MALAYSIA-SINGAPORE | What Really Happened?

Summary

The video script explores Singapore's unique path to independence, being the only country to be 'expelled' from another nation, Malaysia, in 1965. Despite its small size, Singapore has thrived as an economic powerhouse. The script delves into the island's history, from a British trading post to a reluctant union with Malaysia marred by economic and political tensions. It highlights the peaceful yet complex separation process and the surprising consensus that led to Singapore's independence, leaving the door open for potential reunification that never came.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Singapore is one of the smallest yet most successful countries, emerging as an economic powerhouse due to its strategic location.
• 🏁 Its independence from Malaysia is unique in modern international politics, being the only case of a state created by being forced out of another country.
• 📜 The history of Singapore begins with Sir Stamford Raffles establishing a trading post in 1819, which led to its growth and importance in British colonial expansion.
• 🌐 Singapore's rapid population growth was driven by immigration, with ethnic Chinese becoming the largest community.
• 🏛 During WWII, Singapore was occupied by Japan, but later reorganized under British rule and became a British crown colony in 1946.
• 🔄 The idea of Malaysia, including Singapore, was proposed by Lee Kuan Yew in 1961 to unite territories under British rule for mutual protection against communism.
• 🗳️ Singapore's integration into Malaysia was approved through a controversial referendum in 1962, with the island becoming one of the states of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.
• 💔 The union between Singapore and Malaysia was fraught with economic and political difficulties, including disagreements over a common market and financial obligations.
• 🚫 Ethnic tensions and riots in 1964 further strained relations, leading to a consensus that Singapore's separation from Malaysia was necessary for peace.
• 📜 The separation was peaceful and relatively straightforward, with both parties agreeing to the terms, and Singapore becoming independent on August 9, 1965.
• 🏙️ Despite the separation, there was a sentiment that Singapore's place was within a wider union, and the possibility of reunification was left open, although it never occurred.

Q & A

Why is Singapore considered one of the most successful countries despite its small size?

Singapore's strategic location at a vital crossroads has allowed it to emerge as an economic powerhouse, leveraging its position to become a significant player in international trade and finance.

What makes Singapore's independence from Malaysia unique in the context of modern international politics?

Singapore is unique as it is the only state to have been created by being forced out of another country, which contrasts with the usual resistance states show to the loss of territory.

How did the island of Singapore become a British trading post?

Sir Stamford Raffles, a British official, established a trading post on the sparsely inhabited island in 1819, recognizing its strategic location between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

What was the composition of Singapore's population at the time of the script's recording?

The population of Singapore was made up of ethnic Chinese (around three quarters), Malays (15%), ethnic Indians (7.5%), and other communities including Europeans and Eurasians making up the remaining 1.5%.

What was the historical significance of the Federated Malay States and the Unfederated Malay States?

These entities represented the amalgamation of various sultanates and protectorates under British influence in the Malay Peninsula, which later became part of the Federation of Malaya in 1948.

Why did Singapore become a British crown colony in its own right in 1946?

The reorganization of British territories after the Second World War led to Singapore ceasing to be part of the Straits Settlements and becoming a separate British crown colony.

What were the main reasons for Singapore's push towards joining the Federation of Malaysia?

Singapore sought to join the Federation of Malaysia due to concerns about its ability to survive as a small island on its own and the ongoing communist insurgency in the region that threatened its security.

What were the key points of contention between Singapore and the rest of Malaysia after joining the Federation?

The main points of contention included economic differences, Singapore's failure to meet financial obligations, and political tensions, particularly the decision of Singapore's ruling party to contest seats in the Malaysian general election.

What event marked the official end of British rule in the Malay Peninsula, and how did it relate to Singapore's status?

The official end of British rule came on 31 August 1963, after which Singapore became one of the states of the newly created Federation of Malaysia, separate from the administrative control of the Malay Peninsula.

What was the outcome of the secret talks between Malaysia and Singapore regarding their separation?

