MEMORANDUM • HEARING SUBMITTED TO THE COBBOLD COMMISSION – IV

MRS TRA ZEHNDER – MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL NEGRI

Twenty groups, consisting of more than 400 people, appeared before the Commission at its second sitting on Wednesday. Nine of the groups were said to be from the anti-Malaysia Sarawak United Peoples' Party, eight from the pro-Malaysia supporters of Party Negara Sarawak, and three were described as "independents".

The first person to meet the Commission was Mrs Tra Zehnder, a Dayak and only woman member of Council Negri. She later said that she did not represent any organisation and had appeared before the Commission merely as an individual.

Mrs Zehnder added that she agreed with the Malaysia Plan in principle, but was concerned over the national language issue and the question of the election of Head of State, as well as over the question of religious freedom.