional arrangements throughout the Federation of Malaya, taking into account the positions and dignities of Her Majesty the Queen and of Their Highnesses the Rulers; and

* To make recommendations for a federal form of constitution for the whole country as a single, self-governing and within the Commonwealth based on Parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislature, which would include provision for:

(i) the establishment of a strong central government with the States and Settlements enjoying a measure of autonomy (the question of the residual legislative power to be examined by, and to be the subject of recommendations by the Commission and with the machinery for consultation between the central Government and the States and Settlements on certain financial matters to be specified in the constitution;

(ii) the safeguarding of the position and prestige of their Highnesses as constitutional Rulers of their respective States;

(iii) a constitutional Yang di-Pertuan Besar (Head of State) for the Federation to be chosen from among Their Highnesses the Rulers;

(iv) a common nationality for the whole of the Federation;

(v) the safeguarding of the special position of the Malays and the legitimate interests of other communities.

The composition of the Constitutional Commission and terms of reference were agreed to at the Federation of Malaya Constitutional Conference which met in London in January and February 1956.