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Chpt 8: How did Singapore Become an Independent Nation, Rapid growth of…

- - - - lack of natural resources
    - - Gain political independence
        
        Singapore was still under British control
        
        Merger was the only way the British were willing to grant Singapore full independence
      - Deal with communist threat
        
        China became a communist in 1949 and British feared Singapore will fall under communist control due to China and nearby Indonesia and Vietnam
        
        Britian feared that Southeast Asia will fall under communist control
        
        British wanted to form a federation comprising of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo, Sarawak
        
        To safeguard Singapore and the Borneo territories from the spread of communism
  - - - Use of Singapore's trading port
      - Gain taxes from Singapore's government
        
        Merger would mean Singapore would collect its own revenue and pay Kuala Lumpur an agreed upon sum to cover the cost of federal services such as telecommunications, defence and security.
    - - Hong Lim By- Election
        
        held in April 1961
        
        Radical PAP member, Ong Eng Guan, ran as an independent candidate, and defeated the PAP's canidate by winning 73.3% of the vote
        
        It seemed to Tunku that the moderate group was losing its influence in the PAP
        
        this increased his fear that the radical group would gain control of the party
        
        He was worried by the prospect of a more radical PAP that wanted to free Singapore from British colonial rule by establishing a communist government through forceful means. He was also concerned that Singapore would be used as a base to spread communist ideas in malaya
        
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      - Greater control over Singapore
        
        The Tunku was concerned that the PAP might be taken over by members who were sympathetic towards communism
        
        he thinks that it will result in a Singapore government less willing to consider a merger on terms acceptable to Malaya
        
        Thus, Tunku felt that he needed to merger with Singapore to gain greater control of it
        
        Tunku realised Singapore would probably be less dangerous once it became part of Malaysia as the communist elements in Singapore could then be controlled by the government in Malaysia
- - - - Threat of communism from Chinese community
        
        Tunku suspected that many Chinese in Singapore had sympathies for the communists
        
        as many Chinese led and supported the strikes in 1950s
        
        Therefore, he opposed merger
      - Racial demographics/ Outnumbered of Chinese
        
        Tunku Abdul Rahman was concerned that the Chinese in Singapore might be reluctant to accept a Malay Sultan as their Head of State, use Malay as the national language or accept Islam as the state religion
        
        He was also scared that the Chinese population will outnumber the Malays
  - - - High tax rate to Malaya government
        
        Singapore would collect its own revenue and pay Kuala Lumpur the agreed upon sum to cover the cost of federal services such a as telecommunications, defence and security
        
        Singapore would collect 40% of its revenue to the federal government
    - - unfavourable treatment to the people in Singapore
- - - - PAP
        
        Lee Kuan Yew gave a series of radio talks called The Battle for Merger
        
        Broadcast on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, they were delivered in 3 main languages. Mandarin at 6.45 pm, English at 7.30 pm, and Malay at 9 pm, and were later re-broadcast in Tamil and Cantonese.
        
        allowed his talks to reach people in Singapore
        
        The talks were an important feature of a keenly contested battle for the hearts and minds of the people.
        
        A referendum was held on 1 September 1962
        
        to find out what type of merger people in Singapore wanted
        
        PAP preferred Option A
        
        support merger giving Singapore autonomy in labour, education and other agreed matters as set out in Command Paper No.33 of 1961.
        
        Singapore citizens automatically becoming citizens of Malaysia after Merger
        
        Barisan Sosialis opposed all 3 options and urged people to cast new votes
        
        results of the referendum
        
        70.8% of people in Singapore chose option A
        
        25.7% of the people in Singapore casted blank votes
        
        a clear indication of the people's support for the government's position
        
        Therefore, Singapore would merge with Malaya and become Malaysia citizens
        
        The formation of Malaysia
        
        Singapore was now one of the Federation's 14 states
        
        Formation of the federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963
        
        Singapore citizens would automatically become citizens of the Federation of Malaysia
        
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        signed in London by Britian from Sabah, Sarawak, Malayaa and Singapore
        
        control of its own foreign affairs and defence would be transferred to Malaya
        
        Weakening of Barisan Sosialis
        
        resulted in PAP winning 37 out of 51 seats and Barisan Sosialis winning 13 out of 51 seats in the Singapore legislative council
        
        On 2 February 1963
        
        The internal security council detained more than 100 people including Lim Chin Siong and 23 other Barisan Sosialis memebrs
        
        As they were accused of attempting to sabotage the formation of Malaysia and planning to launch an uprising in Singapore
        
        Used exhibitions to highlight the benefits of a merger
        
        The exhibition aims to showcase the close cultural and social ties among the territories
        
        to exposed visitors to the lives and cultures of the people, as well as the trade and commerce of the territories
      - Fong Swee Suan
        
        In September 1961, they organised a student demonstrations and labour stikes
        
        Several party leaders also participated in radio forums to debate issues surrounding the proposed merger
      - Lim Chin SIong (Secretary General)
      - Lee Siew Choh (Chairman of the BS)
  - - - Agreed to join Malaysia
        
        After findings from the Coldbold Commission in 1962, which indicated that two-thirds of the people in Sarawak and North Borneo wanted to join Malaysia
    - - Decided against joining Malaysia (did not want to join Malaysia)
        
        Gained independence from Britian in 1984
    - - Did not recognize Malaysia, insisting that it had a rightful claim to North Borneo
      - Broke off relations with Malaysia in 1963
        
        Hence, opposed merger with Malaya
    - - opposed merger as it felt that it would give the British continued control over the territories in the new federation and that North Borneo and Sarawak should come under its influence.
      - Broke off diplomatic and trade relations with Malaysia in 1963
      - Launched a policy of Konfrontasi in January 1963, which involved military attacks, bombings and other acts aimed at causing instability in the states that were to form the federation
- - - - Singapore
      - Malaya (federal government)
  - - - SG
        
        Common market would be set up for its long term economic survival.
        
        Tariffs on Singapore-made goods would be removed
- - - - Hence, Singapore wanted to merger with Malaya to remove tariffs