The secret talks resulted in a mutual agreement for Singapore's separation from Malaysia, which was passed unanimously by the Malaysian parliament on 9 August 1965.

How did the leaders of Malaysia and Singapore view the separation at the time, and was there a possibility of reunification?

Both leaders, Tunku Abdul Rahman and Lee Kuan Yew, saw the separation as a necessary step for peace but also expressed regret and left the door open for potential reunification, although this never materialized.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Singapore's Unique Path to Independence

This paragraph introduces Singapore's rise as an economic powerhouse despite its small size. It discusses the unusual circumstances of Singapore's independence from Malaysia, which is often considered unique in modern international politics. Singapore's diverse population and historical context are outlined, starting from the establishment of a British trading post in 1819. The paragraph also touches on the complex dynamics of Singapore's integration into the Malay Peninsula and the challenges faced during the Second World War and the subsequent British reorganization.

05:02

🗺️ The Formation of Malaysia and Singapore's Struggles

This section delves into the political maneuverings that led to the creation of Malaysia, including Singapore and other territories. It highlights the initial reluctance of the Federation of Malaya to unify with Singapore due to demographic and political concerns. The paragraph details the referendum held in Singapore, the subsequent union formation, and the economic and political tensions that arose post-merger. It also discusses the ethnic riots in Singapore and the growing rift between Singapore and the rest of Malaysia, leading to the Malaysian Prime Minister's ultimatum for Singapore's exit from the Federation.

10:07

📜 Singapore's Expulsion and Potential for Reunification

The final paragraph discusses the peaceful yet complex separation of Singapore from Malaysia, which was seen as a temporary solution to political and economic differences. It describes the secret negotiations leading to Singapore's independence and the emotional reactions of both countries' leaders. The door was left open for a possible reunification, a notion that was entertained by both sides but never materialized. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on the unusual nature of the situation where a state willingly parts with territory and ponders the implications of such scenarios in international politics.

Keywords

💡Singapore

Singapore is a sovereign city-state and island country in Southeast Asia, known for its strategic location and economic success despite being one of the smallest countries in the world. In the video, it is highlighted as an example of a unique state creation process, having been expelled from Malaysia in 1965.

💡Economic Powerhouse

The term 'economic powerhouse' refers to a country or region with a strong and influential economy. In the script, Singapore is described as an economic powerhouse due to its rapid development and significant impact on global trade, despite its small size.

💡Independence

Independence in the context of the video refers to the political state of a country being self-governing and not under the control of another country. Singapore's independence from Malaysia is a central theme, illustrating a rare case of a state being forced into independence.

💡State Creation

State creation is the process of establishing a new sovereign state. The video discusses the unusual case of Singapore's state creation, which involved being expelled from Malaysia, a process not typically seen in modern international politics.

💡Strategically Vital Crossroads

A strategically vital crossroads refers to a location that is crucial for trade, military, or political reasons due to its position. Singapore's geographical location at the crossroads of major sea routes between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean is highlighted as a key factor in its economic success.

💡Ethnic Chinese

Ethnic Chinese refers to individuals of Chinese heritage, regardless of their citizenship. In the video, ethnic Chinese make up the largest community in Singapore, representing around three quarters of the population, and play a significant role in the country's cultural and economic landscape.

💡British Colonial History

The British colonial history of Singapore is a foundational aspect of its past, beginning with Sir Stamford Raffles establishing a trading post in 1819. The video outlines how this history shaped Singapore's development into a British crown colony and its subsequent integration into Malaysia.

💡Federation of Malaysia

The Federation of Malaysia refers to the union formed in 1963, which included Singapore along with other states from the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. The video discusses the complexities of this union, which ultimately led to Singapore's separation in 1965.

💡Ethnic Tensions

Ethnic tensions refer to the conflicts or disagreements between different ethnic groups within a society. The video mentions the rise of ethnic tensions between Malays and Chinese in Singapore, which contributed to the strain on the relationship between Singapore and the rest of Malaysia.

