Separation of Singapore

from Malaysia

9 August 1965
By Group Melanau
(Wei Ling, Jing Xuan, Ruey Ping, Liyana, Pui Yan, Jia Joy, Yee Jing, Ru Quan, Jia Yu)
Background

➔ Singapore was one of the 14 states of

Malaysia from 1963 to 1965.
➔ It became part of Malaysia on
16 September 1963.
➔ Malaysia being a new political entity
formed from the merger of the Federation of Malaya
with North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore.
➔ This marked the end of a 144-year period of British rule in Singapore, beginning with
the founding of modern Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.
Disagreements

➔ The Federal Government of Malaysia, dominated by UMNO,

was concerned that as long as Singapore remained in the
Federation, the bumiputera policy of affirmative action for
Malays and the indigenous population would be undermined, and therefore run counter to its agenda
of addressing economic disparities between racial groups.

➔ One of the major concerns was that the PAP continued to ignore these disparities in their repeated
cry for a "Malaysian Malaysia" – the equal treatment of all races in Malaysia by the government which
should serve Malaysian citizens without any regard for the economic conditions of any particular race.

➔ In 1963, PAP won the Alliance in Singapore’s own election. And in 1964, PAP went to KL to challenge
the Alliance in elections.The two major political parties in Malaysia, PAP and UMNO were soon
accusing one another of communalism. The accusations escalated into tensions until they erupted
into racial violence in Singapore on 21 July and 2 September 1964.
Disagreements

➔ Another contributor was the fear that the economic

dominance of Singapore's port would inevitably shift
political power away from Kuala Lumpur in time,
should Singapore remain in the Federation.

➔ The state and federal governments also had disagreements on the economic front.
Despite an earlier agreement to establish a common market, Singapore continued to face
restrictions when trading with the rest of Malaysia.

➔ In retaliation, Singapore did not extend to Sabah and Sarawak the full extent
of the loans agreed to for economic development of the two eastern states.
The situation escalated to such an intensity that talks soon broke down and abusive speeches and
writing became rife on both sides. UMNO extremists called for the arrest of Lee Kuan Yew.
 Racial tensions
➔ Racial tensions increased dramatically within a year.
➔ They were fuelled by the Barisan Sosialis's tactics of stirring up communal
sentiment as the pro-Communist party sought to use means to survive
against the crackdown by both the Singapore and Federal government.
➔ Despite the Malaysian government conceding citizenship to many
Chinese immigrants after independence, Chinese Singaporean disdained
the Federal policies of affirmative action, which granted special
privileges to the Malays.
➔ These included financial and economic benefits that were preferentially
given to Malays and the recognition of Islam as the sole official religion,
although non-Muslims maintained freedom of worship.
 Racial tensions

➔ Malays in Singapore were being increasingly

incited by the Federal Government's accusations that
the PAP was mistreating the Malays.
➔ The external political situation was also tense,with Indonesia actively against the establishment
of the Federation of Malaysia. President Sukarno of Indonesia declared a state of Konfrontasi
(Confrontation) against Malaysia and initiated military against the new nation, including the
bombing of MacDonald House in Singapore by Indonesian commandos.
➔ Indonesia also conducted seditious activities to provoke the Malays against the Chinese.
➔ The accusations escalated into tensions until they erupted into racial violence in Singapore on 21
July and 2 September 1964
Video about PAP’s ‘MALAYSIAN MALAYSIA’
-- one of the major disagreements leading to the certainty of separation
 Singapore Racial Riots of 1964
➔ The Racial Riots of 1964 refer to two separate series of
race riots involving clashes between Malays and Chinese
that occurred in Singapore when it was still part of Malaysia.

July Riots
➔ The first series of communal riots started on 21 July during
a procession to celebrate the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday,
which was attended by an estimated 20,000 Muslims.
➔ The procession began at the Padang and was to end
at Lorong 12 in Geylang.
➔ A series of clashes broke out between Malays in the procession
and Chinese bystanders in the vicinity of Kallang Road and the then Kampong Soo Poo.
➔ Four people were killed and 178 others injured by the end of the first day of rioting.
➔ Government efforts to quell the riots taxed heavily on police resources, and military reinforcements
had to be called in. An island wide curfew was imposed.
 Singapore Racial Riots of 1964
September Riots
➔ A second series of riots broke out on 2 September.
➔ The mysterious killing of a 57-year-old Malay trishaw
rider opposite the Changi market at Geylang Serai
prompted Malays in the area to take retaliatory action
against the Chinese.
➔ By 4 September, the rioting had become widespread and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Toh Chin Chye and the
an island wide curfew was imposed from 2 pm by the Minister for Culture, Mr S. Rajaratnam visited the
Kampong Glam and Rochore area in 1964, a period
police with military assistance. when racial tension was high. PHOTO: ST FILE

The communal riots occurred against the backdrop of the Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation and rising
political tensions between the People’s Action Party (PAP) government in Singapore and the Alliance
Party government in Malaysia led by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

