1. Singapore: Merger & Separation
an integrated humanities core project
about Singapore history

2. 1963:
Merger

3. .reasons [Singapore & Borneo]
Political
Full independence from British
Too small to be independent states
Economical
Little natural resources
Economy depended on trade
Increase in free trade
Greater economic growth
More jobs created

4. .reasons [Malaysia] Security Economic Curb communism threat
Most important port in SEA  Singapore
Borneo territories rich in natural resources
Greater growth for Malaya

5. .developments Lansdowne Committee
New system of government for Sabah & Sarawak
Details of the new Constitution of Malaysia
Vice-Chairman: Malaya DPM Tun Abdul Razak

6. .reactions [Singapore]
PAP government welcomed proposals
Central government at Kuala Lumpur
Campaigns
Support for proposed merger
Strong opposition from Barisan Sosialis
Referendum
Different choices of merger
71% in favour of Singapore joining Malaysia

7. .reactions [Singapore]
Referendum (01 Sep 1962)
First & only held in Singapore to date
Called for people to vote on terms of merger
3 options; No option to vote against merger

8. .reactions [Singapore]
Option A  All Singapore citizens would automatically become citizens of Malaysia, and Singapore would retain a degree of autonomy and state power
Option B  Singapore would become a federal state with no more autonomy than the other states would
Option C  Singapore would enter on terms no less favourable than the Borneo territories, Sabah & Sarawak
Which do you think
garnered the most votes?

9. .reactions [Singapore]
Was everyone agreeable to the merger?
Why were there blank votes?

10. .reactions [Singapore]
Barisan Sosialis alleged that the people didn’t support merger
Referendum did not have an option objecting the merger  No one legitimately raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly
Methods debatable

11. .reactions [Singapore]
Barisan Sosialis strongly against referendum
Called for boycott of referendum  Telling supporters to submit blank votes in protest
26% of votes left blank
Move anticipated by ruling PAP government
Insertion of clause stating that all blank or defaced votes would be counted as a vote for Option A

12. .reactions [Singapore]
Operation Coldstore (2 Feb 1963)
Security operation
At least 111 anti-government left-wing activists arrested & detained, including members from Barisan Sosialis
Malaysia had strong anti-communist policy
Tunku insisted Singapore round up all pro- communists before merger occurred
Heavy blow to Barisan Sosialis
SATU deregistered  NTUC main trade union

13. .reactions [Sabah & Sarawak]
Initially undecided
Politically & economically backward
Feared domination by bigger states in Federation
Independence before merger
Tungku Abdul Rahman
Convinced leaders of benefits
British unlikely to grant independence
Malaysian Solidarity Consultative Committee
Work out practical steps towards Formation of Malaysia
Collated information from representatives
Led by Datuk Donald (Fraud) Stephen, North Borneo unofficial

14. .reactions [Brunei] Initially in favour of merger
Opposition within Brunei
July 1963: Brunei against merger

15. .reactions [Britain] Britain retain military control in Singapore
Oct 1961: British support obtained
Nov 1961: Official approval of merger
Britain retain military control in Singapore

16. .oppositions Merger delayed until 16 Sep 1963
Strong objection from countries

17. .oppositions [Philippines]
Claimed ownership of Sabah
Once belonged to Sultan of Sulu  Leased to British in 1878
Sulu become part of Philippines  Sabah should follow
1963: Philippines broke off diplomatic relations with Malaysia

18. .oppositions [Indonesia]
Malaya take over Borneo
Sabah & Sarawak forced to join Malaysia
Jan 1963: President Sukarno launched policy of Confrontation against Malaysia & British
31 Aug 1963: Singapore granted independence
Lee Kuan Yew-led PAP govern Singapore until formation of Malaysia

19. .the.un.survey Results: 70% of Sabah & Sarawak in favour of merger
Indonesia & Philippines refused to accept report
Indonesia suspended trade with Malaysia & Singapore
Commonwealth troops from Britain, Australia & New Zealand assisted

20. .federation.of.malaysia
Made up of 14 states, including Singapore
Each state had its own state government
Malaya & Singapore  West Malaysia
Later renamed Peninsular Malaysia
North Borneo renamed Sabah
Sabah & Sarawak  East Malaysia

21. .federation.of.malaysia
Singapore given special rights & powers
Elections to elect state government
Singapore retain control of education, labour policies & finance
Singaporeans not automatically Malaysians
Strict citizenship laws

22. .Malaysian.flag
14-pointed star & 14 stripes represent 14 states that made up Malaysia

23. 1965:
Separation

24. .reasons
State Government of Singapore could not agree on certain matters with Central Government
The Alliance  Committed to preserve old order, tradition & class privilege
PAP  Social reforms for a more just & equal society

25. .reasons {Economic Issues}
Common market
Singapore hoped for one  Promote Singapore’s industries & create jobs
Central Government not convinced of benefits
Singapore did not benefit as much as expected from merger with Malaya

26. .reasons {Economic Issues}
Contributions to Federal Treasury
Dec 1964: Federal Minister of Finance increased Singapore’s contribution from 40% to 60%
Threatened to divert new industries to Malaya
PAP refused to increase  Singapore was bearing its fair share
Central Government pressed for $50m gift for development of states
Singapore agreed loan of $150m to finance projects in Sabah & Sarawak

