Singapore in Malaysia
State of Singapore | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1963–1965 | |||||||||
Motto: Majulah Singapura (Malay) "Onward Singapore" | |||||||||
Anthem: Negaraku State Anthem: Majulah Singapura | |||||||||
Status | State of Malaysia | ||||||||
Capital | City of Singapore | ||||||||
Official languages | Malay,[1] English, Mandarin, Tamil | ||||||||
Religion | |||||||||
Monarch | |||||||||
• 1963–1965 | Putra of Perlis[3] | ||||||||
Governor[4] | |||||||||
• 1963–1965 | Yusof Ishak | ||||||||
Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1963–1965 | Lee Kuan Yew | ||||||||
Legislature | Legislative Assembly | ||||||||
Historical era | Konfrontasi, Cold War | ||||||||
16 September 1963 | |||||||||
9 August 1965 | |||||||||
Area | |||||||||
1964[1] | 670 km2 (260 sq mi) | ||||||||
Population | |||||||||
• 1964[1] | 1,841,600 | ||||||||
Currency | Malaya Standard Time) | ||||||||
Date format | dd-mm-yyyy | ||||||||
Driving side | left | ||||||||
Calling code | +60 02[5] | ||||||||
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Today part of | Singapore | ||||||||
Notes
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Singapore (
The union was unstable due to distrust and ideological differences between the leaders of Singapore and of the
These culminated in the decision by Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman to expel Singapore from the Federation, and on 9 August 1965, Singapore became independent.[5]
Prelude to merger
Singapore politicians, beginning with
Balanced against this risk was his even greater fear of an independent Singapore outside the federation, particularly if it fell under the control of an unfriendly government. As part of decolonisation and increasing British disengagement from Malaya, constitutional talks on self-government for Singapore between the British Colonial Office in London and the Singapore Legislative Assembly had already resulted in the 1958 State of Singapore Constitution, and a fully elected and self-governing 51-seat Legislative Assembly in 1959.[9][10] Tunku worried that the next round of constitutional talks would grant Singapore even more independence and put the island beyond his or Britain's reach; as British officials put it, a 'batik curtain' would descend across the Straits of Johor, beyond which political elements and possibly even a 'communist Cuba' would gather strength.[6] This fear became increasingly real to Tunku after 29 April 1961 when Ong Eng Guan of the left-wing United Peoples' Party trounced the PAP candidate at the Hong Lim by-election.[6][11]
Tunku was also worried about Indonesia, the other regional Malay behemoth, which under Sukarno's Guided Democracy was becoming increasingly nationalistic and expansionist, undertaking regional actions such as the liberation of West New Guinea and Konfrontasi (also known as the Borneo confrontation).[citation needed]
With these considerations in mind, and although it was not apparent at the time, Tunku had already been considering merger as early as June 1960. At a meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, he mentioned to Lord Perth of the Colonial Office that he was open to a merger if a 'Grand Design' including not just Singapore but also British Borneo could be offered as some sort of package deal.[6] Not only would it greatly benefit the territory, resources and population under his control, but the combination of indigenous Bornean peoples and Peninsular Malays (collectively termed Bumiputera) would counterbalance the increased numbers of Singaporean Chinese.[citation needed]
On 27 May 1961 at the Foreign Correspondents Association of Southeast Asia, Tunku announced that a closer association between Malaya, Singapore and the Borneo territories was a distinct possibility. Furthermore, he was calling not just for a customs union but a full union into a single political entity, the Federation of Malaysia.[7]
Referendum
Malaysia Agreement
Singapore-specific provisions included:
- Singapore would retain control on education and labour. Defence, external affairs and internal security would come under the jurisdiction of the federal government [12]
- Singapore would have only 15 seats in the federal parliament instead of 25 seats (as was entitled by the size of its electorate) in return for this increased autonomy [12]
- Singapore would pay 40% of its total revenue to the federal government. It would disburse a $150 million loan to the Borneo territories, of which two-thirds would be interest-free for five years. A common market would be implemented over twelve years.[13][14]
- Singapore citizens would become Malaysian citizens while retaining Singapore citizenship, but they could only vote in Singapore.[15]
Merger
Merger was originally scheduled for 31 August 1963 to coincide with the official independence day of Malaysia. However it was postponed by Tunku Abdul Rahman to 16 September 1963, to accommodate a United Nations mission to North Borneo and Sarawak to ensure that they really wanted a merger, which was prompted by Indonesian objections to the formation of Malaysia.
