"It will be our objective in making our report to take fully into account the views and wishes of every section of the population and to make recommendations which will in our judgement be best suited to the long-term interests of all concerned," he declared.
Earlier in his address Lord Cobbold said that for some members of the Commission, Sarawak and North Borneo were "familiar ground" while for the others they were new.
He went on: "For myself, though I have visited Singapore and Malaya before, I have never been able to come here. I have always wanted to visit Sarawak and North Borneo
and am very glad to have this chance of doing so. Many of my friends know your countries well and have told me how happy they have been here.
"We come here — and this I emphasise — as a Commission of Enquiry. Our first function is to ascertain what the peoples of Sarawak and North Borneo think about the idea of Malaysia. In this task we shall need and we shall welcome your help. We hope that people throughout the territories will let us known their views freely, and we will undertake to read and listen to evidence from every quarter with care and attention.
"The sittings of the Commission will not be open to the general public unless specifically announced beforehand. Everybody can be assured that their evidence will be treated as confidential if they so wish."
Lord Cobbold continued: "The pamphlet recently published by Government has set out the general arguemerit on the proposal for Malaysia and has drawn attention to various
points which will need special consideration.
"Very useful contributions have also been made in publications by the Consultative Committee and elsewhere. All this will, I am sure, have helped to explain the proposal and to illustrate the subjects on which we shall hope to hear views and comments during our travels.
"The British and Malayan Governments have stated that they favour the idea of Malaysia; but no decision has yet been taken and no detailed plans are yet in existence. We are here to find out what you think about the proposal, and at the end of our enquiry we shall make a report and put forward recommendations.
"It is only after our report and recommendations have been completed and considered by Governments that any detailed plans can emerge for debate and discussion.
"We therefore feel it desirable in everybody's interest to proceed as quickly as we reasonably can. We shall aim at spending about two months in all the territories, and at producing a report within three months from now.
"It may well prove necessary for me, and perhaps other members of the Commission, to visit Kuala Lumpur and possibly London while our work is going on, but in general the Commissioner will be working and travelling in the territories continuously between now and the latter part of April.
"I must ask the public not to expect us to make statements or speeches about how we are getting on. We shall only make one statement which will be our report. We cannot reach conclusions until we have heard all the evidence. I propose to keep an open mind until the end of the Enquiry and to pay as much attention to the last day's evidence as to the first."
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