The Cobbold Report

But if Singapore were to merge with the Federation of Malaya, it was essential,for Malaya at least,that the Borneo territories should also do so. The enthnic balance in Malaya between Malays and Chinese was close, for Chinese comprised 37 percent of the population,and Malays held 50 percent of the total. If Malay interests were to be safeduarded,Singapore could not be absorbed,with its one and a quatrer million Chinese ( 75 oercent of the population of the State),without adding and additional element to the population as well.In a union of Singapore and Malaya alone, the Chinese would out-number Malays 100,000;but if Sarawak,with its Iban and malay majority; Brunei,with its 85,000 population ,basically Malay;and North Borneo,where Malay is something of a lingua franca for the Kadazans and other indigenous groups,could be added,Malays would not be overhelmed in the enlarged nation.At first there was local opposition to Malaysia in Sarawak,where the United People's Party opposed the plan,and in Brunei,where the only party, Parti Raáyat ,dominated the political scene,but where the Sultan,Sir Omar Ali Saifuddin, seemed attracted to the proposal.There had been little political party development in North Borneo,or Sabah,until the Malaysia plan was put forward,and when parties were formed in 1961,the most vocal and strongest were in favour of the merger.In February,1962,a Commission of Enquiry,chaired by Lord Cobbold with two British and two Malayan members, visited Sarawak and North Borneo 'to ascertain the views of the peoples'there and to make recommenditions.