Date of report: 26 December 1946
1. On 16 December Dato Onn denied that there was any split in the United Malays' National Organization and refused to comment on the future of the Sultans. (xxxxx comment: See xxxxx). However, Malaya Command intelligence sources claim that the UMNO is losing cohesion and there are indications of dissatisfaction in Johore, Singapore and Malacca.
2. On 14 December, Singapore left wing associations formed a "Council of Joint Action", comprising all communities. Malaya was represented by the Malay Nationalist Party. CJA is rejecting the unpublished UMNO-Government agreement on the principle that it is undemocratic procedure, and will meet in Kuala Lumpur on 22 December. Its policy is to oppose the Government-nominated committee which is to consult the views of non-Malay communities. CJA is pressing for a round table conference with the Government and elected representatives of all communities starting from the scratch. The MNP supports this view. The three basic principles are: Inclusion of Singapore in the Federation, fully elected central legislature and equal citizenship rights. CJA fears that the broad outlines of the present agreement are fixed and unchangeable and will produce a split among the various communities.
3. If the agreement is unacceptable to CJA, the Government may well reject as originating outside the Union (in Singapore) and therefore interfering in Malaya Union internal affairs. The government agreement is to be published on 24 December.
Source: CIA Archive
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