How did Singapore Achieve Independence?

Detailed Chapter 9 Lesson

Copyright © Tan Yang Jie 2011. All Rights Reserved.

The Federation of Malaya

A federation is a group of states united with one central government. However,

each state has its own state government to deal with local matters.

The Federation of Malaya included the 11 states in the Malay Peninsula. Malaya

had gain independence from the British on 31 August 1957.

After Singapore had achieved self-government from the British in 1959, the next

constitutional step for the newly-elected PAP government was independence. At

that time, the issue of independence was closely associated with the idea ofmerger with the Federation of Malaya.

Why did Singapore favour a merger with Malaya?

Economic Survival

Declining Entrepot Trade

Growing Population

Formation of a Common Market

Political Reason

To gain complete independence from

the British.

The PAP government felt that Singapore’s survival as an independent state would be difficult. This was because Singapore lacked natural resources and faced a declining entrepot trade and a growingpopulation which required jobs.

Furthermore, the Malayan government introduces import and export tariffs on goods

traded between the two countries.

The PAP government felt that a merger with Malaysia would bring about rapideconomic growth. With this merger, Singapore had hoped that a Common Marketwould be set up to support Singapore’s new industries.

Within this Common Market, goods could be brought and sold freely without beingtaxed. This would increase trade, expand industries and create more jobs.

Also, the PAP government saw that Singapore’s best hope for complete freedom was

through a merger with Malaya. While internal self- government was previously granted

in 1959. the British still controlled some areas such as defence and internal security.

Why were the British reluctant to grant full independence to Singapore?

The source below tells us why:

Adopted from The Straits Times, 19 June 2005.

When the PAP was formed in 1954, it included moderates and radicals.

Radicals, in this context, refer to party members who supported the communists

and their actions.

(Without merger) power in Singapore would be passed to the radicals … This will lead to a communist base right in the heart of Southeast Asia with serious consequences to the whole region. Knowing this, it is not unlikely that the British may prevent an independent Singapore from emerging.

Malayan Government’s reaction to Merger

Before 1961, the PAP government tried with little success topersuade the government to agree with merger. Why was Malaya not interested in the idea?

Firstly, Singapore had one million Chinese and the inclusion ofthese people into the federation would upset the racial balanceof power in the Federation.

Secondly, Singapore had too many Pro-Communists who aresupported by the Chinese in Singapore

However, by early 1961, the Malayan Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman felt that the idea of

merger should be considered.Why?

Tunku was afraid that the split would allow the radicals to gain control of PAP then form aCommunist government in Singapore and use Singapore as a base to spread communism

inMalaya.

In a speech he made, Tunku suggested the possibility of a merger between Malaya andSingapore and the creation of a new federation including other British colonies such asBrunei, Sabah and Sawarak.

The inclusion of these colonies would thus overcome the fear of possible Chinese

dominance in the new federation.

Was Singapore’s Merger with Malaya smooth?

Lee Kuan Yew and most of the PAP leaders welcomed the Tunku’s proposal andheld talks with the Tunku to discuss general terms for Singapore’s entry intoMalaysia. However, the radicals within the PAP opposed the idea. The issue ofmerger thus led to a split between the moderates and radicals.

To convince the people that a merger with Malaya was necessary forSingapore’s stability and survival, the PAP government mounted a year-longcampaign to build up support for the proposal.

A referendum was conducted on 1 September 1962 to find out what the people

wanted.

Results

Option AOption BOption CBlank VotesRejected Votes

Problems Faced

Though both Malaya and Singapore had agreed on the general terms,negotiations over economic issues proved difficult.

• Inclusion of Common Market terms in the Malaysian Agreement

•To provide a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak instead of giving a grant

•To collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money each year to Kuala Lumpur as taxes

Singapore Wanted …

•Details of the Common Market to be worked out after the signing of the Malaysia Agreement

•An $50 million grant from Singapore for the Development of Sabah and Sarawak

•To collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what it needed to run the state

Malaya Wanted …

Frustrated by the disagreements, the Tunku threatened to call off the negotiations of merger.

Eventually, the two sides came to an agreement.

Economic Terms of Merger Agreed

The Common Market would be established in stages.

Singapore would provide a $150 million loan for the development of Sabah and Sarawak.

Singapore would collect its own revenue and pay Kuala Lumpur an agreed sum of money.

Other Countries’ Reactions

Singapore - Agreed to join Malaysia after 1962 Referendum

Indonesia – Refused to recognise Malaysia and argued that Sabah and Sawarak should join Indonesia- Broke off diplomatic and trade relations with Malaysia in 1963- Launched a policy of Konfrantasi (Confrontation) against the formation of Malaysia on 20 January 1963. Armed

raidsIndonesia agents were carried out in Sabah and Sarawak. These agents also attempted to disrupt life in Singapore

bysetting off bombs in public places.

Brunei- Did not join Malaysia because of disagreement over economic issues

The Philippines- Refused to recognise Malaysia as it claimed that Sabah rightfully belonged to the Philippines- Broke off relations with Malaysia in 1963

Sabah and Sarawak-Agreed to join Malaysia after the Cobbold Commission

Malaysia, Finally

On 16 September, Malaysia came into existence. Itwas made up of 14 states.

Perlis Kedah Penang Perak Kelantan Terengganu Selangor Pahang Negri Sembilan Malacca Johor Singapore Sabah Sawarak

What led to separation

?

Reasons for Separation

1.Disagreement over Economic Matters

Singapore joined Malaya hoping to enjoy the economic benefits after the Common Market was set up. However, tariffs were still imposed on Singapore-produces goods exported to the other states in Malaysia. The delay in setting up a Common Market was partly due to the fact that Singapore was seen as an economic rival even though it was already part of Malaysia.