The riots have been described as "the worst and most prolonged in Singapore’s post war history”.
 Singapore Racial Riots of 1964
Aftermath
Casualties and damage
➔ By the end of the July riots, 23 persons had died and 454 others injured.
➔ Out of the 3,568 persons arrested during the riots, 715 were charged in court and 945 were placed
under preventive detention.
➔ The September riots resulted in 13 deaths and left another 106 persons injured. Out of the 1,439
persons arrested, 154 were charged in court and another 268 were placed under preventive detention.
➔ There was also extensive damage to public and private properties, especially in the areas around
Kallang Road, Kampong Soo Poo, Geylang Road and Geylang Serai.
➔ Stalls and shops were damaged by rioters throwing stones, bottles and other projectiles, while some
shophouses were burnt down.
➔ Rioters also overturned a number of scooters and cars and smashed the windows of cars parked along
the roads.
➔ The price of food skyrocketed when the transport system was disrupted during this period of unrest,
causing further hardship.
 Singapore Racial Riots of 1964
Aftermath
Commission of inquiry
➔ Following the July riots, the Singapore government requested
that the Malaysian federal government appoint a commission
of inquiry to investigate the causes of the riots.
➔ This request was initially declined by the Malaysian
government on the grounds that such an inquiry would not serve any useful purpose.
➔ However, after the outbreak of the September riots, the Malaysian government agreed to the
formation of such a commission. Closed-door hearings began in April 1965 but the findings of the
report have remained confidential.

Racial Harmony Day

➔ Since 1997, 21 July – the day on which the riots started – has been marked as Racial Harmony Day.
➔ On this day, students are reminded that social division weakens society, and that race and religion
will always be potential fault lines in Singapore’s society. It is a day for students to reflect on and
celebrate the nation’s success as a harmonious society built on cultural diversity
 Video of
Singapore
Racial
Riots of
1964
Preparation towards the Separation

➔ By the second half of 1965, the stormy political climate in Malaysia

showed no signs of easing. Tunku Abdul Rahman, who had become
the Malaysian Prime Minister, was pressed to intervene to avoid a
repeat of the communal clashes that had taken place in 1964.

➔ During his London trip to attend the Commonwealth Prime Ministers'

Conference in June 1965, the Tunku decided that severing Singapore
from the federation was the only course and communicated this to
his deputy, Tun Abdul Razak, who was instructed to sound out the
senior Malaysian ministers and lay the groundwork for separation.

➔ By the time the Tunku returned to Kuala Lumpur on 5 August,

Tunku Abdul Rahman said it was
Singapore’s days in the federation were numbered.
necessary to hold talks between KL
and Singapore.
Preparation towards the Separation
➔ The week leading to 9 August 1965 was a busy time
for the leaders of both countries as by this time,
separation had become a certainty.
➔ Negotiations were, however, done in complete
secrecy.
➔ In Singapore, not only were civil servants and
permanent secretaries kept in the dark, but some
senior PAP cabinet members, most notably Deputy
Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye and Culture Minister
Rajaratnam, were also clueless. Dr Toh Chin Chye Mr S. Rajaratnam

➔ Leading the negotiations for Singapore was then Finance Minister Goh Keng Swee, and for
Malaysia, Tun Razak.
➔ Razak was aiming to convene a federal parliament sitting on 9 August and was pushing for the
legal paperwork for the release of Singapore to be tabled at that session.
 Preparation towards the Separation
➔ In Singapore, Lee had asked then Law Minister E. W. Barker to
draft the separation agreement at the end of July, along with
other legal documents such as the Proclamation of Independence
and the division of assets.
➔ The two had agreed that to prevent any leakage, Mr Barker had
best do it himself — without any official or even a stenographer.
➔ As the deadline of 9 August neared, Goh and Barker made
arrangements to travel to Kuala Lumpur to finalise the separation,
arriving quietly in the capital on 6 August. The late Mr Lee Kuan Yew had asked then-
Law Minister Barker to draft a separation
➔ Lee, who was in Cameron Highlands at that time, left for Kuala agreement. Mr Barker didn't tell anyone about
it, not even his wife.
Lumpur and also arrived on 6 August to study and approve the
separation documents.
➔ Thereafter, the separation draft occupied the attention of five men – Razak, Malaysian Attorney-General
Kadir Yusof, Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Ismail bin Dato Abdul Rahman, Barker and Goh.
Preparation towards the Separation
➔ The final version, which included a few amendments and insertions,
were typed late that night and signed by Goh, Barker, Razak, Ismail,
Malaysian Finance Minister Tan Siew Sin and Malaysian Minister for
Works V. T. Sambanthan well after midnight.

➔ After Lee was shown the final signed separation documents by Barker,
he called Toh and Rajaratnam in Singapore to meet him the following
morning.

