Singapore and Malaysia Seperation

History Notes For EYA 2 The separation
REASONS FOR THE SEPERATION OF SINGAPORE FROM MALAYSIA:

Economical Matters
1. A Common Market Malaysia
The CG would not implement this unless SG surrenders its free port status and imposed a tax on its imports The common market would benefit SG, but CG was unsure it would benefit the other states as much as SG. CG wanted to protect industries in Peninsular Malaysia and ensure there is no uneven development throughout the states

Singapore
SG was not ready to surrender its free port status and impose on a tax on imports SG state gov was unhappy that the common market, a key reason for the merger, was delayed by CG

2. Taxation & Revenue Contribution Malaysia Singapore
The CG wanted to introduce new taxes in SG and increase SG’s contributions to Federal revenue from 40% to 60% to meet increased defence expenditure due to Confrontation PAP gov deemed these decisions as unfair to SG as by agreeing to this proposal, it would have to pay more than its fair share for defence The taxes were disadvantageous to SG’s industries and business alr affected by trade restrictions with Indonesia due to Confrontation.

3. Closing down of BOC in Singapore Malaysia Singapore
Bank belongs to China Believe bank was used to channel financial aid to communists in MY – Disallowed operation in Malaya and wanted SG to cease operation of BOC (Security Reasons) SG businessmen were long time customers of the bank. Depended on it to facilitate their business operation Chinese Businessman were very unhappy with the MY order as it would affect their business PAP gov protested as the closure would cause a huge loss of potential revenue and investment

Different Ideas
Malaysia
MY Political system geared mainly(not entirely) to the promotion of the welfare of the Malays

Singapore
SG sought to divert politics from communalism & focus instead on social issues

Political Rivalry
Malaysia
PAP & Alliance had diff ideas on how communities ought to be governed Malays enjoyed special privileges in the Peninsula (UMNO claimed to protect so that Malays wont be marginalized in their own homeland) Fear Chinese majority in SG would pose a threat to Malay rule in the Federation MCA & UMNO saw PAP’s participation, exercising their rights as Malaysian citizens to

(PAP(SG) & UMNO-MCA-MIC Alliance(MY) )

Singapore
Large Chinese majority and most government officials were chinese PAP was a threat to MCA as PAP accused MCA of protecting the interests of the rich chinese and ignoring the welfare of the underprivileged chinese in MY PAP also seen as threat to UMNO as PAP wanted to build a Malaysia not along racial lines and to provide equal rights for all races. (Challenged the notion of Malay’s special position in MY)

contest in democratic elections in 1964 Malaysian general elections as a threat Lee claim that PAP’s participation would help UMNO win Chinese protest votes against MCA MCA regarded PAP’s participation as a challenge to its political support based amoung the chinese PAP offered to work with UMNO to win urban chinese votes There was anti-PAP campaign mounted when Alliance took part in 1963 Singapore State elections and Malaysian General elections 1964

PAP won 3 seats from UMNO-SG alliance (Geylang Serai, Kg Kembangan & Southern Islands which were Malay Heartlands) -Possible factor for victory Malay’s gratitude for PAP’s efforts in merging Singapore with the rest of MY

Malaysian Malaysia
Malaysia
CG ): PAP challenging them for giving equal treatment to Malays and non-malays and that PAP didn’t want to give Malays in SG a special position as provided for in the Federal Constitution of MY Anti-PAP sentiments erupted agn with more fiery when PAP organized Malaysian Solidarity Convention (MSC) A.K.A “Malaysian Malaysia” instead of “Malay Malaysia” To UMNO it challenged the special position of Malays which had been enshrined by Federal Constitution Led to widespread of anti-PAP campaigns which PAP claimed caused the racial riots in 1964 UMNO ultras wanted to arrest LKY for “treason” while

Singapore
PAP questioning the Malay special rights and promotion of “Malaysian Malay” made PAP appear anti-malay PAP’s call for a “Malaysian Malaysia” at a MSC formed and led by PAP in May 1965  Posed threat to UMNO and increased ethnic tension in both SG & MY UMNO ultras begin stirring up feelings amoung Malays against the PAP and the Chinese, hence heightening ethnic tensions

Tunku Andul Rahman felt that LKY created a lot of problems bcoz of MSC and calling for Malysian Malysia BUT refused to arrest LKY as that’ll be unconstitutional and undemocratic SO a decision was made to leave SG out of the Federation

Allegations by UMNO ultras
Malaysia
UMNO ultras accused PAP of not providing Malays in SG with better living conditions and that PAP questioned Malay special rights and privileges Such allegations and anti-PAP sentiments later resulted in 1964 July racial riots

Singapore
PAP claim that by giving malays free education, the government was helping upgrade status of malays in SG After racial riots, both PAP & UMNO agreed to set aside their difference and work tgt to build SG’s social fabric and reintegrate the 2 communities (Chinese & Malays) affected by riots BUT anti-PAP sentiments

was not eliminated, (were just kept low) UNTIL end of 1964 when parties announced their readiness to take on each other in the next elections

The situation by late 1964
(2 erupted in July & September) alliance leaders in MY

1. There were possibilities of more racial riots breaking in SG 2. No compromise could be made between PAP leaders & the 3. Tunku Abdul Rahman, Prime minister of MY seemed to be losing control over the Malay ultras in his UMNO party

Hence decision for separation between Singapore and Malaysia was made in 1965