How did Singapore achieve Independence?Chapter 9

Recap

1945Singapore was still a British colony

1948First election, SPP won

1955Labour Front won

1959Full internal government

But,we still do not have the full independence.

Merger with the Federation ofMalaya

The 11 states in the Malay Peninsular

(Malaya)

The Big QuestionWas the merger destined to fail?

Topics

Reasons for Merger •Singapore•Malaya

Process of Merger•Referendum•Konfrontasi

Challenges during 1963-1965

Why did Singapore want to mergewith Malaya?

PoliticalReasons

EconomicReasons

Political Reasons for Merger

To gain independence

from British

To be free from communist

threats

To fulfil promises made

during 1959 elections

1 2

3

Singapore’s best hope for complete freedom was through a merger with Malaya.

British are still worried about the Communist threat in Singapore.

1 To gain independence from British

PAP believed that if Singapore were to join Malaya, Malaya can suppress the communist threats in Singapore.

Malaya was a strong anti-communist country.

2 To be free from communistthreats

PAP will need to fulfil the promise or the people will lose their trust in PAP.

The PromisePAP will achieve independence if they are elected.

3 To fulfil promises made during 1959 elections

A JingleUnite through mergerAnd we will stand Happy and free in one strong bandEqual through merger, citizens allMalaysia brings wealth for one and allEquality, special rights and freedom are yoursWith merger and Malaysia.

aired in Singapore during Malaysia creation

Lack of NaturalResources

Slow Economic Growth

Declining entrepottrade

Increasing Unemployment

There was a growing population that required jobs,

Declining TradeTariffs introduced by

Malaya on goods traded between the

two countries.

Singapore faces these problems

Economic Reasons for Merger

To tap on Malaya natural

resourcesTo increase

trade

To establish a common market

1 2

3

Singapore can tap on these resources if Singapore and Malaya merge.

Malaya has many natural resources such as oil and rubber.

1 To tap on Malaya natural resources

This can lead to more jobopportunities and in turn, more economic growth for Singapore.

Merger can increase trade opportunities

2 To increase trade

3 To establish a Common Market

An agreement between countries allowing goods produced in one country to enter another countrywithout having to pay taxes.

Goods can be bought and soldfreely in the Common Market.

This will lead to an increase of trade, expansion of industries and in turn, can create more jobs for Singaporeans.

COMMON MARKET

Initially, Malaya did not want Singapore.

Why not?

1961

“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

Tunku was scared that Malaya will have more Chinese than Malays.

Racial Imbalance after Merger Tunku was scared

that Malaya would be influenced by the communists in Singapore.

Communist Influence

in Singapore

Initially, Malaya did not want Singapore.

1961The Tunku changed his mind.

Why?

2 Reasons

1. A Solution for Racial Imbalance

3. Security IssueCommunist

Threat

A Solution for Racial Imbalance

Inclusion of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei in the merger.This will then push the Malay population up.The problem of Chinese population exceeding the Malay population would be solved.

14

million3.7

million

Security IssueCommunist Threat2

Pro-communist PAP leader, Ong EngGuan left PAP and challenged them in a by-election. He won the Hong Lim by-election and defeated the PAP candidate.

This made Tunku afraid 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 Communism to spread to Malaya from Singapore.

Did Singapore and Malaya's interests match?

Reasons Singapore Malaya

Political

1. To gain Independence2. For Security (suppress

communist threats)3. To keep the Promise made

in the 1959 elections

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

Only Security Purpose (Against the Communists) match!

Malaya and Singapore began to work on the terms of the merger…

Singapore want to MERGE

Manage the communist threats

Ensure the continued support from people

Raw materials please

Get my independence!

Economic growth (money!)

Was Merging with Malaya an easy process?

Internal Conflict

1. Different demands by Singapore and Malaya

2. Split in PAP3. Referendum

Internal Conflict

1. Different demands by Singapore and Malaya

2. Split in PAP3. Referendum

External Conflict

1. Philippines2. Indonesia3. Brunei4. Sabah and Sarawak

Different Demandsby both

Singapore and Malaya

Refer to p184.

Demands Singapore Malaya Agreement

PoliticalIndependence(but the structure to be decided by the people)

Included Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei in the merger

1. Common Market to be established in stages

2. Provide a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.

Economic

1. Common Market 2. Provide a loan of

$150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.

1. Common Market after merger

2. $50 million grant from Singapore for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what it needs to run the state.

Demands Singapore Malaya Agreement

PoliticalIndependence(but the structure to be decided by the people)

Included Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei in the merger

1. Common Market to be established in stages

2. Provide a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.

Economic

1. Common Market 2. Provide a loan of

$150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.

1. Common Market after merger

2. $50 million grant from Singapore for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what it needs to run the state.

Demands Singapore Malaya Agreement

PoliticalIndependence(but the structure to be decided by the people)

Included Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei in the merger

1. Common Market to be established in stages

2. Provide a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.

Economic

1. Common Market 2. Provide a loan of

$150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.

1. Common Market after merger

2. $50 million grant from Singapore for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what it needs to run the state.

Demands Singapore Malaya Agreement

PoliticalIndependence(but the structure to be decided by the people)

Included Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei in the merger

1. Common Market to be established in stages

2. Provide a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.

Economic

1. Common Market 2. Provide a loan of

$150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.

1. Common Market after merger

2. $50 million grant from Singapore for the development of Sabah and Sarawak

3. Collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what it needs to run the state.

Spilt in PAPThe radicals left PAP and formed Barisan Sosialis.

Radicals in PAP hated merger. (These people supported communism.)

People Action PartyConvince Singapore that merger with Malaya was

necessary for Singapore’sstability and survival

Barisan SosialisOrganise campaigns to oppose the merger

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

1st Sept 1962 Obtain consensus from the people on the type of merger they wanted.

Refer to p183 of your textbook

%of the people supported what the PAP wanted.

PhilippinesClaimed Sabah belonged to them.

Broke off trade relations with Malaya and Singapore.

IndonesiaArgued that Sabah & Sarawak belonged to them.

Launched Konfrontasi(Confrontation) against the merger.

BruneiDid not join the merger due to disagreement over economic issues.

Refer to p185 of your textbook

KonfrontasiA sabotage campaign by Indonesia to oppose the merger

How about Sabah and Sarawak?

Do the people want the merger with Malaya?

United NationsAn international organization which tries to get all countries to work together in maintaining peace and dealing with international problems.

Refer to p185 of your textbook

Lord Cobbold was commissioned to visit Sabah and Sarawak to find out whether people wanted a merger or not.

United Nations Commission

CobboldCommissionMade up of 3 British men and 2 Malays from Sabah and Sarawak, and was led by Lord Cobbold.AimFind out whether the people of both colonies of Sabah and Sarawak wanted to join Malaysia.

RESULTS

more than

2/3of the people wanted a merger.

Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak joined the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia.

16th Sept 1963

However,Singapore and Malaysia ‘broke up’ in 1965.

CREATED BY

Goh Bang Rui

Follow meon

@slideshare.

@gohbangrui

bit.ly/gohbangrui