Chapter 8 Flashcards
Why did the PAP Government Pursue a Merger with Malaya?
ANS: Polltical Independence
POINT: The PAP government pursued merging with Malaya to secure Singapore’s independence and protect it from communism.
ELABORATE: Amid the Cold War, communist influence from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam raised concerns about Southeast Asia. Britain aimed for political stability to counter communism, making the merger a condition for Singapore’s independence. It was seen as essential to safeguard against communism.
EXAMPLE: A State of Emergency in Malaya was declared due to communist threats, underscoring the need to counter communism.
LINK: Therefore, the PAP government saw merging with Malaya as a strategic path to independence and shielding Singapore from communism during the Cold War, a vital move for security and self-governance.
Why did the PAP Government Pursue a Merger with Malaya?
ANS: Economic Survival
POINT: The PAP pursued merger due to concerns about Singapore’s economic sustainability.
ELABORATE: Singapore’s economic outlook was bleak, lacking natural resources and facing population growth. Tariffs imposed by Malaya in the 1950s reduced trade and economic opprtunities.
EXAMPLE: Tariffs hindered trade between Malaya and Singapore, impacting the Singapore’s economy.
LINK: Therefore, the PAP believed that a merger would establish a common market, increasing demand for Singapore’s goods and securing its economic survival in the face of resource limitations and population growth.
What Was Malaya’s Response to a Possible Merger?
ANS: Malaya’s Initial Response
POINT: Initially, the Malayan Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, had concerns about merging with Singapore, fearing resistance from the predominantly Chinese population, changes in racial dynamics, and communist sympathies among the Chinese.
ELABORATE: Tunku Abdul Rahman worried that Singaporeans might resist Malay leadership, the adoption of Malay as the national language, and Islam as the state religion. He was also concerned that a merger would alter the racial balance, with the larger Chinese population potentially causing tensions. Moreover, he suspected that communist sympathies among Singapore’s Chinese population could spread to the new federation.
EXAMPLE: Tunku’s concerns were rooted in the strikes of the 1950s and Singapore’s unique demographics.
LINK: These concerns shaped Malaya’s cautious approach to a possible merger with Singapore.
What Was Malaya’s Response to a Possible Merger?
ANS: Fear of an Independent, Communist-Influenced Singapore
POINT: Malaya’s response to a possible merger with Singapore was driven by concerns over security and communism.
ELABORATE: The Tunku, Malaya’s leader, worried that an independent Singapore might
lack control over communism and could potentially adopt a sympathetic stance towards communism. This could jeopardize regional stability. He believed that within Malaysia, communist elements in Singapore could be better managed. Having already battled communism during the Malayan Emergency, he sought to prevent Singapore from
becoming a communist stronghold that might influence others.
EXAMPLE: The Tunku’s concerns stemmed from his experience with countering
communism in Malaya.
LINK: As a result, to safeguard Malaya from communism, the merger with Singapore was
seen as a necessary step.
What Was the Result of the “Battle for Merger”?
ANS: Opposition from Barisan Sosialis
POINT: The “Battle for Merger” in Singapore, involving the opposition Barisan Sosialis party, had significant impacts on the proposed merger with Malaysia.
ELABORATE: Barisan Sosialis, formed by expelled PAP members who opposed the merger, raised key concerns. They questioned the status of Singaporeans within the new federation, fearing they’d be “federal nationals” with limited voting rights. Additionally, they protested the unequal seat allocation in the federal parliament, seeing it as a sign of Singapore’s second-class status.
EXAMPLE: Barisan Sosialis launched campaigns, including student demonstrations and labor strikes, to oppose the merger, intensifying the battle.
LINK: The “Battle for Merger” intensified opposition to the proposed merger, highlighting concerns about citizenship status and unequal representation, ultimately shaping the merger’s outcome.
What Was the Result of the “Battle for Merger”?
ANS: The PAP’s Campaign
POINT: The “Battle for Merger,” led by the PAP, utilized radio talks and exhibitions to promote the merger of Singapore with Malaya.
ELABORATE: Prime Minister Lee conducted a series of radio talks, “The Battle for Merger,” broadcasted in multiple languages, reaching a wide audience. These talks aimed to convince people across different regions of the benefits of merging with Malaya. Additionally, exhibitions like the Malaysia Exhibition highlighted cultural and social ties
among the territories, exposing visitors to various aspects of life in the prospective
federation.
EXAMPLE: The extensive reach of Prime Minister Lee’s radio talks, spanning regions
including Brunei, Malaya, and Borneo, and the Malaysia Exhibition’s cultural showcase
demonstrated the PAP’s vigorous campaign.
LINK: The “Battle for Merger” had a significant impact on engaging and persuading
diverse populations about the advantages of merging with Malaya, contributing to the
eventual merger of Singapore with Malaya.
Why Did Singapore Separate from Malaysia?
ANS: Economic Disagreements
POINT: Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965 was driven by economic disagreements and political differences.
ELABORATE: The merger aimed to establish a common market and eliminate tariffs on Singapore-made goods. However, these goals were delayed, and tariffs persisted, protecting Malayan industries. Disputes arose when the federal government increased Singapore’s contribution to 60% for defense spending during Konfrontasi.
EXAMPLE: Singapore considered this decision unfair, given its initial 40% contribution.
LINK: These economic disparities, coupled with political disagreements, led to Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965, as the two governments couldn’t reconcile their differences.
Why Did Singapore Separate from Malaysia?
ANS: Political Difference
POINT: Differences in views on racial equality and special privileges led to tensions
between Singapore and Malaysia.
ELABORATE: Singapore believed in equal opportunities for all races and provided free
education to improve Malays’ employment prospects. In contrast, Malaysia’s federal
government consisted of communal, race-based parties that favored special privileges
for Malays in employment, business, and education.
EXAMPLE: Reserved government jobs for Malays in Malaysia highlighted the disparity in
approaches.
LINK: These differing approaches to racial policies and privileges contributed to
Singapore’s eventual separation from Malaysia, a process influenced by the growing
tensions over the following two years.
