Sec 2 History Chapter 9

• 1945 – Singapore was still a British colony• 1948 – Our baby step• 1955 – Child• 1959 – Teenage yearsNow, we want independence!

How did Singapore achieve Independence?

• Merge with the Federation of Malaya– Federation of Malaya: the 11 states in the Malay

Peninsular (Malaya)

• Was the merger successful?– Nope! – (We had a break-up in 1965)


Essential question for the chapter:

• Was the merger destined to fail?


• Reasons for Merger – Singapore– Malaya

• Process of merger– Referendum– Konfrontasi

• Challenges during 1963-1965• Reasons for separation

– Singapore– Malaya


• Political reasons • Economic reasons


Let’s merge! Here are my

reasons…

Hm…

• A jingle that was aired in Singapore at the time of the creation of Malaysia :

Unite through mergerAnd we will stand

Happy and free in one strong bandEqual through merger, citizens all

Malaysia brings wealth for one and allEquality, special rights and freedom are yours

With merger and Malaysia.


• To gain independence (freedom from British!)– Singapore government saw that Singapore’s best

hope for complete freedom was through a merger with Malaya.


With you, I can be freeeeeeeeeee

• To be free from communist threats– PAP believed that if Singapore were to join

Malaya, Malaya can suppress the communist threats in Singapore. This is because Malaya was a strong anti-communist country.


With you, I can be protected!

• To fulfill their promise that was made during the 1959 elections– PAP promised the Singaporeans that PAP will

achieve independence. Now that they are the government, they need to fulfill the promise made. Or else, the locals will lose their trust in PAP.


I need to keep the support of my people…

Unite through mergerAnd we will stand

Happy and free in one strong bandEqual through merger, citizens all

Malaysia brings wealth for one and allEquality, special rights and freedom are yours

With merger and Malaysia.


• Situation that Singapore was in…– Singapore lacked natural resources – Slow economic growth: declining entrepot trade – Increasing unemployment: there was a growing

population that required jobs. – Declining trade due to tariffs introduced by

Malaya on goods traded between the two countries.


• AND SO… Merger as a solution to all the problems!

• Raw materials– Malaya had many natural resources. – Singapore could tap on these resources if both

countries merges.


We need raw

materials…

• Merger can increase trade and industries, job opportunities and economic growth for Singapore! – Common Market: an agreement between countries

allowing goods produced in one country to enter another country without having to pay taxes.

– Goods can be bought and sold freely in the Common Market. This will lead to an increase of trade, expansion of industries and in turn, can create more jobs for Singaporeans.


• Political reasons


Having heard all my reasons,

whadyathink?Hm… Well…

I’m not convinced…

• Initially, before 1961, Malaya DID NOT WANT Singapore.

• Why not?


“First, Singapore has about one million Chinese… The inclusion of this one million into the Federation will upset the racial balance of power in the Federation. Second, Singapore has too many pro-Communists who are supported by the Chinese in Singapore.”

- Tunku Abdul Rahman (Malaya’s Prime Minister)


• Initially, before 1961, Malaya DID NOT WANT Singapore.

• Why not? – Tunku was scared that Malaya will have more

Chinese than Malays. – Tunku was scared that Malaya would be

influenced by the communists in Singapore.


• After 1961, Tunku changed his mind!


So how? How? How? How?

I’m still waiting for you…

Well… OK!=D

• Wah.. How come he changed his mind? – Troublesome Situation in Singapore:

• Pro-communist PAP leader, Ong Eng Guan left PAP and challenged them in a by-election (p.g.180).

• He won the Hong Lim by-election and defeated the PAP candidate.

• This made Tunku scared that the radicals would take over PAP and make Singapore a communist country. Communists could use Singapore as a base to spread Communism to Malaya.

• Tunku did not want this to happen.


