singapore from crown colony to independent nation

SINGAPORESINGAPOREFrom Crown Colony toFrom Crown Colony toIndependent NationIndependent Nation

1.1. Post-War Political Post-War Political Changes Changes in Singaporein Singapore2.2. Post-War Political Post-War Political Changes Changes in Malaysiain Malaysia3.3. MalaysiaMalaysia4.4. The Road to MergerThe Road to Merger5.5. Negotiations and Negotiations and Points of Points of AgreementAgreement6.6. External PressuresExternal Pressures7.7. Formation of MalaysiaFormation of Malaysia8.8. Trouble in MalaysiaTrouble in Malaysia9.9. SeparationSeparation10.10. Facing the FutureFacing the Future

7.7. Formation of Formation of MalaysiaMalaysia

16 Sep 196316 Sep 1963

D A YD A Y

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

• Made up of 14 states

• 11 from Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore

8.8. Trouble in MalaysiaTrouble in Malaysia

1963 Singapore General 1963 Singapore General ElectionElection

1964 Federal Election1964 Federal Election Communal ProblemsCommunal Problems Malaysian Solidarity Malaysian Solidarity

ConventionConvention Clash of Economic Clash of Economic

InterestsInterests

TROUBLE IN MALAYSIATROUBLE IN MALAYSIA

Sep 1963 Singapore State ElectionsSep 1963 Singapore State Elections• Formation of Singapore AllianceFormation of Singapore Alliance• Greater involvement in Singapore politicsGreater involvement in Singapore politics• To have more seats in the To have more seats in the Singapore Legislative Singapore Legislative

AssemblyAssembly• Tunku wanted to work with SA; did not Tunku wanted to work with SA; did not

agreeagree• Singapore Alliance did not win any seatsSingapore Alliance did not win any seats• won 37 out of 51 seatswon 37 out of 51 seats• UMNO was most unhappyUMNO was most unhappy

Sep 1963 Singapore State ElectionsSep 1963 Singapore State Elections

Election results showed Election results showed

1.1. Singapore Malays were no longer Singapore Malays were no longer attracted to SUMNOattracted to SUMNO

2.2. Most people rejected the communal-Most people rejected the communal-based politics of the Alliancebased politics of the Alliance


1964 Federal Election1964 Federal Election• Before 1964, had no branches outside Before 1964, had no branches outside

SingaporeSingapore• decided to take part in the 1964 Federal decided to take part in the 1964 Federal

Election as a Malaysian political partyElection as a Malaysian political party• Goals :Goals : 1. Build a Malaysian Malaysia1. Build a Malaysian Malaysia

2. Provide all with necessary skills and 2. Provide all with necessary skills and equal opportunities to succeed equal opportunities to succeed

• Alliance leaders were upset because had Alliance leaders were upset because had promised not to take part in Federal Electionspromised not to take part in Federal Elections


1964 Federal Election1964 Federal Election• PAP criticised MCA; made Alliance more PAP criticised MCA; made Alliance more

unitedunited• Only one seat was wonOnly one seat was won• Far-reaching effects :Far-reaching effects :

– Senior Alliance leaders were unhappy with Senior Alliance leaders were unhappy with PAPPAP

– No longer as tolerantNo longer as tolerant– UMNO stepped up its criticisms of PAPUMNO stepped up its criticisms of PAP– PAP seen as a future threatPAP seen as a future threat


Communal ProblemsCommunal Problems• UMNO – communal politics – anti-PAP UMNO – communal politics – anti-PAP

campaignscampaigns• Focused on poverty of Singapore MalaysFocused on poverty of Singapore Malays• Resettlement projectsResettlement projects• Utusan MelayuUtusan Melayu


• Over time, more Over time, more misleading articles misleading articles appeared in the UMappeared in the UM

• Main culprit : Syed Main culprit : Syed Ja’afar Albar, UMNO’s Ja’afar Albar, UMNO’s Sec-GenSec-Gen

• Aroused anger of the Aroused anger of the audience against the audience against the PAPPAP


• To ease growing racial tension, LKY met 900 To ease growing racial tension, LKY met 900 Malay representatives in July 1964Malay representatives in July 1964– Govt would do its best to help Malays overcome Govt would do its best to help Malays overcome

problems of education, employment and housingproblems of education, employment and housing

• UM continued with its anti-PAP campaignUM continued with its anti-PAP campaign• In the end, the racial tension in Singapore lead In the end, the racial tension in Singapore lead

to two race riotsto two race riots


Race Riots : The 1964 Race RiotsRace Riots : The 1964 Race Riots• 21 July 1964 : 25,000 Malays gathered at the 21 July 1964 : 25,000 Malays gathered at the