➔ Arriving in Kuala Lumpur separately on 7 August, both Toh and

Rajaratnam were particularly distraught when Lee told them of the
Even at the last minute, at the
news, and were not willing to sign the agreement. meeting to sign the Separation
Agreement, Mr Lee Kuan Yew asked
➔ However, a letter written by the Tunku to Toh stressing the former’s Tunku Abdul Rahman (left) if he
really wanted to break up Malaysia,
irrevocable decision – that there was “absolutely no other way out” – which they had spent years to bring
left them with no choice. about. - ST FILE PHOTO
 Preparation towards the Separation
➔ Realising their persistence could well mean bloodshed, Toh and
Rajaratnam reluctantly signed. “If expulsion was the price for
peace, then we must accept it, however agonising our inner
feelings may be”, in Malaysia-born Dr Toh’s reply to the Tunku.

➔ Lee flew back to Singapore on 8 August on a Royal Malaysian Air

Force (RMAF) jet so that he could get the separation agreement Members of the diplomatic community, rushing
signed by the rest of his cabinet members. out of the City Hall meeting room with copies of
the Government Gazette Extraordinary —
which contained the Separation Agreement
➔ 2 other individuals were called upon to assist to meet the 9 August
and the Proclamation that declared Singapore
deadline: John Le Cain, the Police Commissioner, to ensure law an independent nation. PHOTO: ST FILE
and order, & Stanley Stewart, head of the Singapore Civil Service,
to prepare and print the gazette extraordinary and proclamation of independence notices.
➔ The Government Printing Office (GPO) had to recall its staff overnight, and to keep the lid on the
separation, Stewart locked the GPO.Encoded messages on the separation were also dispatched to the
British, Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers in the wee hours.
Parliamentary Vote for Expulsion

On 7 August 1965, Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, seeing no alternative to

avoid further bloodshed, advised the Parliament of Malaysia that it should vote to
expel Singapore from Malaysia. Despite last-ditch attempts by PAP leaders,
including Lee Kuan Yew, to keep Singapore as a state in the union, the Parliament
on 9 August 1965 voted 126–0 in favor of the expulsion of Singapore, with Members
of Parliament from Singapore not present.

SUPPORT AGAINST

126 0
5 reasons for the separation of Singapore from Malaysia
They can be categorised into

Economic Political
● Disagreement over common ● Different treatment of races
market
● “Malaysian Malaysia” Campaign

● Different political ideologies

● Political rivalry between PAP and

the Alliance
Announcement

7 August 1965: Tunku Abdul Rahman announced the

expulsion of Singapore from Malaysia.

9 August 1965: Lee Kuan Yew announced attainment of

full independence.

● Singapore became a Republic.

● Head of State - The President
(originally Yang di-Pertua Negeri).
● Legislative Assembly was renamed Parliament,
members as Members of Parliament.
 Video of Mr Lee Kuan
Yew reread the
Proclamation of
Independence of
Singapore in 2012
Interesting Fact:
Back in 1965, the announcement made
on the morning of 9th August, 10.00 am
at Radio Singapore was by a radio
broadcaster and not Mr Lee himself.
According to Mr Lee in his book ‘The
Singapore Story’, published in 1998: "I
had decided against reading the
proclamation personally. I had too many
other things to do in quick succession.”
As such, he agreed to redo the recording
to make up for this.
 Expulsion
➔ Tunku expressed that it was a painful decision for him as Prime Minister but it was what have to
be done as he said, “these differences takes so many forms... that it has not been possible to
resolve them. And so we decided we must part company.”

➔ On that day, a tearful Lee too announced that Singapore was a

sovereign, independent nation and assumed as the Prime Minister of the
new nation.

➔ His speech included: "I mean for me, it would be a moment of anguish
because all my life….you see the whole of my adult life… I have believed
in Malaysia, merger and the unity of the 2 territories. You know It's a
people connected by geography, economics & ties of kinship... ."

➔ In his memoir, it was also written that Separation of Singapore from

Malaysia would always be his greatest anguish in life.
 Documentary
of the
Singapore’s
Separation from
Malaysia
Newspaper cuttings
 Agreement between Malaysia
and Singapore

“The Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965”

was an agreement between the Government of
Malaysia and the Government of Singapore that granted
independence to Singapore with effect from 9 August
1965. The Singapore Act 1966 followed the treaty.
As a result of the agreement, Singapore achieved full
independence from Malaysia.
Timeline leading till the Separation

● 1963
A security operation involved the arrest of 111 anti-
government activists and key member of Barisan
Sosialis opposition party.
● 1964
Ethnic riot between Malays and Chinese on Prophet
Muhammad's birthday killed 23
● 1965
Malaysian Parliament voted to expel Singapore from
the Federation
● 1965
Singapore and Malaysia signed separation agreement
Challenges Ahead for Singapore

Economics - No natural resources and

industries were not well-developed. One
of the most important resources is water,
and was agreed by Malaysia to import
water from Johor River until 2061.

Defense - It had to build up its own

defense force to take over from the
Malaysian and British Military forces.

Housing - Steps have to be taken to meet

the housing needs of its growing
population.
THE END