From idea to action
After Tunku Abdul Rahman proposed the idea in 1961, leaders in each territory studied it and worked to make it real. The proposal had to win the support of the peoples of Sarawak and Sabah, satisfy Britain, and be shaped into a proper constitutional arrangement.
Consultative and inquiry bodies
- Malaysian Solidarity Consultative Committee (MSCC) — formed in 1961 and chaired by Donald Stephens of North Borneo, it gathered leaders from all the territories to discuss the idea and build support.
- Cobbold Commission — set up in 1962 and chaired by Lord Cobbold, it surveyed opinion in Sarawak and North Borneo and reported that most people favoured joining Malaysia if their special interests were protected.
- Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) — chaired by Lord Lansdowne, it worked out the detailed constitutional safeguards for the Borneo states, leading to the 20-point and 18-point memoranda.
Key idea / 要点
The MSCC built support, the Cobbold Commission tested opinion in Borneo, and the Inter-Governmental Committee worked out the constitutional safeguards.
Diplomacy and negotiation
Tunku Abdul Rahman held talks with Britain and with leaders in Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah. Because Indonesia and the Philippines objected, the Manila Accord of 1963 agreed that the United Nations would survey opinion in the Borneo territories. These careful efforts turned a bold idea into the Malaysia Agreement, signed in July 1963.
Remember / 记住
- MSCC (1961, Donald Stephens) — built public support.
- Cobbold Commission (1962, Lord Cobbold) — surveyed Borneo opinion.
- Inter-Governmental Committee (Lord Lansdowne) — constitutional safeguards.
- Manila Accord (1963) — agreed to a UN survey.