💡Reunification

Reunification in the script refers to the potential future event where Singapore could join back with Malaysia. Although initially seen as a possibility, the video notes that no organized movement for reunification has occurred in the nearly 60 years since Singapore's separation.

💡Mutual Secession

Mutual secession is a term that could be used to describe a situation where both parties agree to the separation of a territory from a state. The video suggests that Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia could be viewed as a consensual mutual secession, as both parties recognized the benefits of separation.

Highlights

Singapore is one of the smallest yet most successful countries, emerging as an economic powerhouse due to its strategic location.

Singapore's independence from Malaysia is a unique case in modern international politics, being the only state created by being forced out of another country.

The island of Singapore's strategic location between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean facilitated its growth as a trading post and later a colonial center.

Singapore's population is diverse, with ethnic Chinese forming the majority, followed by Malays and ethnic Indians.

The establishment of Singapore as a British trading post in 1819 marked the beginning of its modern history.

The rapid population growth of Singapore was driven by immigration, particularly of ethnic Chinese.

During WWII, Singapore was occupied by Japanese forces, leading to a reorganization after the British resumed control.

The concept of Malaysia, including Singapore and other territories, was proposed by Lee Kuan Yew to address regional security concerns.

Singapore's integration into Malaysia was not straightforward, with economic and political differences causing strain.

Ethnic tensions and riots in Singapore in 1964 highlighted the difficulties in the union between Singapore and Malaysia.

The Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, proposed a confederation model as a solution to the growing tensions.

Singapore's separation from Malaysia in 1965 was a peaceful and relatively easy resolution to the union's issues.

The separation was initially seen as temporary, with the possibility of reunification left open.

Both Malaysian and Singaporean leaders expressed regret and left the door open for future reunification discussions.

Singapore's independence was declared by Lee Kuan Yew with a promise to maintain a multi-ethnic state.

The Republic of Singapore joined the United Nations in September 1965, solidifying its status as a sovereign nation.

The case of Singapore's separation raises questions about the implications of a state expelling a territory that does not wish to be independent.

Transcripts

Singapore is one of the  smallest countries in the world  

and yet it's also one of the most successful.

Lying at a strategically vital crossroads,  it's emerged as an economic powerhouse.

However, it had a difficult beginning.

Its independence from Malaysia was one of the most  

interesting cases of state creation  in modern international politics.

Indeed, it's often seen as unique.

Singapore is the only state to have been  created by being forced out of another country.

But is this an entirely accurate  picture of what actually happened?

Hello and welcome. If you're new to the  channel my name is James Ker-Lindsay  

and here I take an informed look at international  relations, conflicts, security and statehood.

We tend to think that countries will  resist the loss of territory at all costs.

Modern international relations shows that  

very few states are willing to accept  the independence of a breakaway region.

But what happens if a state impact  wants to lose a piece of land?

In truth, it's almost unknown.

While countries may reluctantly accept that  the piece of territory wants to secede,  

there are remarkably few  instances where a country has  

actively wanted to get rid  of part of its territory.

Indeed, it's widely accepted that there's only one  example of this in modern international politics:  

Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia in 1965.

And yet, as we'll see, it wasn't quite  as straightforward as it might seem.

The island of Singapore lies just off the southern  tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia.

At around 721 square  kilometers, or 280 square miles,  

it ranks 175th out of the 193  members of the United Nations.

Its population currently stands at 5.45 million.

This is made up of a diverse  mixture of national groups.

The largest community are ethnic Chinese,  

representing around three  quarters of the population.

Then there are Malays and ethnic Indians,  

representing 15 percent and  7.5 percent respectively.

The remaining one and a half percent or so are  Europeans, Eurasians and other communities.

Although Singapore has a long history of  settlement, the story really begins in 1819  

when Sir Stamford Raffles, a British official,  

established a trading post on the  then sparsely inhabited island.

Sitting at a crucial junction between  the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean,  

in the years that followed Singapore joined  - and later became the administrative centre  

for - other British settlements  established on the Malay Peninsula  

along the strategically  significant Strait of Malacca.