Singapore was also unhappy with the Central Government’s decisions to introduce new taxes in Singapore and increase Singapore’s contribution of its revenue to the Central Government from 40% to 60%. These decision were seen as unfair to Singapore.

2. Difference over Political Matters

With the formation Malaysia in 1963, the Central government in Kuala Lumpur expected Singapore to adjust to the system that was already in place in Malaya where many of the political parties were formed among racial lines.

• Main goal was to look after the interests of their own community.Ruling Party in

Kuala Lumpur

• Were multi-racial in outlookMajor Political

Parties in Singapore

Malaysia

Special rights were given to the Malays to help them improve their standard of living

Singapore

Felt that the people’s standard of living would improve through education and industrialisation

3. Another difference between Singapore and mainland Malaya had to do with the treatment of the difference races.

Hence the difference views on Malaysia between the Alliance party and the PAP led to the political rivalry of both parties.

Parties Involved

Alliance Party• Ruling Party in Kuala Lumpur

• Formed by three communal parties - United Malays National Organisation ( UMNO) - Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) - Malayan Indian Congress (MIC)

Singapore Alliance Party• Made up of Singapore Branches of UMNO, MCA and MIC

PAP• Ruling Party in Singapore

Political Event : State Election 1963

In September 1963, a state election was held in Singapore. The alliance leaders in KualaLumpur wanted the Singapore Alliance to win more seats in the Singapore LegislativeAssembly.

However, the PAP won 37 out of 51 seats contested.

This cause d unhappiness among UMNO as it had expected its candidates to retain theirseats in Geylang Serai, Kampong Kembangan and the Southern Islands, all of which had

amalay majority. However, they lost all three seats to PAP.

After the election, the Alliance leaders in Kuala Lumpur vowed to reorganise the Singapore

Alliance so as to defeat the PAP in the next election. Such comments affected theRelationship between the PAP and the Alliance. This relationship was further strained

whenthe PAP decided to take part in the 1964 Federal Election.

Political Event : Federal Election 1964

During its election campaign, the PAP declared that one of its goals was to help

build a Malaysia that would not think along racial lines.

Even though the PAP attracted large crowds to its rallies, the party only won one

seat. The Alliance, however won 89 seats in the 104 seat Parliament. Despite its

victory, the Alliance

Leaders in Kuala Lumpur were upset with the PAP for contesting in the federalelection.

Political Event : Anti – PAP Campaign

After the Alliance’s victory in the Federal election, UMNO felt that it was time to win back the

Malay vote in Singapore.

•Some UMNO leaders then began to criticise the PAP government for not looking after the interest of the Malays in Singapore.

•Thought the Utusan Melayu, an Anti – PAP campaign began.

•One issue which was highlighted in the Utusan Melayu concerned the Singapore’s government to redevelop the Crawfod, Kampong Glam and Rochor areas. It claimed that 3000 Malay residents were affected by the resettlement project.

•On 12 July 1964, the Secretary – General of UMNO made an Anti – PAP speech. He complained that the PAP government had neglected the Malays in Singpore. Ths led to growing racial tensions

•To ease the tension, Lee Kuan Yew and Othamn Wok, the then Ministers for Social Affairs, met 900 Malays representatives on 19 July 1964. pledging that the Singapore Government would do its best to help the Malays in Singapore in the ares of education, employment and housing.

However, the Utusan Melayu kept printing articles accusing the PAP government of ill-treating the Malays in Singapore which resulted in 2 racial riots.

Racial Riot 1

On 21 July 1964, over 25 000 Malays gathered at the Padang to celebrate ProphetMohammed’s birthday. However, the celebrations soon turned into a race riot. 23 people

losttheir lives and 454 people were injured in the riots. To restore order, an island-wide

curfewwas imposed until 2 August 1964. During this period, the curfew was only lifted for shortperiods of time for people to buy food.

After the riots, Goodwill Committees were set up. They were made up of community leaders

from the various racial groups. Their job was to help restore harmony among the various races

by addressing their concerns.

Lee Kuan Yew toured the island urging the people not to be influenced by those attempting

to cause dignity among the various races. Tun Razak, the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister,

also visited the affected areas to help calm things down.

Racial Riot 2

• After six weeks of calm, another race riot took place in September 1964. A curfew was imposed. By the time the curfew was lifted, 13 people lost their lives and 106 others were injured.

• After the riots in September 1964, the Alliance and PAP agreed not to raise any matters that were racial in nature. Toh Chin Chye also announced publicly that the Alliance and the PAP had agreed not to challenge each other politically for the next two years.

• However this agreement did not last long.

Malaysian Malaysia Campaign

In May 1965, the PAP bought together four other Malaysianopposition parties to form the Malaysian Solidarity party. Themain aim of the party was to campaign for a “MalaysianMalaysia” . This campaign upset the Alliance leaders because

itseemed to question the special rights of Malays. Some UMNOleaders were so annoyed that they called Lee Kuan Yew’s

arrest.

Days to Separation

The Tunku was afraid that racial clashes were likely to happen again if the differencesbetween the Alliance and the PAP were not resolved. He realized that all these disagreements could not be settled.

After some discussion, both the PAP leaders and the Tunku agreed to separation.

On Monday, 9 August 1965, before television cameras at Caldecott Hill, Lee Kuan Yewpersonally announced that Singapore was no longer part of Malaysia. It was an emotionalmoment for him as he always believed in merger and the unity of the two territories.

Independence Finally

• Singapore became an independent nation. With independence, Singapore became a republic with Yusof Bin Ishak as the first president. The Singapore had its own government which was now responsible for every aspect of its administration. Also, the national anthem and the pledge were unveiled.

• Later after independence, Singapore became a member of the United Nations and also the Association of Southeast Asia Nations.

Thank You