• For Security– Tunku wanted to avoid the situation whereby

Singapore becomes communist and give trouble to Malaya. Communists would most probably use Singapore as base to spread communism to Malaya

Reasons Singapore MalayaPolitical - To gain Independence

- For Security (suppress communist threats)- To keep the Promise made in the 1959 elections

- For Security (Don’t want Singapore to become communists)

Economic - For Raw materials - For Economic growth (trade, jobs, Common Market)

Nil


To a certain extent, their interests match! (Security against the communists)And so, Malaya and Singapore began to work on the terms of the merger…

For Singapore, they want to MERGE:

Manage the communist threatsEnsure the continued support from peopleRaw materials pleaseGet my independence!Economic growth (money!)



Er.. Actually, me also.. heehee

But.. You know, I have

some conditions to the merger…

• Different political and economic demands by both Singapore and Malaya

• Konfrontasi: Protests by Indonesia and Philippines

• Referendum: Winning the support of Singaporeans

WE OPPOSE!!!Both of you cannot be together!

Demands by both Singapore and Malaya

• Different political and economic demands by both Singapore and Malaya (pg. 184)



Demands Singapore Malaya Agreement

Political - Want independence (but the structure to be decided by the people)

- Wanted Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei to be included in the merger

Economic -Common Market -Providing a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak-To collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year

-Common Market AFTER merger-$50 million grant from Singapore for the development of Sabah and Sarawak-To collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what it needs to run the state

-Common Market to be established in stages-Providing a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak-To collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year

Referendum


• Radicals in PAP hated merger (because they supported communism)

• PAP split! The Radicals left PAP and formed Barisan Socialis, where they organized campaigns to oppose the merger.

• PAP had to try to convince Singapore that Malaya was necessary for Singapore’s stability and survival

Referendum

• Held on 1st Sept 1962• Referendum:

– a direct vote by people of the country to decide on a particular issue, instead of the government making the decision.

• Results– 71% of the people supported what PAP wanted.


Pg. 183 of your textbook

Konfrontasi• Cobbold Commission

– Made up of 3 British men and 2 Malays from Sabah and Sarawak, and was led by Lord Cobbold

– Aim: to find out whether the people of both colonies of Sabah and Sarawak wanted to join Malaysia.

– Results: more than 2/3 of the people wanted merger.


KonfrontasiBUT… Indonesia and Philippines opposed the

merger. • Konfrontasi: A campaign by Indonesia and

Philippines to oppose the merger– Indonesia: felt that Sabah and Sarawak should join

Indonesia and NOT Malaya– Philippines: claimed that Sabah belonged the

Philippines


You belong to meeeee

Konfrontasi• United Nations Commission

– United Nations (p.g. 185): an international organization which tries to get all countries to work together in maintaining peace and dealing with international problems.

– Sent to Sabah and Sarwak to find out whether people wanted merger or not.

– Results: People WANTED merger.


• Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak joined the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia on the 16th September 1963


• Singapore and Malaysia ‘broke up’ in 1965. • WHY?!


Problems faced during the merger

Background: • Singapore politics: Multiracial in outlook• Malaysia politics: Communal politics • UMNO• MCA• MIC• Formation of Alliance Party• Formation of Singapore Alliance


1. 1963 Singapore Elections • Who is involved?

– Singapore Alliance: A political party– Aim of Singapore Alliance:

• To win seats in the Singapore Legislative Assembly.



1963 Singapore Elections

When did it happen?– September 1963

What happened? – Singapore Alliance decided to challenge PAP in the

Singapore elections of 1963.

Results of elections:– Singapore Alliance did not win any seat in the

election, not even in areas where there were more Malays.


• Consequences – UMNO became unhappy because it meant that

they were not popular in Singapore. – Alliance Party vowed to re-organize Singapore

Alliance to defeat PAP in next election– Such comments affected the relationship

between UMNO and PAP in a negative manner.


1963 Singapore Elections

1964 Federal Elections• Who is involved?

– Alliance Party – PAP (wanted to establish itself as a Malaysian

political party)

• When did it happen?– April 1964



1964 Federal Elections

• What happened? – PAP participated in the 1964 Federal elections of

Malaysia. – Their political campaigns attracted large crowds.

• Results of elections:– PAP won only 1 seat. – The Alliance party won 89 out of 104 seats.


