Chap 6 - Merger

Question 1

2 reasons why Tunku Abdul Rahman initially opposed merger

Answer 1

1. Fear of communist threat

2. Possible racial imbalance

Question 2

Why did Tunku Abdul Rahman oppose merger due to communists?

[elab]

Answer 2

Tunku was initially worried about merger as:

• He suspected that most Chinese in SG were sympathetic to the communists
• Partially so as SG had more Chinese than Malays
• [excess info] Had not forgotten the tough fight against the communists during the Emergency

Question 3

Why did Tunku Abdul Rahman oppose merger due to racial imbalance?

Answer 3

• Initially worried that when merger took place, racial imbalance in the Federation as there would be too many chinese
• If they merged estimated no. of Chinese would be 3.6 mil, which would be more than the 3.4mil Malays

Question 4

Why did Tunku Abdul Rahman change his opinions on merger even though he feared the communists

Answer 4

• Feared that communist influence in SG would grow and the problem would eventually spill into Malaysia if not addressed promptly
• Better if the 2 govt join forces, fight against communist threat

Thus, changed his attitude and supported merger to deal with the problem by May 1961

Question 5

Why did Tunku Abdul Rahman change his opinions on merger even though there was a racial imbalance

Answer 5

• Realised a solution for the problem would be to include Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak to the Federation of Malaysia
• This is so that there will be a Malay majority as there were more Malays than Chinese in these areas

the ability to resolve the possible racial imbalance thus enables Tunku to change his attitude and be more inclined towards merger

Question 6

2 reasons why LKY supported merger

Answer 6

• Benefit SG economically

- Benefit SG politically

Question 7

Explain how merger would benefit SG economically

Answer 7

Context:

• Once Malaysia become independent, introduced taxes on goods traded between SG and Malaysia
• This limited trade between the 2 countries as it was expensive to sell goods to Malaysia.

How would this be solved:

• Creating a common market
• Goods can flow freely between Sg and Malaysia
• Thus, sell goods at lower price which would make SG’s econ more competitive

Hence:
- SG have larger and stronger econ base
- More econ growth
THUS
- Trade between Malaya and SG to increase
- More jobs for ppl in SG

Question 8

Explain how merger would benefit SG politically

Answer 8

Context:
- British colonial govt was unwilling to grant SG independence as they thought that SG was too small to survive on its own

How problem will be solved through merger:

• LKY felt that SG would gain protection to deter potential invaders
• Better deal with any potential crisis if it were to join a larger country

Hence:
- British would be more confident in SG’s long-term survival and be more open to granting independence to SG through merger