Merger with Malaya (1963)

Who was the Prime Minister of Malaya in 1963?

• Abdul Razak

• Tunku Abdul Rahman

• Lee Kuan Yew

• Lim Yew Hock

16 Sep 1963, the Federation of Malaysia was formed. This included...

• Malaya, Sabah or Sarawak

• Singapore, Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei

• Sabah and Sarawak

• Singapore, Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak

Why did Malaya not want to merger with Singapore initially?

• Concern that merger would make the Chinese the majority race

• Many people in Singapore were supporters of the communists.

• Fear that the PAP government would take over the central government in time to come.

• Potential loss of income if tariffs on Singapore goods were removed.

Why did Malaya agree to Merger with Singapore eventually?

• To eradicate the communist threat in Singaproe

• To set up a common market

• To tap on Singapore’s resources

• Tunku Abdul Rahman wanted to be the leader of Singapore

Why did Singapore want to merge with Malaya?

• Singapore was too small to survive on its own

• Singapore lacked natural resources

• Singapore wanted full independence from the British

• Singapore wanted to have a common market with Malaya.

Singapore hoped that a common market comprising of Singapore and Malaya could be set up if merger took place. What do you understand by the concept of a common market?

• Goods could be sold anywhere traders liked.

• Tax would not be imposed on goods traded within the region.

• Goods sold or bought within the region would carry similar names.

• Goods traded within the region would have a similar price

Why did the Barisan Sosialis oppose a merger with Malaya?

• The Barisan Sosialis were communists.

• They were worried that Singapore would be disadvantaged

• They opposed the setting up of a common market with Malaya.

• They preferred that Singapore merger with Indonesia.