Nonetheless, on 31 August 1963 (the original Malaysia Day), Lee Kuan Yew stood in front of a crowd at the Padang in Singapore and unilaterally declared Singapore's independence.[6] On 16 September 1963, coincidentally Lee's fortieth birthday, he once again stood in front of a crowd at the Padang and this time proclaimed Singapore as part of Malaysia. Pledging his loyalty to the Central Government, Tunku and his colleagues, Lee asked for ‘an honourable relationship between the states and the Central Government, a relationship between brothers, and not a relationship between masters and servants'.[6]
Reasons for merger
Independence from Britain
Singapore merged with Malaya to achieve independence from the British colonial government. The British treatment of the locals since the British colonisation of Singapore in 1819 and the British failure to defend Singapore against Japanese invasion in February 1942 led to animosity and disdain against the British colonial rule in the post-war years. These sentiments culminated in strikes and riots in Singapore, such as the Hock Lee Bus Riots and the Anti-National Service riots in the 1950s. By merging with Malaya, the British would not have a reason to continue to rule over Singapore and use the communist threat as an excuse to rule over Singapore. Only a merger with Malaya would release Singapore from the clutches of British colonial rule and grant it absolute independence from the British.
Economic security
Singapore also wanted to merge with Malaya for economic reasons. Singapore was facing serious unemployment problems in the early 1960s. By merging with Malaya, Singapore believed to be able to overcome the unemployment crisis. Unemployment became the most serious issue for the PAP government when it assumed power to govern Singapore in 1959. The lack of natural resources, the low literacy rate among the local population, and the lack of hinterland caused the unemployment situation in Singapore to soar during the early 1960s.
Malaya was a large country blessed with natural resources. Singapore wished to leverage Malaya's economic advantages by proposing a
Anticommunism
The merger was also proposed to suppress communism in both Singapore and Malaya. The State of Emergency imposed by the British in Singapore and Malaya from 1948 to 1960 is a reflection of the threat posed by the communists who were striving to replace British rule of Singapore and Malaya with a communist government.
The Emergency Rule was lifted in 1960. But still the countries in Southeast Asia faced a threat from the communists. Malaya was a strong anti-communist country and would be able to provide Singapore with security and protection from the communist threat. While Singapore benefitted by the protection of the larger country, Malaya was also able to allay fears about its southern neighbour falling into the hands of the communists and acting as a launch pad for communist infiltration.
Post-merger
Economic disagreement
The Singapore and federal governments disagreed over economic issues. As part of the Malaysia Agreement, Singapore agreed to contribute 40% of its total revenue to the federal government and provide largely interest-free loans to Sabah and Sarawak, in exchange for establishment of a common market. However in July 1965, Malaysian Finance Minister Tan Siew Sin proposed raising the contribution to 60% and hinted 'that unless Singapore agrees to pay more, the common market would be slow in coming about'.[14] This was refused by Singapore's Finance Minister, Goh Keng Swee, who accused Kuala Lumpur of imposing tariffs on Singapore-made products. Both sides also disagreed over the issuance of the loan, but agreed to refer this issue to the World Bank for arbitration.
Political disagreement
The Federal Government of Malaysia, dominated by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), was concerned that as long as Singapore remained in the Federation, the bumiputera policy of affirmative action in favor of Malays and the indigenous population would be undermined and therefore run counter to its agenda of addressing economic disparities between racial groups. This stance clashed with the PAP's repeated pledges for a "Malaysian Malaysia" – the equal treatment of all races in Malaysia by the government which should serve Malaysian citizens without any regard for the economic conditions of any particular race. Another contributing factor was fear that the economic dominance of Singapore's port would inevitably shift economical and political power away from Kuala Lumpur in time, should Singapore remain in the Federation.
