Steps to nurture a sense of belonging 3 December 1959 i) Installation of Yang di-Pertuan Negara ii) The following National Symbols were introduced, * National flag * State Crest * National Anthem THE PEOPLE’S ACTION PARTY GOVERNMENT ’S (PAGE 93)

MEASURES TO IMPROVE PEOPLE’S LIVING CONDITIONS PUBLIC WORKS AND GENERAL WELFARE Street lamps and standpipes built Gas and telephone services HOUSING The Housing Development Board (HDB) Formed in 1960 By end of 1965, 23% of population living in HDB flats EDUCATION Schools built Teachers recruited School enrolment increased EMPLOYMENT Factories manufacturing goods were set up to provide jobs.

PROPOSALS FOR A MERGER WITH MALAYA Malaya’s initial rejection of merger Tunku Abdul Rahman(Malayan PM) Not keen. WHY ? 1)Too many Singapore Chinese would upset racial balance 2) Suspected many S’pore Chinese sympathetic to Communists. HOWEVER THIS FEAR OF COMMUNISTS LED TUNKU TO CHANGE HIS MIND. Race Fed. of Malaya Fed of Malaya including S’pore Malay3.1million3.4million Chinese2.3million3.6million

TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN’S PROPOSED MERGER ▪ He proposed bringing in Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak into the Federation ▪ The Malays would then form a larger number than the Chinese. Estimated number of Malays and Chinese in 1960 RaceFederation of MalayaFederation of MalayaFederation of Malaya, including S’pore including S’pore,Sabah and Sarawak Malay 3.1 million 3.4 million 4.0 million Chinese 2.3 million 3.6 million 3.7 million

PROPOSED MERGER: FEDERATION OF MALAYA., SINGAPORE, SABAH, SARAWAK AND BRUNEI ADVANTAGES OF MERGER 1.British more open to granting independence to S’pore if it became part of the Federation of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak 2.Establishment of a COMMON MARKET Malayan government had imposed taxes on goods traded between S’pore and Malaya. With merger it was hoped that trade would increase creating more jobs. 3.Merger would enable both Malaya and Singapore to join hands against the Communist threat.

OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED MERGER However, there was opposition to the proposed merger. Who? Some PAP members, like, Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee Suan Why? Felt that proposed merger would disadvantage Singapore in the Federation. People in Singapore would not enjoy the same rights as those who stayed in Malaya. 13 TH August those PAP members who opposed broke away to form the BARISAN SOCIALIS Chairman of the party was Dr. Lee Siew Choh Secretary was Lim Chin Siong PAP and Barisan Socialis carried a campaign to win support of people for their respective proposals PAP’S CAMPAIGN 1.Radio talks by Lee Kuan Yew known as “Battle for Merger” 1.Exhibitions to explain benefits of merger BARISAN SOCIALIS’ CAMPAIGN 1.Mass rallies 2.Debates,in radio forums, with other parties

PEOPLE’S DECISION ON THE MERGER, 1962 ▪ OPTIONS (page 104 Source 31) ▪ PAP urged people to vote for Option A ▪ Barisan Socialis were against the 3 options. Urged people to cast blank votes to show their opposition to merger. ▪ RESULTS (page 105) ▪ Option A % ▪ Option B % ▪ Option C % ▪ Blank votes ---25% ▪ Rejected % A REFERENDUM was held on 1 September 1962 to find out the type of merger the people in Singapore wanted. The people were presented with 3 options.

OPERATION COLDSTORE ▪ 2 February 1963, the Internal Security Council arrested more than 100 people believed to be under communist influence. ▪ Key Barisan Socialis leaders (Lim Chin Siong and Fong Siew Suan) and some members of trade unions were arrested. ▪ Detainees accused of trying to sabotage the formation of Malaysia and planning to launch an uprising in Singapore. ▪ Barisan Socialis suffered further defeat in the 2 September election. when it won only 13 seats out of 51 seats

SINGAPORE IN MALAYSIA (16 SEPTEMBER 1963) ▪ CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN Kuala Lumpur control over Internal Security External Defence Affairs ▪ Singapore STATE GOVERNMENT ▪ Elections to chose own state government ▪ Control over Education and Labour ▪ All Singapore citizens automatically become citizens of Federation of Malaysia. TERMS OF MALAYSIA AGREEMENT

PROBLEMS FACED DURING MERGER ( PAGE ) ▪ COMMON MARKET NOT FORMED Central government concerned this would lead to greater competition from Singapore as goods from Singapore would no longer be taxed. Singapore had hoped to enjoy economic benefits. TAXATION Singapore had to contribute 40% of its revenue to the Central government. This was later increased to 60%. Singapore felt that this was unfair. Singapore was out of Malaysia in WHY? DIFFERENCES AND DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

MORE DIFFERENCES AND DISAGREEMENTS DISAGREEMENTS IN POLITICAL BELIEFS PRIVILEGES FOR THE MALAYS CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Malays enjoyed special privileges to help improve their social & economic positions ( free education and government jobs) PAP GOVERNMENT Focused on free education for Malays to enable them to get better job opportunities. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Alliance Party made up of UMNO MCA MIC Malays Indians Chinese ( represented interests of their respective communities) PAP GOVERNMENT Represented interests of all communities regardless of race

EVENTS LEADING TO SEPERATION ▪ Differences and Disagreements created Tensions ELECTION IN SINGAPORE UMNO, MCA, MIC formed SAP (Singapore Alliance Party) with Singapore People’s Alliance, to contest election. Failed to win any seats UNHAPPY FEDERAL ELECTION IN KUALA LUMPUR PAP decided to contest. Alliance unhappy with PAP campaign 3. UMN0 leaders accused PAP of neglecting Malay interests in Singapore. 4. July 1964 Riots broke out when Malays and Chinese clashed during Prophet Mohammed’s birthday celebrations at the Padang. Curfew imposed. 5.Tensions remained. In Sept 1964, another racial riot broke out. Curfew imposed.

SEPARATION 9 AUGUST 1965 ▪ May 1965, PAP together 4 Malaysian opposition parties formed the MALAYSIAN SOLIDARITY CONVENTION ( MSC ) Aimed to achieve a “Malaysian Malaysia” Equal treatment for all UMNO and Malays were upset with MSC as it challenged the special position of the Malays. Growing unrest convinced Tunku that differences could not be resolved. Best for Singapore to leave Malaysia..