In the decades that followed, Britain extended  its influence over the rest of the peninsula  

as various sultanates came under its protection.

In 1895, a group of these were amalgamated  to form the Federated Malay States.

These sat alongside the straight  settlements and a group of five  

other individual protectorates, collectively  known as the Unfederated Malay States.

Meanwhile, the population  of Singapore grew rapidly.

Numbering just a couple of hundred people  when the trading post was first established,  

within five years the island's  inhabitants had passed ten thousand.

By 1901, this had reached 225,000 people,  rising to over half a million by 1931.

While this growth was driven by  Malay and Indian immigration,  

almost from the start the largest  single community were ethnic Chinese.

During the Second World War, the  Malay Peninsula, including Singapore,  

was occupied by Japanese forces.

However, following the resumption of British  rule the territories were reorganised.

On 1 April 1946, Singapore ceased to be part of  

the Straits Settlements and became a  British crown colony in its own right.

Meanwhile, the remaining Straits Settlements,  along with the Federated and uUnfederated Malay  

States, were amalgamated; becoming the  Federation of Malaya, on 1 February 1948.

As a result, Singapore now sat apart from  the Malay Peninsula - not only geographically  

but also administratively - and over the next  decade and a half achieved greater self-rule.

However, questions were growing about its future,  

especially as by this point the process of  British decolonisation was in full swing.

This issue became even more  pressing when, on 31 August 1957,  

the neighbouring Federation became independent.

Despite its status as a standalone crown colony,  

many in Singapore saw its place within  the newly independent Federation.

While there was little obvious  economic advantage to the union,  

the general view was that Singapore, as a  small island, couldn't survive on its own.

In contrast, the political leaders in the  Federation were cautious about any unification.

Singapore's population was larger than that  of the Federation and they worried about the  

implications of 3.6 million Chinese outnumbering  the 3.4 million Malays in a united country.

However, in the end they were  persuaded by wider political concerns.

Against the backdrop of an ongoing  communist insurgency in the region,  

many feared that without protection  Singapore might be overrun.

In April 1961, Lee Kuan Yew,  the Prime Minister of Singapore,  

proposed the creation of a new state: Malaysia.

This would be made up of the Federation, Singapore  and three other territories still under British  

rule on the neighbouring island of Borneo: Brunei  and the colonies of Sarawak and North Borneo.

Seven months later, in November 1961, and  in consultation with the British Government,  

the creation of the Federation  of Malaysia was agreed.

On 1 September 1962, a controversial  referendum was held in Singapore  

offering voters three choices on the form  of integration but not on the merger itself.

In the end they chose considerable autonomy,  instead of the other two models that envisaged  

either a complete and unconditional merger or a  merger on terms equal to the other new entrants.

In the year that followed, the  details of the union were outlined.

Singapore would be represented  in the federal administration and  

would contribute accordingly to the state budget.

On top of this, it was agreed that a  common market would be established,  

ensuring open trade between the parts of Malaysia.

On 31 August 1963, British rule officially  came to an end and just over two weeks later,  

on 16 September, Singapore became one  of the 14 states of the newly created  

Federation of Malaysia, alongside Sabah  and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

In the end, Brunei, the fourth  territory that was to have joined,  

opted to stay out at the federation.

It would remain a British protectorate  until it gained its independence in 1984.

From the start, the union proved to be a difficult  relationship, both economically and politically.

While it was always clear that there were  significant differences between the two entities,  

these were magnified following  Singapore's entry into the federation.

Singapore became unhappy at the  failure to implement the common market.

Meanwhile, Malaysia felt that Singapore  wasn't meeting its financial obligations.

Moreover, Malaysia's political leadership  was angered by the decision of Singapore's  

ruling People's Action Party to  contest seats in Malaysia in the  

April 1964 general election - a move seen  by the United Malays National Organisation,  

the dominant party in the rest of the Federation  as an encroachment on their political territory.

