Untitled Flashcards

Front

Problems facing singapore after PAP won the elections in 1959 ：

Back

• Unemployment 

• Need for investments and industialisation 

• Need for housing 

• Growing population 

• No natural resources 

• No independent (yet)

Front

Federation of Malaya 

Back

• Federation - A group of states united with one central government 

• Each state has its own state government to deal with local matters 

• The federation of Malaya included 11 states on the Malay peninsula. Malaya had gained independence from the british on 31 august 1957

Front

 Singapore’s reasons for merger :

Back

• Political 

• Independence from britain 

• Economic 

• Common market - reduce tariffs, more trade=more jobs 

Front

Political considerations 

Back

• 1959 : self- government under PAP 

• PAP included both moderates and radicals 

• Defence and internal security still under British control 

• Britain feared granting independence would allow PAP radicals( pro-communists) to take over 

Front

Economic considerations 

Back

• Malayan govt. Introduced tariffs-> increased barriers to trade 

• Need for malayan hinterland 

• Common market ( no taxes ) 

• Direct competition between sg and malayan economies 

Front

Economic considerations

Back

• Growing population 

• Increasing population  in 1950s (postwar baby boom) 

• Need to match opportunities for employment 

• Rapid industrialisation 

-  create jobs 

- reduce dependence on entrepot trade 

- Integration with economy and markets of Malaya 

Front

Malaysia’s response towards possible merger 

Back

Initial response:

Fears of racial imbalance 

Change of heart: 

Fear of communist takeover of PAP/ Singapore 

Front

Initial reluctance for merger

Back

• Communal (racial) balance will be upset 

• Danger of left-swing (pro-communist) representation in govt 

• Potential that sg will challenge KL govt in commercial areas 

Front

Why did Tunku change his mind about merger in 1961 ? 

Back

1. Fear of communism 

• Tunku concerned that if singapore became an independent state, Malaya would no longer have influence over security matters in singapore 

• Fear that the pro-communist might take over the PAP, would make merger less likely 

• Merger- greater control over singapore, prevent takeover by communist and prevent spread of communism to malaya

Front

27 may 1961

Back

• Tunku proposed merger 

• Proposal to include: Malaya, singapore, brunei, north borneo

(brunei did not join in the end)