Subscribe to my education channel. bit.ly/gohbangrui These slides explain the reasons for both Singapore and Malaysia behind the merger of Singapore, Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form the current Malaysia. This also explains the Cobbold Commission which leads to Sabah and Sarawak joining Malaysia. It also explains the split in the People's Action Party into two where one side is the current People's Action Party while the other reforms to become the Barisan Sosialis. This is part 1 of the History syllabus for the Secondary 2.

1. How did Singapore achieve Independence?
Chapter 9

2. Recap
1945Singapore was still a British colony
1948First election, SPP won
1955Labour Front won
1959Full internal government

3. But,
we still do not have the full independence.

4. Mergerwith the Federation ofMalaya
The 11 states in the Malay Peninsular (Malaya)

5. The Big Question
Was the merger destined to fail?

6. Topics
Reasons for Merger
•Singapore
•Malaya
Process of Merger
•Referendum
•Konfrontasi
Challenges during 1963-1965

7. Why did Singapore want to mergewith Malaya?
PoliticalReasons
EconomicReasons

8. Political Reasons for Merger
To gain independence from British
To be freefrom communist threats
To fulfil promisesmade during 1959 elections
1
2
3

9. Singapore’s best hope for complete freedom was through a mergerwith Malaya.
British are still worried about the Communist threat in Singapore.
1
To gain independence from British

10. PAP believed that if Singapore were to join Malaya, Malaya can suppressthe communist threats in Singapore.
Malaya was a strong anti- communist country.
2
To be freefrom communistthreats

11. PAP will need to fulfil the promise or the people will lose their trust in PAP.
The Promise
PAP will achieve independence if they are elected.
3
To fulfil promisesmade during 1959 elections

12. A Jingle
Unite through merger
And we will stand
Happy and free in one strong band
Equal through merger, citizens all
Malaysia brings wealth for one and all
Equality, special rights and freedom are yours
With merger and Malaysia.
aired in Singapore during Malaysia creation

13. Lackof NaturalResources
Slow Economic GrowthDeclining entrepottrade
Increasing UnemploymentThere was a growing population that required jobs,
Declining TradeTariffs introduced by Malaya on goods traded between the two countries.
Singapore faces these problems

14. Economic Reasons for Merger
To tap on Malaya natural resources
To increase trade
To establish a common market
1
2
3

15. Singapore can tap on these resources if Singapore and Malaya merge.
Malaya has many natural resources such as oil and rubber.
1
To tap on Malaya natural resources

16. This can lead to more jobopportunitiesand in turn, more economicgrowthfor Singapore.
Merger can increase trade opportunities
2
To increase trade

17. 3
To establish a Common Market

18. An agreementbetween countries allowing goods produced in one country to enteranothercountrywithouthaving to paytaxes.
Goods can be boughtand soldfreelyin the Common Market.
This will lead to an increaseof trade, expansion of industries and in turn, can create more jobs for Singaporeans.
COMMON MARKET

20. Initially, Malaya did not want Singapore.
Why not?
1961

21. “First, Singapore has about one million Chinese… The inclusion of this one million into the Federation will upset the racial balance of powerin the Federation. Second, Singapore has too many pro- Communists who are supported by the Chinese in Singapore.”
TunkuAbdul Rahman Malaya’s Prime Minister

22. Tunkuwas scared that Malaya will have more Chinese than Malays.
Racial Imbalance afterMerger
Tunkuwas scared that Malaya would be influenced by thecommunists in Singapore.
Communist Influence inSingapore

23. Initially, Malaya did not want Singapore.
1961
The Tunkuchanged his mind.
Why?

24. 2Reasons
1. A Solutionfor Racial Imbalance
3. Security IssueCommunist Threat

25. A Solutionfor RacialImbalance
Inclusion of Sabah, Sarawakand Bruneiin the merger.
This will then push the Malay population up.
The problem of Chinese population exceeding the Malay population would be solved.
1
4 million
3.7 million

26. Security Issue
Communist Threat
2
Pro-communistPAP leader, Ong EngGuan left PAP and challenged them in a by-election. He wonthe Hong Lim by-electionand defeated the PAP candidate.
This made Tunkuafraid that the radicals would take over PAP and make Singaporeacommunist country. Communists could use Singapore as a base to spread Communismto Malaya.