It was against this backdrop that ethnic tensions  now began to grow between the Malays and Chinese.

This came to a head in July and September 1964,  

when rioting broke out in Singapore  that left 36 dead and over 550 injured.

By the end of the year, relations between the  politicians and the people of Singapore and the  

rest of Malaysia were under intolerable  strain and the Malaysian Prime Minister,  

Tunku Abdul Rahman, now made it clear that if  Singapore's politicians continued their path  

then the only route was for  Singapore to leave the Federation.

That said, soon afterwards he outlined  an idea for a form of confederation.

Singapore would have full autonomy in all  areas except for defence and foreign policy  

in return for giving up its  seats in the Federation.

However, the discussions on this looser  arrangement failed to produce a credible plan.

Instead, in the months that  followed the differences grew.

By July 1965, Rahman had decided  

that the only remaining option was to  force Singapore out of the Federation.

Clearly, this had the potential to lead to  major complications had Singapore refused.

However, by this stage it seems that  Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew  

had also reached the conclusion that the  separation was the only viable way out.

To this end, the sides held top  secret talks on the terms of divorce.

Indeed, even many members of the  governments in Malaysia and Singapore  

were kept in the dark about the negotiations.

Just weeks later, the sides reached a deal.

On the morning of 9 August 1965, less than  two years after it had joined Malaysia,  

and in a move that surprised ordinary  Malaysians and Singaporeans alike,  

a law for Singapore's separation was  unanimously passed by the Malaysian parliament.

Taking direct personal  responsibility for the decision,  

Rahman said that there had been no other choice.

It had been needed for peace.

At the very same time, a visibly upset  

Lee Kuan Yew broke down as he  declared Singapore's independence.

Calling on people to be calm, he  promised that there was nothing to fear.

Singapore would be a multi-ethnic state.

Six weeks later, on 21 September 1965,  

the Republic of Singapore became the  117th member of the United Nations.

What made the separation particularly interesting  was that - at least at the time - it was widely  

regarded as a temporary move based on the  differences of the main political forces.

It wasn't in fact seen as a permanent  parting of the ways driven by some sort  

of fundamental incompatibility  between Malaysia and Singapore.

To that end, the door was in fact  left open for eventual reunification.

Indeed, at the time it appeared as  though many saw this as inevitable.

As Rahman noted, Singapore would  be welcomed back at some point.

Indeed, he would later express his  regret at having let Singapore go.

Likewise, Lee Kuan Yew also sounded a note  of regret about how things turned out.

He too left the door open for a new settlement,  

stating that it would be up to the next  generation to bring about reunification.

Of course, this never happened.

It's now almost 60 years since the  country separated and there appears  

to be no organised movement for reunification;  although the idea is still sometimes floated.

Nevertheless, it's interesting to consider  that, despite everything that had happened,  

there was still a sense that  Singapore's place was really within  

the wider union of other territories  that had come together to form Malaysia.

We often think that states will  do anything to hold on to land.

However, just occasionally  we encounter a situation  

where a country appears willing to  be rid of a troublesome territory.

One of the most interesting such  cases in modern international politics  

was Malaysia's decision to expel Singapore.

As seen, in many ways Singapore's incorporation  into Malaysia was never entirely comfortable.

Despite the many common ties, there  were in fact fundamental political  

and economic differences that quickly made  the union uncomfortable for both parties.

However, ultimately the situation was  resolved peacefully and relatively easily.

And it wasn't quite the dramatic  expulsion that many often think it was.

Although Malaysia wanted to be rid of Singapore,  

it was clear that Singapore was ready to  accept the decision and go its own way.

In this sense, and contrary to the  view many outsiders often have,  

while it was indeed an expulsion it could equally  be regarded as a consensual mutual succession.

In this sense, it raises a fascinating  question about what would happen if a state  

did in fact try to expel a territory that  didn't in fact want to accept independence.

I hope you found that interesting. If so,  here are some more videos that you might like.

Thanks so much for watching  and see you in the next video.