Padang to celebrate Prophet Mohammed’s Padang to celebrate Prophet Mohammed’s birthdaybirthday

• Anti-PAP speeches by various Malay leadersAnti-PAP speeches by various Malay leaders• Procession to GeylangProcession to Geylang

The procession on its way to Geylang


Internal Threat : The 1964 Race RiotsInternal Threat : The 1964 Race Riots• Singapore Government’s version : Small Singapore Government’s version : Small

incident sparked off race riotsincident sparked off race riots• After that, more groups became unruly and After that, more groups became unruly and

attacked Chinese passers-by and spectatorsattacked Chinese passers-by and spectators• Soon, clashes between Malays and Chinese in Soon, clashes between Malays and Chinese in

various parts of Singapore reportedvarious parts of Singapore reported• Curfew imposed 9.30 pm to 6.00 amCurfew imposed 9.30 pm to 6.00 am• Lifted only on 2 Aug 1964Lifted only on 2 Aug 1964


Police cordon beside the Kallang Gas Works after the outbreak of racial riots


Race Riots : The 1964 Race RiotsRace Riots : The 1964 Race Riots• Goodwill committees set upGoodwill committees set up• Made up of community leaders from various Made up of community leaders from various

racial groupsracial groups• Help to restore peace and harmonyHelp to restore peace and harmony• LKY and Tun Razak toured the island to calm LKY and Tun Razak toured the island to calm

things downthings down


LKY urging people to remain calm


Race Riots : The 1964 Race RiotsRace Riots : The 1964 Race Riots• Second riot in Sep 1964Second riot in Sep 1964• Malay trishaw rider murdered; Chinese Malay trishaw rider murdered; Chinese

accused of murderaccused of murder• Led to another race riot and curfew imposed Led to another race riot and curfew imposed

againagain• 13 dead, 106 injured13 dead, 106 injured


Race Riots : The 1964 Race RiotsRace Riots : The 1964 Race Riots• Riots showed the dangers of communal politics Riots showed the dangers of communal politics

in Singaporein Singapore• Communal feelings were played upCommunal feelings were played up• Resulted in loss of lives and property, Resulted in loss of lives and property,

breakdown in peace and orderbreakdown in peace and order• Singapore’s views ns Malaysia’s viewsSingapore’s views ns Malaysia’s views• International viewsInternational views


• A truce between the Alliance and PAP after the 1964 riots

• Both agreed not to raise matters that were racial in nature

• However the truce did not last long

MALAYSIAN SOLIDARITY CONVENTION

• Oct 1964 - Leader of Alliance Party made an announcement

• Major re-org to prepare for 1967 Singapore state election

• Said that the Alliance Party would win enough seats to form the next government

• This was a direct challenge to the PAP


PAP’s response


• PAP’s response : Create a united opposition against communal-based Alliance

• May 1965, PAP brought together 4 Malaysian opposition parties to form the MALAYSIAN MALAYSIAN SOLIDARITY CONVENTIONSOLIDARITY CONVENTION (MSC)(MSC)

• Main aim : Campaign for a Malaysian Malaysia where everybody would be treated equally regardless of race or religion


• Malaysian Malaysia – through booklets and talks

• Public rally on 6 Jun 1965• PAP’s non-communal politics – in

conflict with UMNO’s insistence on Malay special rights in M’sia and S’pore


MALAYSIA’S REACTIONS

• Of course they were upset!!!

• Main issue was that the special rights enjoyed by the Malays was being questioned

• Malaysian ministers were worried

• Some UMNO leaders were so angered by the campaign that they called for LKY’s arrest


Tunku greeted by UMNO supporters carrying placard denouncing Lee Kuan Yew on 5 Aug 1965

Disagreements with CG over Disagreements with CG over economic matters also affected economic matters also affected Singapore’s economic growthSingapore’s economic growth

1.1. FEW Pioneer CertificatesFEW Pioneer Certificates2.2. No Common MarketNo Common Market3.3. Proposed increase in Singapore’s Proposed increase in Singapore’s

contributionscontributions4.4. Closing the Bank of ChinaClosing the Bank of China

CLASH OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS

• Decisions seen as unfair by SingaporeDecisions seen as unfair by Singapore• Came at a time of economic decline Came at a time of economic decline

because of Confrontationbecause of Confrontation• Led to strained relations between CG Led to strained relations between CG

and Singaporeand Singapore• Tunku considered separating Singapore Tunku considered separating Singapore

from Malaysia as a solution to the from Malaysia as a solution to the differencesdifferences

CLASH OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS

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singapore from crown colony to independent nation

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