RI History Merger Slides 2020

INTRODUCTION What is Merger? - two entities coming together as one egs., two depts., two companies, two organisations, two states or even two countries

Key Issues to consider when merging Who came up with the idea? Why? Do both parties agree to merge? Who has the bigger say? Will it benefit both parties (equally)? What is the process like? What are the issues at stake? What will the result look like? - Do mergers always work?

So, what’s your take on mergers, especially between states and countries? Mergers are ------------------

MER GER S I N G A P O R E & F E D E R A T I O N O F M A L A Y A 1 9 6 3

SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS TOPIC? “We used to rush home from wherever we were to listen to him argue his case.” he says, referring to a series of radio broadcasts made in 1961 by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew exposing the communist menace in Singapore and urging people to back the merger.” “ An awareness of the larger issues at stake filtered down even to the students at Raffles Institution, where he taught history and general paper from 1959-1966….. And this was not limited to heated discussions over coffee in the teachers’ common-room: Mr Wijeysingha remembers one of his history students, a 17 or 18 year old Goh Chok T ong, writing an article in the school magazine analysing the political situation..” “The trauma of those years, when Singapore entered and then was expelled from Malaysia --- left a deep impact on Singaporeans.” The Straits Times, 15 July 1998 (an interview with Mr Eugene Wijeysingha on the occasion of the NE exhibition, The Spore Story)

SINGAPOREANS TO DEBATE RE - MERGER “For a second time in less than six months, Singapore’s leaders have spoken of re-merging with Malaysia.” Why then are Singapore’s leaders talking of re-merger at all? Mr Goh Chok T ong put the issue in perspective. “If Singapore falters in the struggle for survival, it will have no choice but to ask to be re-merged with Malaysia, on Malaysian terms”, he told the rally. That is the condition – if Singapore falters.” From V. Jayanth, The Hindu Main Menu, International News, 27 Aug 1996

KEY QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: 1. Why Merge? - S’pore’s perspective - Malaya’s perspective 2. Challenges and obstacles to merger - sequence of events - what was the final agreement? 3. What were the results of merger? - following lesson

WHY MERGER? (SINGAPORE’S PERSPECTIVE) A. FOR ECONOMIC SURVIVAL

A STUNNING VICTORY FOR THE PAP AT THE 1959 ELECTIONS – BUT WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

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