How did

Singapore gain
independence?
Singapore’s
Birthday :
What do you think he is doing?
 Merger → Separation → Independence
Singapore
Singapore merges and becomes
becomes part of the independent
Singapore under of Malaysia
British

1962 9 August 1965

Merger
(Independence)
 LESSON OBJECTIVES
By the end of the lesson you will be able to…

● Identify the reasons why the PAP wanted the merger

● Identify the reasons why Malaya wanted the merger

● Describe the process of how Singapore decided on

merger
Who was involved in the merger?

M + S + S + S = Federation of Malaysia

K
 What has merger got to do with SG’s
independence?

Before 1962 … when merger has not happened …

 What has merger got to do with SG’s
independence?
Scenario 1: Singapore Scenario 2: Singapore
gain independence on gain independence
its own through merger
Why did the PAP government sought for merger?

Political
from
the

Economic
SG MERGER

SINGAPORE but
beast mode
 POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE FROM THE
BRITISH
Singapore can’t be
independent unless it is
merged with another country!
What if the take
control of Singapore????? ⬘ During the Cold War, the
British was afraid that
Southeast Asia would fall into
the hands of the .
■ Multiple communist
threats from ,
, and
Indonesia
Scenario 1: Singapore Scenario 2: Singapore
gain independence on gain independence
its own through merger

A Communist
dinosaur
 ECONOMIC SURVIVAL

Problems that Singapore is facing:

■ Lack of Natural
■ Growing population in need of
■ Introduction of by Malaysia

Definition of Tariffs: A tax imposed by the Msia

government on the goods from Singapore
 What does Tariffs mean?

$5
Singapore

John who lives

in Malaysia
 What does Tariffs mean?

$5 + $ 6 (tariff)
Singapore

John who lives

in Malaysia
Definition of Tariffs: A imposed
by the Msia government on the goods
from
customers from
Malaysia

Singapore earns
money

for our economy

 ECONOMIC SURVIVAL
HOWEVER… merger may these
problems:

■ Lack of Natural Resources

■ Growing population in need of Jobs
■ Introduction of by Malaysia

Because it establishes a

NO MORE
TARIFFS!
Why did the PAP government sought for merger?

Political
Independence from
the British

Economic
SG MERGER
Survival
SINGAPORE but
beast mode
Was everyone supportive of the idea of merger?
PAP: Hey neighbour… want to merge?

Also the neighbour:

 How did initial opposition become support for
merger?

Malaysia’s Initial response: The issue of

● Majority population in Singapore

● May be to accept Malay as their
national language and Islam as their
national religion
● Associated with .
Fear of communism spreading to the
federation
Malaysia’s later response: SUPPORT MERGER!

Merger will help the

communist threat in
Singapore
 How did initial opposition become support for
merger?

Power of Merger
Merger may communist threat in SG
● Fear that Singapore may become a
communist country

● Merger would allow Malaya to

the internal security affairs of
Singapore ( )

Communist threats in SG
How did initial opposition become support for merger?

Merger may reduce communist threat in

SG
● Prevent PAP members from
forcefully establishing a communist
government in SG *gasp*

● Hong Lim By-Election: Rising ONG ENG GUAN

for radical PAP members from the
citizens
○
 Agreed on Proposed Merger in 1961

Tunku Abdul Lee Kuan Yew

Rahman
TO MERGE OR NOT TO MERGE

BARISAN
SOSIALIS
 What is the Barisan Sosialis Party?

● Singapore’s biggest
opposition party in the
1960s

● AKA… PAP’s biggest

enemy
Why did the Barisan Sosialis Party
oppose to the proposed merger?

Singapore citizens have

after merger

● Concerned that the

Singaporean citizenship would
be by the new
federation
 Difference between
being a citizen VS a
national

Dog: The citizen

Citizens enjoy more
than a national
● subsidy
● subsidy

Cat: The national

Why did the Barisan Sosialis Party oppose to
the proposed merger?

Less political representation

● SG gave up some seats in

the parliament for
greater control over its
own affairs
Example: Should the Federation of Malaysia
give SG more chickens?

40% vote YES 20% vote YES

Hey man… merger
doesn’t seem as
wonderful as how
PAP talked about it
anymore…
How did SG decide on whether she should
proceed with merger?

We need to choose a mascot for our class. There

are 2 options…

UNCLE RAYMOND MINIONS

 How did SG decide on whether she should
proceed with merger?

Hint: Singapore is a
democratic country so….
 How did SG decide on whether she should
proceed with merger?

● Barisan Sosialis conducted ● PAP carried out radio talks

to topics called THE BATTLE FOR
surrounding the merger MERGER
● Launched exhibitions

Aimed to the Singapore citizens to

support the different parties
 PICK A SIDE
For Merger Against Merger
● Independence ● Singapore citizenship may be
after merger
● Economic
● political representation
Gain independence + STAY for Singapore
ALIVE 0.0
Treated as -Class Citizens
:/
● A Referendum was
held on 1st
September

Read the options

carefully. Why do you
think the Barisan Sosialis
urged the people to cast
blank votes (do not vote)?
% voted in favor of the merger. Singapore will be
a part of the Federation of Malaysia !!!
 The process of the formation of the Federation
of Malaysia

● 1962 Referendum: Singapore votes in

of merger

● 1962: Sabah and Sarawak agrees to merger as

well

● 1963: The Malaysia Agreement was signed in

London.