27. Tunkudid not want Communism to spread to Malaya from Singapore.

28. Did Singapore and Malaya's interests match?

29. Reasons
Singapore
Malaya
Political
1.To gain Independence
2.For Security(suppress communist threats)
3.To keep the Promisemade in the 1959 elections
1.For Security(Don’t want Singapore to become communists)
OnlySecurity Purpose (Against the Communists) match! Malaya and Singapore began to work on the terms of the merger…

30. Singapore want to MERGE
Manage the communist threats
Ensure the continued support from people
Raw materials please
Get my independence!
Economic growth (money!)

31. Was Merging with Malaya an easy process?

32. Internal Conflict
1.
Different demands by Singapore and Malaya
2.
Split in PAP
3.
Referendum

33. Internal Conflict
1.
Different demands by Singapore and Malaya
2.
Split in PAP
3.
Referendum
External Conflict
1.
Philippines
2.
Indonesia
3.
Brunei
4.
Sabah and Sarawak

34. Different Demandsby both Singapore andMalaya
Refer to p184.

35. Demands
Singapore
Malaya
Agreement
Political
Independence(but the structure to be decided by the people)
Included Sabah, Sarawakand Bruneiin the merger
1.Common Market to be established in stages
2.Provide a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.
Economic
1.Common Market
2.Providea loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.
1.Common Market aftermerger
2.$50 million grant from Singapore for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what it needs to run the state.

36. Demands
Singapore
Malaya
Agreement
Political
Independence(but the structure to be decided by the people)
Included Sabah, Sarawakand Bruneiin the merger
1.Common Market to be established in stages
2.Provide a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.
Economic
1.Common Market
2.Providea loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.
1.Common Market aftermerger
2.$50 million grant from Singapore for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what it needs to run the state.

37. Demands
Singapore
Malaya
Agreement
Political
Independence(but the structure to be decided by the people)
Included Sabah, Sarawakand Bruneiin the merger
1.Common Market to be established in stages
2.Provide a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.
Economic
1.Common Market
2.Providea loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.
1.Common Market aftermerger
2.$50 million grant from Singapore for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what it needs to run the state.

38. Demands
Singapore
Malaya
Agreement
Political
Independence(but the structure to be decided by the people)
Included Sabah, Sarawakand Bruneiin the merger
1.Common Market to be established in stages
2.Provide a loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.
Economic
1.Common Market
2.Providea loan of $150 million for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect its own revenue and then send an agreed sum of money to Kuala Lumpur as taxes each year.
1.Common Market aftermerger
2.$50 million grant from Singapore for the development of Sabah and Sarawak
3.Collect revenue in Singapore and then give Singapore what it needs to run the state.

39. Spilt in PAP
The radicals left PAP and formed BarisanSosialis.
Radicals in PAP hated merger. (These people supported communism.)

40. People Action Party
Convince Singapore that merger with Malaya was necessaryfor Singapore’sstabilityand survival
BarisanSosialis
Organise campaigns to oppose the merger

41. Referendum
Adirect vote by people of the country to decide on a particular issue, instead of the government making the decision.
1stSept 1962
Obtain consensus from the people on the type of merger they wanted.

42. Refer to p183 of your textbook

43. %
of the people supported what the PAP wanted.

44. PhilippinesClaimed Sabah belonged to them. Broke off trade relations with Malaya and Singapore.
IndonesiaArgued that Sabah & Sarawak belonged to them. Launched Konfrontasi(Confrontation) against the merger.
BruneiDid not join the merger due to disagreement over economic issues.
Refer to p185 of your textbook

45. Konfrontasi
A sabotage campaign by Indonesiato oppose the merger

46. How about Sabahand Sarawak?
Do the people want the merger with Malaya?

47. United Nations
An international organization which tries to get all countries to work together in maintaining peace and dealing with international problems.
Refer to p185 of your textbook
Lord Cobboldwas commissioned to visit Sabah and Sarawak to find out whether people wanted a merger or not.
United Nations Commission

48. CobboldCommission
Made up of 3 British men and 2 Malays from Sabah and Sarawak, and was led by Lord Cobbold.
Aim
Find out whether the people of both colonies of Sabah and Sarawak wanted to join Malaysia.

49. RESULTS
more than 2/3of the people wanted a merger.

50. Singapore, Sabahand Sarawakjoined the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia.
16thSept 1963

53. However,
Singapore and Malaysia ‘broke up’ in 1965.

54. CREATED BY
Goh Bang Rui
Follow me
on
@slideshare.
@gohbangrui
bit.ly/gohbangrui