• What were the consequences?– Even though they WON, Alliance Party was very

upset with PAP even though PAP did not win. They felt politically threatened.

– Alliance Party started an anti-PAP campaign using media (newspapers)

• Spread rumors to Malays to spoil PAP’s reputation.• Created more tensions and problems between PAP

and Alliance Party



• E.g. Resettlement project in Singapore. [Utesan Melayu, a Malay newspaper claimed that 3000 Malay residents were affected by the project but in reality, only 200 Malay families were affected. Newspaper claimed that PAP discriminates Malays in Singapore. Alliance Party wants Malays in Singapore to support them instead of PAP.]



1964 Racial Riots

• Who was involved: – UMNO, PAP, Singaporean Chinese and Malays

• When did it happen: – July and Sept 1964



1964 Racial Riots

• What happened? – During the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s

birthday in July 1964, there was a clash between Chinese policemen and Malay participants.

– It turned into full-blown race riots.



• Why did it happen? – Alliance Party’s anti-PAP campaign created

tensions and anger between the Chinese and Malays in Singapore.

• These tensions turned into violence during the celebration.


1964 Racial Riots

• What were the consequences? – 36 killed, 556 injured– Roughly 3000 arrested– Damage of properties– Fear and suspicion between the Chinese and the

Malays


1964 Racial Riots

Malaysian Solidarity Convention• What is it?

– A political party formed by PAP and other Malaysian political parties who opposed the Alliance Party



Malaysian Solidarity Convention

• Why was it formed? – Main aim: to campaign for a ‘Malaysian Malaysia’

where everyone would be treated equally regardless of their race or religion.

– A response to what the Alliance Party did. • After the riots, Alliance Party and PAP had an

agreement not to challenge each other politically. • Alliance Party went back on their word, and said they

wanted to participate again in Singapore’s elections in 1967.


• What were the consequences:– Seen as a challenge to Alliance Party– Seen as a threat to the special privileges enjoyed

by Malays

• Caused a further strain in relations between PAP and UMNO


Malaysian Solidarity Convention

• Political reasons• Economic reasons


Reasons for separation Political reasons:


1. Differences in political ideology: Communalism vs Multiracialism

- Malaya expected Singapore to follow their political system - Malaya: Communal politics (where political parties were formed along racial groups) - Singapore: multiracialism (where political parties include different races)



2. Different treatment of races

- Malaya: Malays were given special privileges and rights to help them improve on their standard of living

- Singapore: meritocracy for all - everyone is equal and is treated equally regardless of race or religion



3. Political rivalry between Alliance Party and PAP

- This can be seen from the 1963 Singapore Elections, 1964 Federal Elections and the Malaysian Solidarity Convention

Economic Reasons for separation

•Not enough economic benefits - The Central Government delayed the setting up of the Common Market

•Introduction of new taxes by the Central Government•Increase of Singapore’s contribution of its revenue to Central Government (from 40% to 60%)

- Singapore felt that these were was an unfair decision

•Singapore was seen as an economic rival (for Malaya)

• LINK: These political and economic differences led to disagreements and increased tensions between the Alliance Party and PAP.


• In the end, Tunku Abdul Rahman realized that the many disagreements could not be settled. He felt that it was best for Singapore to leave Malaysia. PAP finally agreed to the decision.


And so…

• This love story between Malaysia and Singapore comes to an end…

MERDEKA!!!

Singapore’s independence!• 9th August 1965• Independent nation

– Nation: consists of an organized population and government

• a Republic:– a republic is a nation governed by representatives

elected by the people, and where the Head of State is not a king or queen, but a President.



http://static.flickr.com/11/91315029_78e39a63e7.jpg?v=0

• Joined the United Nations on 16th September 1965

• Formed ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) on 8th August 1967 to help to keep the peace among neighboring countries– Founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia,

Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.


How did this happen?


Sec 2 History Chapter 9

Education

singapore government

separation singapore

independence freedom

raw materials malaya

merger successful

malay peninsular malaya

reasons hm

communist threats pap