THE FEDERATION OF MALAYSIA IS FORMED

Lesson Summary
FOR MERGER AGAINST MERGER

PAP Malaysia Sosialis

Political Reduce Class Citizenship

Independence threat of
from the political
representation
Economic ● Part of SG’s
Internal
Council

● Get rid of
PAP members
Lesson Summary
HOW DID SG DECIDE ON WHETHER MERGER SHOULD PROCEED OR NOT?

talks by PAP & Barisan

Sosialis

1962 (vote)

% voted for merger

: Federation of Malaysia is
formed
 SINGAPORE:
FROM MERGERTO
SEPARATION
Lesson Summary
FOR MERGER AGAINST MERGER

PAP Malaysia Barisan Sosialis

Political Reduce 2nd Class Citizenship

Independence threat of
from the British communism Less political
representation
Economic ● Part of SG’s
Survival Internal Security
Council

● Get rid of radical

PAP members
Lesson Summary
HOW DID SG DECIDE ON WHETHER MERGER SHOULD PROCEED OR NOT?

Radio talks by PAP & Barisan

Sosialis

1962 Referendum (vote)

70% voted for merger

1963: Federation of Malaysia is

formed
 Merger → Separation → Independence
Singapore
Singapore merges and becomes
becomes part of the independent
Singapore under Federation of Malaysia
British Rule

1962 9 August 1965

Merger Separation
(Independence)
 LESSON OBJECTIVES

By the end of the lesson you will be able to…

● Identify the economic disagreements between SG and

Msia

● Identify the political differences between the PAP and

the Alliance party
What do you see in this photograph?
 Singapore after agreeing to
Why did merger:

Singapore
separate from
the
Federation of
Malaysia? Uh oh
 Why did Singapore separate from the
Federation of Malaysia?

Disagreements Political Differences

1. Common Market 1. of Political

( ) Parties
2. Contribution
2. Treatment of the
(How much $$ should SG
give Msia)
 Economic Disagreement: Common Market
(Tariffs)

Initial agreement: Merger will

the use of on Singapore’s
goods.

1. More from Malaysia

2. Singapore earns more
3. for Singapore’s economy
 Economic Disagreement: Common Market

I AGREE TO
REMOVE
BUT… TARIFFS

SINCERELY,
MSIA
After merger, Malaysia
the use of tariffs.
 Definition of Tariffs: A tax imposed
by the Msia government on the goods
from Singapore
Less customers from
Malaysia

$5 + $ 6 Singapore earns less

(tariff) money

Bad for our economy

 Economic Disagreement: Revenue
Contribution

Initial agreement: SG will give

% of its revenue (earnings)
to the government of Msia
 Economic Disagreement: Revenue
Contribution

BUT…

after merger: SG will give %

of its revenue (earnings) to
the government of Msia
 Why did Singapore have to give Malaysia
60% instead of 40% of its revenue?

Msia govt increased

Singapore’s contribution to
60% because
spending had gone up due to
Indonesia
 Konfrontasi (Confrontation in English)

● conflict between Indonesia and

Malaysia

● Indonesia to the formation of

the Federation of Malaysia

● Macdonald House Bombing (March 1965)

○ 3 Deaths, 33 Injured
○ Was a Shanghai & Hongkong Bank
 Why did Singapore separate from the
Federation of Malaysia?

Economic Disagreements

1. Common Market
(Tariffs)

2. Revenue Contribution
(How much $$ should SG SG feels that it is
give Msia) treated
 Why did Singapore separate from the
Federation of Malaysia?

Economic Disagreements Political Differences

1. Common Market 1. Composition of Political

(Tariffs) Parties
2. Revenue Contribution
2. Treatment of the
(How much $$ should SG
races
give Msia)
 Political Differences: Composition of
Political Parties
Msia Political Party SG Political Party

Each person is in charge of Everyone represents the

only their own interests of
 Political Differences: Treatment of Races

Alliance Party’s Stance PAP’s

● Malays are given
treatment in
education, business,
and employment
● Some jobs in govt are
reserved for
Stance
● opportunity to
succeed, race does
not matter
● Instead of reserving
jobs, provide free
for Malays
 Why did Singapore separate from the
Federation of Malaysia?

Economic Disagreements Political Differences

1. Common Market 1. Composition of Political

(Tariffs) Parties
2. Revenue Contribution
2. Treatment of the
(How much $$ should SG
races
give Msia)
A Series of
Unfortunate Events
 The Series of Unfortunate Events leading to
Separation

12 July July &

1963 1964 May 1965 9 Aug 1965
1964: Sept
State Federal Malayan Separation
Malaysia 1964
Election Election campaigns
Solidarity
Racial
against PAP Convention
Riots
What happened in the elections of 1963 -1964?

● 1963: Alliance Party takes part in

to win more seats but instead…
loses more seats.

● 1964: PAP takes part in

○ Questioned Msia’s way of governing
its people by favouring the Malay

The start of a between SG and Malaysia

12 JUL 1964: UMNO (Msia Party) campaigns
against PAP

UMNO leaders accuse PAP of:

1) Treating Malays as -

1) Prioritised Chinese
over Malay
education
 21 July Racial Riots
● 20,000 Muslims were gathered to
commemorate Prophet Muhammad’s

● Clashes and broke out halfway

● 23 died 454 injured…

● was imposed to maintain order

Sept Racial Riots

● Triggered by the murder of a

rickshaw puller

● 13 died 106 injured

● was implemented again

Issue of race resulted in 2 riots

 9 August 1965: Separation

● Fear that would

happen again

● Tunku Abdul Rahman believed

that between PAP and
the Alliance party could not be
Lesson Summary
Market
Economic
Disagreements Before merger: %
Contribution
After merger: %

Composition of
Political
Parties
Differences
PAP: All races are
Treatment
of the Msia: Malays >
 The Series of Unfortunate Events leading to
Separation

12 July July &

1963 1964 May 1965 9 Aug 1965
1964: Sept
State Federal Malayan Separation
Malaysia 1964
Election Election campaigns
Solidarity
Racial
against PAP Convention
Riots