MALAYSIANS today tend to view Singapore as a kind of sibling – full of rivalry but close in relation. Close not only in geography but also in culture, language and ties that go back generations. After all, we were both part of the same country once.
That shared chapter in our history began formally on Sept 16, 1963, when the Federation of Malaysia was officially established, uniting Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.
It was part of the leaders’ bold vision to bring together diverse territories with different strengths into a single, post-colonial federation as Britain undertook a decolonisation effort at the time.
While not everyone was thrilled with the merger, most of the leaders of Malaysia and Singapore initially entered the partnership with enthusiasm and optimism.
But over time, differing approaches to governance, economic policies and political direction eventually led to Singapore’s formal separation from Malaysia on Aug 9, 1965.
Although the union was shortlived, the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore have remained strong in the decades since.
Here is a look back at the significant events leading up to the historic milestone.
> Aug 31, 1957: Tunku Abdul Rahman officially proclaims Malaya’s independence from Britain at Dataran Merdeka, leading the iconic “Merdeka” chant seven times.
> June 3, 1959: Britain grants Singapore full internal self-government, except in defence and foreign affairs. Lee Kuan Yew from the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) becomes Singapore’s first prime minister and begins to campaign for a merger with Malaya, believing it to be vital for the fledgling Singapore’s economic survival.
> May 27, 1961: Tunku Abdul Rahman proposes the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, with a vision to unite Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei to ensure economic and political stability in the region, counter communist threats and promote development.
> Sept 1, 1962: Singapore holds a national referendum on joining the Federation of Malaysia. Despite boycott attempts from those who oppose joining Malaysia, the majority of Singaporeans vote for a conditional merger that preserves local control over certain areas of governance.
> Sept 16, 1963: The Federation of Malaysia is officially formed, uniting Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.
Malaysia Day celebrations: Schoolchildren rally at Merdeka Stadium on Sept 16, 1963.
> Sept 21, 1963: Singapore holds a general election. Singapore Umno participates in the election as part of the Singapore Alliance Party, but fails to secure any seats.
> April 1964: Malaysia holds a general election. Singapore’s PAP’s decision to run in this election is seen as a provocative move by federal leaders. PAP wins one seat in Selangor, deepening political friction.
> July to September 1964: Racial riots break out in Singapore following the merger. The most significant ones are on July 21, which took 17 days to stabilise and saw the deaths of 23 people and 454 injured, as well as on Sept 2, with 13 deaths and another 106 injured.
> May to July 1965: Tensions continue to rise between Malaysian and Singaporean leaders over public and private disagreements on economic policies such as taxation and revenue sharing, as well as over political differences and distribution of power. The leaders enter into negotiations to address these grievances but are unsuccessful.
> Aug 7, 1965: The governments of Malaysia and Singapore sign The Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965, formalising Singapore’s secession from Malaysia.
> Aug 9, 1965: Singapore officially separates from Malaysia and becomes a sovereign nation. In a televised press conference, Lee Kuan Yew breaks down in tears as he calls it “a moment of anguish” and reflects on his lifelong belief in the unity of the two territories.
Sources: Information Department Malaysia, National Archives Malaysia, The Straits Times/ANN, The Star
