it’s official ! read all about it!!!!

It’s official !It’s official !Read all about it!!!!Read all about it!!!!

@#%#^&% @#%#^&% How come How come

nobody told nobody told me about it?me about it?

SEPARATION FROM SEPARATION FROM MALAYSIAMALAYSIA


1. Singapore in Malaysia1. Singapore in Malaysia2. Political Rivalry2. Political Rivalry3. Racial Politics : The Campaign 3. Racial Politics : The Campaign against against the PAPthe PAP4. Threats to Singapore’s Peace and 4. Threats to Singapore’s Peace and

ProsperityProsperity5. Disagreements over Economic 5. Disagreements over Economic MattersMatters6. Campaign for a Malaysian 6. Campaign for a Malaysian MalaysiaMalaysia7. Singapore out of Malaysia and on 7. Singapore out of Malaysia and on its its OwnOwn

SINGAPORE IN MALAYSIASINGAPORE IN MALAYSIA

• LKY pledged loyalty to the Central Government [CG]

• Central Government made up of :


• LKY expressed the hope that Singapore and the CG could work together like brothers but this was not to be

• Both had different views about Malaysia and how it should be governed

• Why the different views ?


REASONS :REASONS : 1. Background of political parties

2. Treatment of different races


MALAYMALAYAA• Political parties

formed along racial lines

• UMNO - Malays• MCA - Chinese• MIC - Indians• Main goal was to look

after the interests of their own communities

• Multi-racial parties were not popular

SINGAPORESINGAPORE• Most political parties

were multi-racial • Did not aim to

promote the interest of one community over another


MALAYMALAYAA

• Special rights given to Malays to improve their standard of living

SINGAPORESINGAPORE

• Special rights did not exist

• PAP believed that people’s standard of living will improve through education and industrialisation

• Equal opportunity for all to succeed


• CG expected Singapore to adapt to the system already in place

• Singapore wanted Malaysian leaders to stop thinking along racial lines

• This basic difference created problems between the two governments

• Strained relationship and eventually led to separationseparation


Tell me Tell me more!more!

POLITICAL RIVALRYPOLITICAL RIVALRY

Sep 1963 Singapore State ElectionsSep 1963 Singapore State Elections• Alliance leaders in KL wanted Singapore Alliance leaders in KL wanted Singapore

Alliance to have more seats in the Alliance to have more seats in the Singapore Singapore Legislative AssemblyLegislative Assembly

• Singapore Alliance did not win any seatsSingapore Alliance did not win any seats• won 37 out of 51 seatswon 37 out of 51 seats• UMNO was most unhappyUMNO was most unhappy• Election results showed that Singapore Malays Election results showed that Singapore Malays

supported the PAP’s programme for improving supported the PAP’s programme for improving their standard of livingtheir standard of living


1964 Federal Election1964 Federal Election• Before 1964, had no branches outside Before 1964, had no branches outside

SingaporeSingapore• decided to take part in the 1964 Federal decided to take part in the 1964 Federal

Election as a Malaysian political partyElection as a Malaysian political party• Goals :Goals : 1. Build a Malaysian Malaysia1. Build a Malaysian Malaysia

2. Provide all with necessary skills and 2. Provide all with necessary skills and equal opportunities to succeed equal opportunities to succeed

• Alliance leaders were upset because had Alliance leaders were upset because had promised not to take part in Federal Electionspromised not to take part in Federal Elections


1964 Federal Election1964 Federal Election• arguments :arguments :• Since the Alliance had taken part in the 1963 Since the Alliance had taken part in the 1963

Singapore State Election, it was only natural that the Singapore State Election, it was only natural that the PAP contested the Federal ElectionPAP contested the Federal Election

• Alliance leaders, especially UMNO, were angry with Alliance leaders, especially UMNO, were angry with the campaign as it seemed to criticise the way the campaign as it seemed to criticise the way Malaya was governed by the AllianceMalaya was governed by the Alliance

• drew large crowds to its rallies but only won 1 seatdrew large crowds to its rallies but only won 1 seat• Alliance won 89 out of 104 but was worried Alliance won 89 out of 104 but was worried

about popularityabout popularity

RACIAL POLITICSRACIAL POLITICSTHE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PAP

• After the Fed elections, UMNO wanted to win back After the Fed elections, UMNO wanted to win back Malay votes in SingaporeMalay votes in Singapore1.1. Some UMNO leaders began to criticise the PAP Some UMNO leaders began to criticise the PAP

Government for not looking after the interests of the Government for not looking after the interests of the Malays in SingaporeMalays in Singapore

2.2. An anti-PAP campaign was started through the Malay An anti-PAP campaign was started through the Malay press, especially the Utusan Melayu (UM)press, especially the Utusan Melayu (UM)

• ISSUEISSUE– Redevelopment in Crawford, Kg Glam and Rochor areasRedevelopment in Crawford, Kg Glam and Rochor areas– 2,500 families resettled; 200 were Malay families2,500 families resettled; 200 were Malay families– UM claimed that 3,000 Malays were affectedUM claimed that 3,000 Malays were affected

RACIAL POLITICSRACIAL POLITICSTHE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PAP

• Over time, more misleading articles appeared Over time, more misleading articles appeared in the UMin the UM

• To ease growing racial tension, LKY met 900 To ease growing racial tension, LKY met 900 Malay representatives in July 1964Malay representatives in July 1964– Govt would do its best to help Malays overcome Govt would do its best to help Malays overcome

problems of education, employment and housingproblems of education, employment and housing

• UM continued with its anti-PAP campaignUM continued with its anti-PAP campaign• In the end, the racial tension in Singapore lead In the end, the racial tension in Singapore lead

to two race riots.to two race riots.

