Malaysia

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Challenges facing the new Challenges facing the new governmentgovernment– newly-elected government inherited many

problems from the British– 3 most pressing problems :

• Unemployment, • poor housing and • education

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Thinking of MergerThinking of Merger

(1)(1) For more trade and more jobsFor more trade and more jobs – S’pore govt felt that the best way to

resolve the unemployment problem was to merge with Malaya

– Not all goods produced in Singapore could be sold in the local market

– a bigger market was needed– Malaya could be that market

SINGAPORE’S REASONSSINGAPORE’S REASONS

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What can you tell about the problems facing the new government in 1959?

• Problem was the Malayan import and export tariffs• Creation of a COMMON MARKETCOMMON MARKET

– Within this area, goods could be bought and sold freely without being taxed– The resulting increase in trade would create more jobs for the people

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(2)(2) For IndependenceFor Independence– Singapore hoped that through the merger, she would become completely free from British control– British were not willing to grant independence.

Why?Why?– Mainly because of the communist problem– Britain would be more comfortable to grant independence to Singapore after merger with anti-communist Malaya

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Malaya’s initial reluctance

• Why?– Upset in racial balance– Pro-communist elements inSingapore

(Details on pg. 180)

Main reason was for SECURITYSECURITY–the Malayan PM was worried about the communists growing more powerful in Singapore– Might grow too strong for the PAP government to deal with– Why was this a matter of concern for Malaya? Why was this a matter of concern for Malaya? – Worries of a communist government at their doorstep– communists could use Singapore as a base to spread communism throughout Malaya

MALAYA’S REASONSMALAYA’S REASONS

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•Tunku’s plan to prevent this from happening was to allow Singapore to join Malaya

This merger was often referred to as a marriage of convenience.

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How did they propose to deal with the issue of

possible Chinese dominance?

• 27 May 1961 : Tunku visited Singapore• Suggested creating a new federation (later called Malaysia)• To include Sabah and Sarawak (British colonies)• Britain did not object. Why?Why?• Britain wanted to grant independence to these colonies but were worried about their survival• Believed that stability of these states would be secured if they joined Malaysia

PROPOSAL FOR THE FORMATION OF PROPOSAL FOR THE FORMATION OF MALAYSIAMALAYSIA

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PROPOSAL FOR THE FORMATION OF PROPOSAL FOR THE FORMATION OF MALAYSIAMALAYSIA

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• LKY and most of the PAP leaders welcomed the proposal

• However, the pro-communists members of the PAP were against the idea of merger. Why? Why?

• With merger, the anti-communist government would probably arrest them

REACTIONS IN SINGAPOREREACTIONS IN SINGAPORE

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• The pro-communists led by Lim Lim Chin SiongChin Siong attempted to capture the leadership of the PAP so that they could reject merger• Internal struggle for power within the PAP• The communists won over the support of some PAP Legislative Assemblymen• But this did not help them to overthrow the leadership of LKY

CHALLENGE FOR THE PAP LEADERSHIPCHALLENGE FOR THE PAP LEADERSHIP

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• They failed and the 13 Assemblymen were expelled from the PAP• Formed a party called Barisan SosialisBarisan Sosialis (Socialist Front) in Aug 1961• Chairman : Lee Siew Choh; Sec-Gen : Lim Chin Siong


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Meanwhile, LKY and the Tunku held talks on Singapore’s entry into Malaysia•What were some of the terms of agreement of merger?


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What can you infer about the merger from the photograph?

• Barisan Sosialis was against merger• Which term upset them?Which term upset them?• Started a campaign to persuade the people not to support the government’s plan• The government conducted a referendumreferendum on 1 Sep 1962 to find out the people’s choice

THE PEOPLE’S DECISIONTHE PEOPLE’S DECISION

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Why do you think the Why do you think the people went along with people went along with

the PAP’s option?the PAP’s option?

• Result : 71% supported the PAP government’s plan• It was a victory for the PAP government over the pro-communists• Also showed that the majority of the people supported the PAP government

THE PEOPLE’S DECISIONTHE PEOPLE’S DECISION

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxTBQxDdOlY&feature=email

• Cobbold Commission :

Set up by Malayan and British Government

• Taskto find out whether the people of Sabah and Sarawak were interested in joining Malaysia

• ResultAug 1962 : Only 1/3 of the people in both colonies were not in favour of joining Malaysia

REACTIONS IN SABAH & SARAWAKREACTIONS IN SABAH & SARAWAK

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• Tunku’s government began talks with the Sultan about Brunei joining Malaysia

• Both sides were unable to come to an agreement on the terms of Brunei’s entry

• Brunei thus did not join Malaysia

REACTIONS IN BRUNEIREACTIONS IN BRUNEI

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• When Tunku’s proposal surfaced in 1961, there was no objection from President Sukarno• He changed his mind in 1963 and said he opposed the idea of Malaysia• 20 Jan 1963 : Policy of Confrontation against the formation of Malaysia• Until Sep 1963, it took the form of harsh words

REACTIONS IN INDONESIAREACTIONS IN INDONESIA

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LKY with President Sukarno in 1960LKY with President Sukarno in 1960

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Why did Sukarno oppose the formation of Why did Sukarno oppose the formation of Malaysia?Malaysia?

1. Sabah & Sarawak should come under the control of Indonesia instead of Malaysia2. He was also influenced by the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) which was against the anti-communist government in Malaya3. The Confrontation policy diverted the people’s attention from the problems they were facing as a result of Indonesia’s economic policies


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• The Philippines objected as it claimed that Sabah rightfully belonged to them But it did not have enough evidence to prove its case

REACTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINESREACTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

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THE FORMATION OF MALAYSIATHE FORMATION OF MALAYSIA

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• General agreement between Tunku and LKY for Singapore’s entry into Malaysia

• However, there were still some differences to be sorted out

What were these differences?What were these differences?


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What were the main areas of disagreement?


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• Both sides were unable to resolve the differences• A final round of talks was arranged in London for both sides to reach an agreement• The Malayan negotiators were told to break off the talks if a solution was not found• Singapore would then be left out of Malaysia if the talks failed• The two sides finally reached a general agreement


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What sort of compromise was reached?

SIGNING OF THE MALAYSIA AGREEMENTSIGNING OF THE MALAYSIA AGREEMENT

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• With the differences between Singapore & Malaya settled, delegates from Sabah and Sarawak arrived to sign the Malaysia Agreement

• According to the Agreement, Malaysia would be formed on 31 Aug 196331 Aug 1963

• However, this caused stronger opposition from Indonesia and the Philippines


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•Tunku agreed to a peaceful solution :– A UN mission (the Cobbold Commission) would be sent to Sabah and Sarawak to find out whether their people are in favour of joining Malaysia

• Both Indonesia and the Philippines were happy with this proposal.

Why?Why?


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• They believed that the people would reject the proposal

• On 14 Sep 1963, the UN team reported that the majority of the people were in favour

What were the reactions in the Philippines What were the reactions in the Philippines and Indonesia?and Indonesia?


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• Both Indonesia and the Philippines were most unhappy• Broke off relations with Malaysia• Confrontation became more serious• Indonesians launched armed raids into Sabah and Sarawak• Their agents also disrupted life in Singapore by setting off bombs in public places

MALAYSIA DAYMALAYSIA DAY

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• 16 Sep 1963 : New nation of Malaysia came into existence

• Made up of 14 states

• 11 from Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore

• Adopted from presentation from MOE

Documents

Malaysia