Racial tensions
Racial tensions increased dramatically within a year. Despite the Malaysian government conceding
Numerous racial riots resulted, and curfews were frequently imposed to restore order. These were collectively termed the
The external political situation was also tense at the time, with
Separation
This section appears to contradict itself.(February 2023) |
On 7 August 1965, Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, seeing no alternative to avoid further bloodshed, advised the Parliament of Malaysia that it should vote to expel Singapore from Malaysia.[20] Despite last-ditch attempts by PAP leaders, including Lee Kuan Yew, to keep Singapore as a state in the union, the Parliament on 9 August 1965 voted 126–0 in favour of the expulsion of Singapore, with Members of Parliament from Singapore not present. On that day, a tearful Lee announced that Singapore was a sovereign, independent nation and assumed the role of Prime Minister of the new nation. His speech included these words: "I mean for me it is a moment of anguish because all my life… you see the whole of my adult life… I have believed in merger and the unity of these two territories. You know it's a people connected by geography, economics, and ties of kinship…"[21]
While it has previously been taken as historical common knowledge that Singapore had been expelled from Malaysia unilaterally by the Kuala Lumpur Government, recently declassified documents from the Albatross File (taken from a 1980s interview where Goh referred to Merger with Malaysia as an "Albatross around [their] necks"), revealed that as early as July 1964, negotiations had begun between the PAP and the Alliance.[22] In a handwritten letter, Lee Kuan Yew formally authorised Goh Keng Swee to negotiate with Alliance leadership in order to negotiate and plan the eventual exit of Singapore from the Federation, and over the next year, the two parties coordinated to arrange matters such that when the Tunku announced Singapore's expulsion and the PAP were "forced" to establish an independent government, it would be presented as a "fait accompli" that could not be jeopardised by popular uproar or opposition, which was still in favour of Merger.[23] Having already reaped the political benefits of Operation Coldstore, the crippling of the Singaporean Left, the detention of key Barisan Sosialis leaders like Lim Chin Siong, Lee and Goh both believed that this move would afford Singapore with the "best of both worlds", both isolated from the communal turmoil which they believed would inevitably engulf Malaysia while retaining the economic benefits of access to the Malaysian markets.
Under
Singapore's separation angered especially the political leaders in
See also
- History of Malaysia
- Proclamation of Malaysia
- PAP-UMNO relations
- History of the Republic of Singapore
- Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965
- Proclamation of Singapore
References
- ^ "Singapore – Land area". Index Mundi. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ^ "As Singapore mourns the Queen, there's little discussion about its colonial past". 16 September 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ISBN 978-9831001943.
- ^ Rahim, L.Z. (2008). "Winning and losing Malay support: PAP-Malay community relations". In Barr, M.; Trocki, C. A. (eds.). Paths not taken: Political pluralism in post-war Singapore. Singapore: NUS Press. pp. 95–115.
- ^ HistorySG. "Singapore separates from Malaysia and becomes independent – Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. National Library Board. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-981143348-1.
- ^ a b Lim, Tin Seng. "Merger with Malaysia". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ISBN 1576077705.[page needed]
- ISBN 978-9971693435.[page needed]
- ^ "1958 State of Singapore Constitution is adopted – Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. National Library Board. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ISBN 9812102655.[page needed]
- ^ a b HistorySG. "Signing of the Malaysia Agreement – Singapore History". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. National Library Board. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "Logic triumphed: It was just settlement, says Lee". The Straits Times.
- ^ a b Durai, Jennani (19 July 2015). "S'pore, Malaysia govts disagree over taxes". The Straits Times.
- ISBN 978-9971-69-212-4.
- ^ Keith, P. (2005). Ousted!. Singapore: Media Masters.
- .
- ^ Sam, Jackie (11 March 1965). "Terror bomb kills 2 girls at bank". The Straits Times. et al. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014 – via Headlines, Lifelines, AsiaOne.
- ISBN 978-0-16-034264-6. Archived from the originalon 4 July 2014.
- ^ "Road to Independence". Headlines, Lifelines, by AsiaOne. 1998. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013.
- ^ Lee Kuan Yew (9 August 1965). "Transcript of a Press Conference" (PDF). Broadcasting House, Singapore: Government of Singapore. pp. 21–22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2014 – via National Archives of Singapore.
- ^ Lim, Edmund (22 December 2015). "Secret documents reveal extent of negotiations for Separation". The Straits Times.
- ^ "Episode 0: Trailer".
- ISBN 978-9971-69-146-2.
- ^ "Isn't it high time for Sarawak and Sabah to make a stand?". The Borneo Post. 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Malaysia-Singapore" (PDF).
- ^ "Separation of Singapore pdf" (PDF). Perdana Leadership Foundation.
Further reading
- Lim, Tin Seng. "Merger with Malaysia". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- OCLC 462273878.
- Lee, Kuan Yew (19 November 1961). "Transcript of Recorded Press Conference by the Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, Broadcast over Radio Singapore at 7.10 p.m. on Sunday, November 19, 1961 [Singapore Government Press Statement MC. No. 74/61/TTS]" (PDF). Government of Singapore (archived on the National Archives of Singapore website). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2014. (An interview with the Prime Minister of Singapore regarding merger negotiations.)
- Lim, Siew Yea. "Communalism and Communism at Singaporean Independence". Contemporary Postcolonial and Postimperial Literature in English. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- Mohamed Noordin Sopiee (2005). From Malayan Union to Singapore Separation: Political Unification in the Malaysia Region, 1945–65 (2nd ed.). Kuala Lumpur: ISBN 978-9831001943.
- S'pore must merge with Malaya, Straits Times, 7 May 1952, 1. (From NewspaperSG)|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19520507-1.2.21