THREATS TO SINGAPORETHREATS TO SINGAPORE

Internal Threat : The 1964 Race RiotsInternal Threat : The 1964 Race Riots• 21 July 1964 : 25,000 Malays gathered at the 21 July 1964 : 25,000 Malays gathered at the

Padang to celebrate Prophet Mohammed’s Padang to celebrate Prophet Mohammed’s birthdaybirthday

• Anti-PAP speeches by various Malay leadersAnti-PAP speeches by various Malay leaders• Procession to GeylangProcession to Geylang

The procession on its way to Geylang


Internal Threat : The 1964 Race RiotsInternal Threat : The 1964 Race Riots• Singapore Government’s version : Small Singapore Government’s version : Small

incident sparked off race riotsincident sparked off race riots• After that, more groups became unruly and After that, more groups became unruly and

attacked Chinese passers-by and spectatorsattacked Chinese passers-by and spectators• Soon, clashes between Malays and Chinese in Soon, clashes between Malays and Chinese in

various parts of Singapore reportedvarious parts of Singapore reported• Curfew imposed 9.30 pm to 6.00 amCurfew imposed 9.30 pm to 6.00 am• Lifted only on 2 Aug 1964Lifted only on 2 Aug 1964


Police cordon beside the Kallang Gas Works after the outbreak of racial riots


Internal Threat : The 1964 Race RiotsInternal Threat : The 1964 Race Riots• Goodwill committees set upGoodwill committees set up• Made up of community leaders from various Made up of community leaders from various

racial groupsracial groups• Help to restore peace and harmonyHelp to restore peace and harmony• LKY and Tun Razak toured the island to calm LKY and Tun Razak toured the island to calm

things downthings down


LKY urging people to remain calm


Internal Threat : The 1964 Race RiotsInternal Threat : The 1964 Race Riots• Second riot in Sep 1964Second riot in Sep 1964• Malay trishaw rider murdered; Chinese Malay trishaw rider murdered; Chinese

accused of murderaccused of murder• Led to another race riot and curfew imposed Led to another race riot and curfew imposed

againagain• 13 dead, 106 injured13 dead, 106 injured


Significance of race riotsSignificance of race riots• Showed how easily peace and harmony in Showed how easily peace and harmony in

Singapore could be brokenSingapore could be broken• Clashes did not get completely out of control Clashes did not get completely out of control

because of the curfew and riot troopsbecause of the curfew and riot troops• Also because of goodwill between the Chinese Also because of goodwill between the Chinese

and Malaysand Malays


Internal Threat : The Indonesian Internal Threat : The Indonesian ConfrontationConfrontation

• Indonesia broke off relations with Malaysia in Indonesia broke off relations with Malaysia in Sep 1963Sep 1963

• Embargo : Singapore experience a decline in Embargo : Singapore experience a decline in trade and some unemploymenttrade and some unemployment

• Not severe as there was still trade with other Not severe as there was still trade with other countriescountries


Internal Threat : The Indonesian ConfrontationInternal Threat : The Indonesian Confrontation• A more serious aspect of Confrontation : A more serious aspect of Confrontation :

Disruptive action by Indonesian agents in Disruptive action by Indonesian agents in SingaporeSingapore

• Set off bombs which killed innocent people and Set off bombs which killed innocent people and damaged propertydamaged property

• 29 bombs set off by Mar 196529 bombs set off by Mar 1965• Most serious : March 1965Most serious : March 1965• Bomb at MacDonald House killed 3 and injured 33Bomb at MacDonald House killed 3 and injured 33


Internal Threat : The Indonesian ConfrontationInternal Threat : The Indonesian Confrontation• Voluntary Vigilante Corps was set up in Apr 1964 Voluntary Vigilante Corps was set up in Apr 1964

to help the police and army defend Singaporeto help the police and army defend Singapore• More than 10,000 signed upMore than 10,000 signed up• Community Centres serve as bases for their Community Centres serve as bases for their

patrolspatrols• Confrontation ended in Aug 1966 after a new Confrontation ended in Aug 1966 after a new

government took over control of Indonesiagovernment took over control of Indonesia• Confrontation and 1964 racial riots show that we Confrontation and 1964 racial riots show that we

should not take peace and prosperity in Singapore should not take peace and prosperity in Singapore for grantedfor granted

it’s official ! read all about it!!!!

Documents

singapore malays

malaysian leaders

umno leaders

succeedalliance leaders

racial politics

pap government

malaysian political

antipap campaign