such as federalism and a constitutional monarchy, the proposed Malayan constitution by the Reid Commission also contained provisions protecting special position for the Malays, such as quotas in admission to higher education and the civil service, and making Islam the official religion of the federation. It also made Malay the official language of the nation, but the right to vernacular education in Chinese and Tamil would be protected. Although Tunku Abdul Rahman and the Malay rulers had asked the Reid Commission to ensure that "in an independent Malaya all nationals should be accorded equal rights, privileges and opportunities and there must not be discrimination on grounds of race and creed", the Malay's special position, which many in the ruling United Malays National Organisation backed, were cited as necessary by the Reid Commission as a form of affirmative action. The controversial measures were included as Articles 3, 152 and 153 of the Constitution. On the basis of their recommendations, the new Federal Constitution was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom in June 1957. The constitution draft was presented, debated and passed Federal Legislative Council on August 15, 1957, and the Constitution took effect on August 27, but there was no referendum involving Malayan people to be held. However, formal independence was achieved only on August 31, when the Federation of Malaya became an independent sovereign country. The constitutional machinery devised to bring the new constitution into force consisted of the following: In the United Kingdom, the Federation of Malaya Independence Act 1957, together with the Orders in Council made under it. The Federation of Malaya Agreement 1957 between the government of the United Kingdom and the government of the Federation of Malaya. In the Federation, the Federal Constitution Ordinance 1957 by the Parliament. In each of the Malay states, state enactments approving and giving force of law to the federal constitution. Aftermath Large-scale amendments to the Constitution were made when Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak merged with the Federation of Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. It now became known as the Federal Constitution. See also Cobbold Commission References Sources Mohamed Suffian Hashim, An Introduction to the Constitution of Malaysia, second edition, Kuala Lumpur: Government Printers, 1976. Political history of Malaysia British Malaya 1956 in Malaya Malaysian commissions and inquiries