20-point agreement facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The 20-point agreement is a very important list of ideas. It was created by North Borneo (which is now called Sabah). This list suggested how North Borneo could join the new country of Malaysia. It was made during talks before Malaysia was formed.

Some of these 20 points became part of Malaysia's main rulebook, the Constitution of Malaysia. Other points were just agreed upon verbally, meaning they weren't written into law. People often talk about the 20-point agreement when they feel that Sabah's rights within Malaysia have changed over time.

Why the 20 Points Were Made

Before Malaysia was formed, Great Britain and the Federation of Malaya had to figure out if the people of North Borneo and Sarawak wanted to join. On November 23, 1961, both governments announced they needed to ask the people first. They decided to create a special group to find out.

In January 1962, a group called the Cobbold Commission was set up. This group had five members: two from Malaya and three from Britain. It was led by Lord Cobbold. Their job was to see if people in North Borneo and Sarawak supported the idea of Malaysia.

After the Cobbold Commission, another group, the Lansdowne Committee, worked out the final details of the Malaysia Agreement. Lord Lansdowne represented Britain, and Tun Abdul Razak, who was the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaya, represented Malaya.

The 20 points were written to protect the interests, rights, and self-rule of the people of North Borneo. This was important as they joined the new country of Malaysia. Sarawak also made a similar list, called the 18-point agreement, which had some different ideas.

Many people still refer to these agreements today. They do so when they believe that the promises made were not kept after Malaysia was formed. There have been many calls to review the 20-point agreement. This is to make sure it still fits with how society, the economy, and politics have changed.

Key Dates for the Agreement

The Report of the Inter-Governmental Committee. On 1 August 1962

January 17, 1962: The Cobbold Commission was announced. Its job was to gather opinions from people in Singapore, Sarawak, Brunei, and North Borneo.
March 21, 1962: A meeting decided to wait for the Cobbold Commission's report. They wanted to see its findings before making a final decision on Malaysia.
June 21, 1962: The Cobbold Report was finished. It was given secretly to the prime ministers of Britain and Malaya. The report found that one-third of people fully supported Malaysia. Another third supported it if certain protections were included. The last third were split. Some wanted North Borneo and Sarawak to be independent first. Others did not want to join Malaysia at all. The commission felt there was strong support for Malaysia. They suggested that Britain should stay for a few years during the change.
July 31, 1962: The British and Malayan governments agreed that Malaysia should be formed by August 31, 1963. A new committee, the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC), would work on the future rules.
August 1962: The Cobbold Report was made public to everyone. This was a surprise to North Borneo.
August 13-14, 1962: Donald Stephens held a meeting of leaders. They created a list of 14 demands, which later became the 20 points. Sarawak also supported this list.
September 12 & 26, 1962: The legislative councils of North Borneo and Sarawak agreed to join Malaysia. But they had one condition: their state rights must be protected.

The 20 Points Explained

Point 1: Religion

North Borneo agreed that Islam could be Malaysia's national religion. However, North Borneo itself should not have a state religion. The rules about Islam in Malaya's constitution should not apply to North Borneo.

Point 2: Language

Malay should be the national language of Malaysia.
English should still be used for 10 years after Malaysia was formed.
English should be an official language in North Borneo forever, for both state and federal matters.

Point 3: Constitution

North Borneo agreed that Malaya's constitution would be the base for Malaysia's. But they wanted a completely new document for Malaysia. This new constitution should be made for states joining freely. It should not just be changes to an old constitution made for different states. North Borneo also needed its own new constitution.

Point 4: Head of Federation

The leader of North Borneo should not be able to become the Head of Malaysia.

Point 5: Name of Federation

The new country should be called "Malaysia," not "Melayu Raya."

Point 6: Immigration

The main government should control who enters Malaysia from outside. But for people entering North Borneo, the state government's approval should also be needed. The main government should not stop people from entering North Borneo for state purposes, unless it's a security risk. North Borneo should have full control over people moving from other parts of Malaysia into North Borneo, except for federal government workers.

Point 7: Right to Leave

There should be no right for a state to leave the Federation once it has joined.

Point 8: Localizing Public Service

More people from Borneo should be hired for government jobs as quickly as possible. This is called "Borneanisation."

Point 9: British Officers

Efforts should be made to encourage British officers to stay in government jobs. They should remain until qualified people from North Borneo can take their places.

Point 10: Citizenship

The rules for citizenship in North Borneo should follow the Cobbold Commission's report. However, there were some changes:

People should not need to live there for five years to get citizenship.
The time needed for citizenship should be "7 out of 10 years," not "8 out of 10 years."
If a person is born in North Borneo after Malaysia is formed, they should automatically be a federal citizen. There should be no restrictions based on their parents' citizenship.

Point 11: Money and Taxes

North Borneo should keep control of its own money, development, and taxes. It should also have the right to create its own taxes and borrow money on its own.

Point 12: Special Rights for Local People

The native people of North Borneo should have special rights. These rights should be similar to those given to Malays in Malaya. However, the exact rules used in Malaya might not fit North Borneo.

Point 13: State Government

The chief minister of North Borneo should be chosen by the elected members of the Legislative Council.
North Borneo should have a proper system with different ministers in charge of different areas.

Point 14: Transition Period

There should be a seven-year period of change. During this time, North Borneo's state government should have law-making power given by the Constitution. This power should not just be given by the federal government.

Point 15: Education

North Borneo's existing education system should be kept. For this reason, it should be controlled by the state government.

Point 16: Protecting the Constitution

The main government should not change or remove any special protections given to North Borneo. This can only happen with the clear agreement of North Borneo's state government.

Only the people in North Borneo should have the power to change their own state constitution.

Point 17: Representation in Federal Parliament

The number of representatives North Borneo sends to the federal parliament should consider its population. It should also consider its size and future potential. In any case, it should have at least as many representatives as Singapore.

Point 18: Name of Head of State

The head of state in North Borneo should be called "Yang di-Pertua Negara."

Point 19: Name of State

The state should be called "Sabah."

Point 20: Land, Forests, Local Government, etc.

The rules in the Malaysian Constitution about the National Land Council should not apply to North Borneo. Also, the National Council for Local Government should not apply to North Borneo.