HI8notes.pdf

Hwa Chong Institution Secondary 1 History Chapter 8 Notes Name: _________________________________ Class: _________ Date: _________________ Chapter 8: 1) Reasons fo...

Hwa Chong Institution Secondary 1 History Chapter 8 Notes Name: _________________________________ Class: _________ Date: _________________ Chapter 8: 1) Reasons for Singapore’s merger with Malaya 2) Issues before Merger 3) Reactions to merger 4) Reasons for separation 1) Reasons for Singapore’s merger with Malaya Singapore Malaya 1) Political Independence 1) Fears of an Independent, communist- - Britain would only grant Singapore influenced Singapore independence if it merged with Malaya - Tunku Abdul Rahman was afraid that the PAP might be taken over by members who were - During the Cold War period, Britain was sympathetic to communism. fearful that Southeast Asia would fall under communist control, given influences from - During the Hong Lim by-election in Apr 1961, communist China and rising communist the PAP lost to an Independent candidate movements One Eng Guan, who was formerly a member of the PAP - Communist movements had been responsible to multiple uprisings in Singapore - Ong was a one-time PAP member who was such as the Anti-National Service riots and expelled from the Party after he challenged Hock Lee Bus Riots. Communist movements the party’s leadership in Malaya were also trying to overthrow the British government and creating a - Ong’s victory sparked fears in Malaya that communist Malaya, and were fighting in the the moderates within PAP were losing control jungles of the Party, and that radicals and leftists were gaining control of the party, who would - Britain believed that Singapore would be then free Singapore from British colonial rule safeguarded if a federation was formed by establishing a communist government between Malaya, Singapore and North Borneo. This federation would also allow for political stability as Malaya had experience in dealing with the communists 2) Economic survival - Singapore did not appear to have a promising economic future on its own as it lacked natural resources and a rapidly growing population in need of jobs - Singapore’s role as an entrepot was also declining – As Malaya became independent, they wanted to direcet their exports through their own ports, reducing Singapore’s importance as a regional trading port 1  - Malaya’s government had also introduced tariffs on goods traded with Singapore, making Singapore-mde goods more expensive and less desirable to customers in Malaya - Merger was desirable as a common market would be established, where goods produced in both Malaya and Singapore could flow easily without taxes or restrictions - There would thus be a larger demand for Singapore’s manufactured goods, increasing trade and creating more jobs for the people c. 2) Issues before Merger Singapore Malaya i. Incompatible beliefs: Malaya believed in i. Racial imbalance as a result of the Bumiputera policy, which emphasizes Singapore’s entry into the Federation: the special position of the Malay Singapore had a large Chinese community as natives of the land while majority, which would disrupt the Singpaore believed in multiracialism population demographics of the Federation, which had an ethnic ii. High taxes imposed on Singapore: Malay majority. The ruling party, Singapore would be required to hand United Malay’s National Organization over 40% of its state revenue to the (UMNO), was afraid that this would Malaysian Central government disrupt the percentage of voters that would vote for UMNO during the iii. Unfair financial conditions: Singapore will elections. be required to give a loan of $150 million to Sabah and Sarawak, with $100 million being interest-free for 5 years. 3) Reactions to merger a. People of Singapore b. Arrests of Barisan Sosialis members c. Regional reactions a. People of Singapore - Were not given the option to vote against merger, but rather, various variations of merger - 70.8% voted in favour of Option A, in which Singapore citizens would automatically be citizens of Malaya, while Singapore retained autonomy in labour, education and other matters 2  - Option B: Singapore would only have the freedom to decide on financial matters, while only those born in Singapore/descended from citizens would be Malaysian citizens - Option C: Singapore would have the same rights as the Borneo territories - Barisan Sosialis called for the people to cast blank votes: However, the PAP government anticipated this and announced that blank votes would count in favour of Option A. b. Arrest of Barisan Sosialis members - After merger, the Internal Security Council arrested members of the Barisan Sosialis under Operation Coldstore on 2 Feb 1963. c. Regional Reactions - Brunei: Decided against joining Malaysia, gained Independence from Britain in 1984 - Philippines: Did not recotnise Malaysia, insisted that it had a rightful claim to North Borneo. Broke off relations with Malaysia in 1963 - Indonesia: Opposed the merger as it felt that the British would be able to retain control over territories in the new federation. Also believed that North Borneo and Sarawak should come under its influenced. Broke off relations with Malaysia in 1963, launched a policy of Konfrontasi 4) Reasons for separation a. Economic disagreements b. Political Differences a. Economic disagreements - Disagreements over Common Market  The original intention behind the Common Market was that Singapore could sell its goods tax-free and without restrictions in Malaysia. This would help to boost the Singapore economy.  However, no common market was set up between Malaysia and Singapore as the Central Government was fearful that Malaysian industries would now face more competition from Singapore. Goods made in Singapore continued to be taxed in Malaysia  A major market for the export of goods was thus lost: There would be a surplus of goods produced in Industrial Estates such as Jurong, Tanglin Halt and Telok Blangah - Disagreements over taxation  The initial agreement between Singapore and Malaysia was that Singapore would contribute 40% of its state revenue to the Central Government in Malaysia. 3   The rest of the revenue would be kept for Singapore’s use to run the state and make improvements to different forms of infrastructure  However, the sum to be paid to the Central Government was later increased to 60%. The Singapore government felt that this was unfair b. Political Differences - Composition of Political Parties  Singapore’s major political parties, such as the PAP, were multiracial and sought to represent the interests of all communities.  In contrast, the federal government of Malaysia was formed by the Alliance Party, comprising three communal, race-based parties such as the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malayan Chinese Association (MCA) and Malayan Indian Congress (MIC)  These parties sought to look after the interests of their respective ethnic parties - Treatment of races  In addition, Singapore’s government practiced a meritocratic system, which believed that everyone, regardless of race, should be given an equal opportunity to succeed  IT believed that the best way of enabling Malays to gain better employment opportunities was by providing free education  In contrast, the Central Government in KL stuck to its beliefs regarding the Bumiputera policy, where the Malays had special privileges in business, employment and education reserved for them  It also undermined the PAP by sending UMNO to win the support of Malays in Singapore and contest the 1963 Singapore elections.  It also stirred up the sentiment of Malays in Singapore by questioning the PAP’s treatment of Malays, resulting in racial tension, and eventually, leading to the 1964 racial riots (p.106- 109). 4