27. .reasons {Economic Issues}
Imposition of taxes & quotas
Imposition on duty on imports of light bulbs
Central Government indirectly protecting light bulb industry in Malaysia
Quotas imposed on textiles exported to Britain
Lower quota for Singapore
Singapore Finance Minister Goh Keng Swee threatened to boycott British goods
Became clear that Singapore couldn’t decide future directions for economy within merger

28. .reasons {Foreign Policies}
Presence of the South African Consulate in Singapore
Tunku led Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference in trade boycott of South Africa because of her apartheid policy
Bank of China & Bank Negara Indonesia operating in Singapore
Representing Chinese communist government
Bank of China believed to channel funds for communist subversive activities
Closure ordered  PAP refused  Hinder trade with China

29. .reasons {Political Issues}
1963 September General Elections
Alliance leaders wanted Malays to gain more seats in Singapore Legislative Assembly  Supported UMNO-Alliance leaders
Tunku Abdul Rahman called on Singapore Malays to vote for UMNO  UMNO failed to gain any seat
PAP swept 37 of 51 seats  PAP gaining support
Alliance leaders in KL bitter about defeat  Accused Singapore Malays of being traitors

30. .reasons {Political Issues}
1964 Federal Elections
PAP announced taking part in Federal Elections  Angered Malaysia
PAP believed it could build a prosperous & peaceful Malaysia
Tunku Abdul Rahman accused PAP of not keeping is promise to keep out of Federal Elections

31. .reasons {Political Issues}
Fiery Exchanges
Racial tensions from 1964 elections
Malay extremists stepped up anti-PAP campaigns  PAP accused of oppressing Malays in Singapore
PAP criticised KL government’s policy of granting special rights to Malays in Malayan states
PM Lee Kuan Yew warned of the danger & stressed importance of nation building based on equality
Alliance suspected PAP’s intentions in criticising policy  Harbouring ambitions of replacing it

32. .reasons {Racial Tensions}
Singapore Malays unhappy with PAP treatment
UMNO held meeting for them to express dissatisfaction
Othman Wok planned to get all Malay organisations to meet to discuss problems affecting Malay community
Syed Jaafar Albar accused PAP of oppressing Malays  Called for boycott of Othman Wok’s meeting

33. .reasons {Racial Tensions}
Attacks from both side of Causeway led to racial riot in Singapore

34. .reasons {Racial Tensions}
1964 Racial Riots (21 Jul 1964)
25,000 Malays took part in a Muslim procession in Geylang district to celebrate Prophet Mohammed’s birthday
Lasted 11 days  At least 22 killed & 461 injured
Whole island under curfew
Barricades set on roads; Soldiers patrolled
Curfew lifted a few hours daily to allow people to buy food
PM Lee discouraged grassroots from stirring discord for selfish political gains
2nd communal violence  2 Sep 1964

35. .reasons {Racial Tensions}
Tunku blamed riots on Indonesians  Trying to crush Malaysia
2 Sep riot due to Indonesian provocation
Extremists blamed PM Lee & PAP
PM Lee met Tunku in KL  Agreed to avoid political discussions on sensitive issues which would arouse communal feelings
Basic differences remained unresolvedYusof bin Ishak appealed for forbearance
Tension reached breaking point  Fighting broke out between Malay & Chinese youths

36. .reasons {Malaysian Malaysia}
PAP maintained aim to build society based on equality  Refused to be bias government
Alliance leaders appeared to rule Malaysia mainly for the good of 1 community
PAP insisted on building a Malaysia meant for all communities & cultures
This meant abolition of special rights & privileges of Malays & equal treatment of all Malaysian citizens, regardless of race or religion

37. .reasons {Malaysian Malaysia}
May 1965: PAP united opposition parties to form Malaysian Solidarity Convention  Fight for equal treatment of all races
MSC aimed to end communal politics & win political affiliation
Alliance leaders unhappy with PM Lee

38. Singapore  Malaysia

39. Separation Video

40. .bibliography
Content: “Impact: History of South-East Asia” by Yeo Hwee Joo
Content:
Content:
Content:
Content:
Microsoft Clipart
Merge 1:
Merge 2:
Merge 3: this-a-merger.jpg
Singapore flag: J3M0/s1600/Singapore_flag1.jpg
Merge 4: merge_sign.jpg

41. .bibliography
Malaysia flag:
Brunei flag: DfeEoFaM/s1600/brunei+flag.jpg
Union Jack: small.jpg
Opposition: economiques.fr/blogs/daubenton/files/opposition.jpg
Philippines flag:
Indonesia flag: esia%20Flag.png
United Nations logo:

42. .bibliography
Malaysia land:
Malaysia coat-of-arms:
Separation: accountingwebus/images/Separation.jpg
Malaysian flag: the-world/malaysia-flag-large.gif
Boundary: Google Earth
PAP logo:
Tax comic: good-grief2.gif
Singapore flag:
Malaysia flag:

43. The End
Thank you for your
undivided attention!

44. Any Questions?