History: Chapter 8

Question 1

What impact did the Hong Lim By-Election 1961 create?

Answer 1

• Led Tunku to support the merger
• Ong Eng Guan challenged PAP
• His group had different views
• might establish a communist government from wanting to free SG
  and spread communism to Malaya

Question 2

Why did Tunku not want merger?

Answer 2

• Chinese may not accept Malay Sultan, speak Malay and accept Islam as a religion
• Chinese outnumber Malays
• Some Chinese may be communists

Question 3

Why did Tunku want merger?

Answer 3

• PAP might be taken over by communists
• Can control communism when part of Malaysia
• If Singapore became independent and turned to communism, will affect other countries

Question 4

What happened during the Anson By-Election 1961?

Answer 4

• radical group within PAP opposed
• thought that they would be put down by Malaya
• they sabotaged PAP
• PAP lost the Anson by-election 1961

Question 5

When did Tunku and LKY come to an agreement for merger?

Answer 5

24 August 1961

Question 6

Why did PAP want a merger with Malaya?

Answer 6

Economic Survival (Common Market), Political Independence

Question 7

Economic Survival

Answer 7

• belief that Singapore could not survive long term without merger
• lacked resources and needed more jobs
• declining entrepot trade

Question 8

Common Market

Answer 8

• no more tariffs on goods
• malayan hinterland create larger demand for SG’s goods
• more trade and more jobs.

Question 9

Political Independence

Answer 9

• Britain wanted Singapore to form a federation with North Borneo, Malaya, Sarawak and Brunei, and would only grant them independence if they merged with those territories.
• to safeguard against spread of communism

Question 10

External Opposition for Merger

Answer 10

• Philippines claimed that North Borneo belonged to them
• Indonesia believed that the new federation of power would allow British to control Malaysia indirectly.

Question 11

Konfrontasi

Answer 11

Indonesia launched Konfrontasi in Jan 1963 > military attacks, bombings (McDonald house bombing killed 3 people)

Question 12

Why did Barisan Sosialis oppose merger and what happened to them?

Answer 12

• some such as Lim Chin Siong (when he was in PAP) within the party were unhappy
• barisan sosialis were worried that citizenship would not mean SG citizens
• only 15 seats
• they were expelled from the party (from PAP)

Question 13

What did Barisan Sosialis do to encourage people not to choose merger?

Answer 13

They started a campaign in September 1961 to oppose. Gave speeches to the public to persuade people not to support the merger, debated in radio forums about with other parties like PAP.

Question 14

What did PAP do to convince people for merger?

Answer 14

PAP also embarked on a year-long campaign and had radio broadcasts to reach SG, Brunei, MY, North Borneo and Sarawak. Had exhibitions to show benefits of merger.

Question 15

What happened during the referendum?

Answer 15

Referendum held on 1 Sep 1962 to find out the people’s wants. All three options were for merger. Barisan Sosialis opposed all. PAP won.

Question 16

What was Operation Coldstore?

Answer 16

A series of arrests on 1963 where Barisan Sosialis’s leaders detained for attempting to sabotage the formation of Malaysia.

Question 17

How was merger confirmed?

Answer 17

In the 1963 election, PAP won 37 seats, Barisan Sosialis won 13 seats. Malaysia Agreement (merger) was signed on 9 July 1963. The merger was official on 16 September 1963.

Question 18

What did Malaysia and Singapore have control over for merger?

Answer 18

MY had control over SG’s defence and foreign affairs. SG would have control over its own education and labour and could hold is own elections to choose its own state government.

Question 19

Why did Singapore separate from Malaysia?

Answer 19

Economic Differences and Political Differences

Question 20

Economic Differences (separation)

Answer 20

• delay in common market
• tariffs werent removed
• sg was supposed to contribute 40% its revenue to the federal gov. however it was increased to 60%

Question 21

Political Differences (separation)

Answer 21

supposed to be multiracial, however the federal gov was formed by Alliance Party which comprised of UMNO (Malays), MCA (Chinese) and MIC (Indians) and the parties looked after their own races. They also gave special privileges to the Malays in employment, business and education.

Question 22

6 events that worsened the relationship between SG and MY

Answer 22

• 1963 SG Elections
• 1964 Federal Election
• Anti-PAP campaign
• 1964 Racial Riots
• Malaysian Solidarity Convention
• Showdown in Dewan Rakyat

Question 23

What happened during the 1963 SG Elections and what did it cause?

Answer 23

• Singapore Alliance Party challenged PAP
• SAP did not win any seats
• Alliance Party vowed to defeat PAP in the next election
• Affected relationship between UMNO and PAP

Question 24

What was the Anti-PAP campaign?

Answer 24

Ja’afar Albar started the Anti-PAP campaign using newspapers and spread rumours to Malays which created more tensions between PAP and Alliance Party

Question 25

What happened during the 1964 Racial Riots?

Answer 25

In July 1964, there was a clash between Chinese policemen and Malay participants (Prophet Muhammad’s bday) and turned into a race riot. Damage of properties and 36 killed.

Question 26

What happened during the May 1965 Political Party and what did it cause?

Answer 26

May 1965, PAP started a political party that opposed Alliance Party for equal treatment of races.
Alliance Party was upset and betrayed. Further strain in relations.

Question 27

When did SG separate from Malaysia?

Answer 27

Separated on 9 August 1965 as there were racial clashes and LKY and Tunku thought it best for separation.