United Nations General Assembly

Twelfth Session

686th Plenary Meeting

Wednesday, 24 September 1957, at 3 p.m.

New York.

President: Sir Leslie MUNRO (New Zealand).

140. Mr. ISMAIL (Federation of Malaya): Representatives may not be fully aware that the Federation of Malaya has been fighting militant communism in Malaya since 1948 and that my country is the only country in the world today which is involved in a shooting war with adherents of communism. Representatives may not all be aware that almost all the communist terrorists who today are taking up arms against the constituted Government of my country are aliens.

141. We have been fighting militant communism in Malaya for nearly ten years at great cost to the country in men, material and money. Several thousands of peaceful civilians have been killed and injured in this war. We are still spending at the rate of about $100,000 a day in fighting the Communists in the Malayan jungles. These are resources which have to be diverted to the fight against communist terrorism in Malaya, resources which otherwise could have been used towards the economic and social development of the country.

142. It is true that we are at present getting the better of this fight. My Government, by intensive and careful efforts through every means, has conveyed to the so-called Malayan Communist Party that we are now a fully sovereign and independent country. The so-called Malayan communist party will now be aware that the Federation of Malaya has taken its place as an independent country, as a Member of the United Nations.

143. Surrender terms have been offered to terrorists of the communist party, offering them a chance to live in peaceful pursuits among the great majority of the people, or passage to their countries of origin should they not be able to live in peace and according to democratic principles.

144. We have fought militant communism for many years and this fight has placed, and continues to place, a great strain on our resources. We therefore fully support the recommendation of the General Committee [not to include the question of the representation of China in the United Nations in the debate agenda].