Download ppt - Chapter 9 Separation & Problems Pap Faced

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Chapter 9 How did Singapore achieve Independence?

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Terms to Remember• Merger – the joining of two countries as one.• Federation - a group of states united with one

central government but each state has own states govt to deal with local matters.

• Pro-Communists – people who support the the Communists and their ideas.

• Referendum – a direct vote carried out by the people of the country to decide something on which there is a disagreement.

• Confrontation – Indonesia’s opposition to the formation of Malaysia.

• Radicals – party members who supported the communists.

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Problems in 1950s / 1960s

• Unemployment– Most pressing of the problems faced by the

government.– Ports near Singapore were developing and

Singapore faced stiff competition.– Many students educated in Chinese schools

but there were not enough jobs for them when they left school.

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Poor Housing

• Many were staying in the city.

• Overcrowding, unhygienic squatters.

• Health was compromised as many squeezed into small living areas.

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Lack of Schools

• Many children did not attend schools as fees in private schools were not affordable.

• There were insufficient government schools to take in all children of school-going age.

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Reasons for Merger• Solve problem of Unemployment. Jobs and

raw materials in Malaya were much needed by Singaporeans. Singapore’s market was too small for our goods. Malaya was the big market we were looking for.

• Common market so goods could be bought and sold without being taxed. Industries in Spore would grow and more jobs could be created for our people.

• Complete break from British rule. Merger would resolve the Communist problem and Spore would gain independence.

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Why did Malaya wanted a merger?

• Communists were too strong in Singapore for their comfort. If Singapore fall to the communists, it would be a big threat to the security of Malaya which is so close to Singapore.

• With a merger, Tunku Abdul Rahman hoped to contain and fight against the communists in Singapore.

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Proposal for Merger• May 1961 Tunku Abdul Rahman first

proposed the idea of merger with Singapore when he visited.

• British supported the idea. They wanted to grant independence to Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak but felt they could not survive on their own.

• A merger with Malaya would help these countries fight against Communism.

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Singapore’s response• Lee Kuan Yew and some PAP leaders

supported the idea.• The pro-Communists within PAP led by

Lim Chin Siong were against the idea.• They knew that if Singapore became part

of Malaya, the governement in Kuala Lumpur would clamp down on Communist activities and arrest and imprison the pro-Communists.

• There was a power struggle within PAP.

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Split in PAP and Referendum• August 1961 Pro-Communists left PAP and

formed Barisan Sosialis (Socialist Front)• Nov 1961 LKY (Lee Kuan Yew) and TAR

(Tunku Abdul Rahman) held talks to discuss terms of merger.

• 1 Sept 1962 A referendum was held to let Singaporeans decide if they wanted merger.

• 71% of Singaporeans voted in favour of merger with Malaya.

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Responses of other countries• Sabah and Sarawak voted to join Malaysia.

• Brunei was excluded as both Brunei and Malaya could not agree on the terms of merger.

• Indonesian government was influenced by Communist Party of Indonesia (KPI).

• Jan 1963 The Confrontation by Indonesia was launched against Malaysia.

• Philippines wanted to keep Sabah as part of Philippines but had no proper evidence.

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Formation of Malaysia• 31 Aug 1963 Scheduled for formation of

Malaysia but Philippines and Indonesia strongly opposed so a UN mission was sent to Sabah and Sarawak to check if people there wanted merger.

• 14th Sept 1963 UN mission found out merger was favourable for people there.

• 16th Sept 1963 Singapore, Sabah & Sarawak joined Malaya to form Federation of Malaysia.

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Federation of Malaysia

The 14 states were• Johor• Negri Sembilan• Perlis• Singapore• Kedah• Pahang• Sabah• Trengganu• Kelantan• Penang• Sarawak• Melaka• Perak • Selangor

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Central Government • Central government was in Kuala Lumpur and was

controlled by the Alliance Party.• Tunku Abdul Rahman was the Prime Minister of Malaysia.• Singapore had own government and could continue with

elections to elect own state government.• Singapore gained independence from Britain.• Central government controlled armed forces, police &

international relations.• Singapore would control own education, labour and

finance.

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Terms of Merger• Common Market would be set up in

stages.

• Singapore to provide $150 million loan for development of Sabah and Sarawak.

• Singapore would collect own revenue and contribute a certain sum of money from its taxes.

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Aftermath of Merger• Philippines broke off ties with

Malaysia.

• Indonesia broke off ties with Malaysia, raided Sabah and Sarawak and got agents to set off bombs in public places in Singapore to disrupt life of people.

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It’s official !Read all about it!!!!

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SEPARATION FROM MALAYSIA

@#%#^&% How come nobody told me about

it?

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1. Singapore in Malaysia2. Political Rivalry3. Racial Politics : The Campaign against the PAP4. Threats to Singapore’s Peace and Prosperity5. Disagreements over Economic Matters6. Campaign for a Malaysian Malaysia7. Singapore out of Malaysia and on its Own

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SINGAPORE IN MALAYSIA

• LKY pledged loyalty to the Central Government [CG]

• Central Government made up of :

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• 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 ?

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REASONS : 1. Background of political parties

2. Treatment of different races

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MALAYA• 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

SINGAPORE• Most political parties

were multi-racial • Did not aim to

promote the interest of one community over another

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MALAYA

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

SINGAPORE

• 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

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• 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 separation

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Tell me more!

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POLITICAL RIVALRY

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

Alliance to have more seats in the Singapore Legislative Assembly

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

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

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POLITICAL RIVALRY

1964 Federal Election• Before 1964, had no branches outside

Singapore• decided to take part in the 1964 Federal

Election as a Malaysian political party• Goals : 1. Build a Malaysian Malaysia 2. Provide all with necessary skills

and equal opportunities to succeed

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

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POLITICAL RIVALRY

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

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

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

• drew large crowds to its rallies but only won 1 seat

• Alliance won 89 out of 104 but was worried about popularity

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RACIAL POLITICSTHE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PAP

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

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

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

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

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RACIAL POLITICSTHE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE PAP

• Over time, more misleading articles appeared in the UM

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

problems of education, employment and housing

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

to two race riots.

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THREATS TO SINGAPORE

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

Padang to celebrate Prophet Mohammed’s birthday

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

The procession on its way to Geylang

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

things down

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LKY urging people to remain calm

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

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

again• 13 dead, 106 injured

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

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

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

and Malays

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Internal Threat : The Indonesian Confrontation

• Indonesia broke off relations with Malaysia in Sep 1963

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

• Not severe as there was still trade with other countries

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

Disruptive action by Indonesian agents in Singapore

• Set off bombs which killed innocent people and damaged property

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

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

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

patrols• Confrontation ended in Aug 1966 after a new

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

should not take peace and prosperity in Singapore for granted

The End