Chapter 8 History notes (Merger)

Chapter8HistoryNotes(Part1:Merger) ReasonsformergerbetweenSingaporeandMalaya ReasonsProblemsfacedbySingapore ReasonsforMergingwithMalaya Economic - Singaporelackednaturalresourceslikerubberandtin,andahinterland.Itexperiencedarapidlygrowingpopulationthatwouldneedsufficientjobopportunitieseventually.- Italsofacedproblemslikeadecliningentrepottradeandgrowingunemployment.- TheMalayangovernmentimposedtradetariffsongoodsexchangedbetweenthetwocountries.- Thetradetariffsreducedprofitsearnedbycompaniesandbusinessesbecausepartoftherevenuecollectedfromthetradeactivitiesisusedtopaytaxes. - Malayawasrichinnaturalresources,soSingaporewouldbeabletoaccessthesevitalresourcesandproducegoods,thusitwouldbenefititseconomyifthemergerweretotakeplace.- SingaporeneededMalayanhinterlandtoprovideabiggercommonmarketforitsindustries,whichcouldbesetupthroughthemerger.ThemergerwouldalsoallowSingaporetonotloseoutonmoreentrepottrade.- Inthecommonmarket,goodswouldbeabletobesoldandboughtfreely,withoutthetariffbeingimposedonthemandpreventthemfrombeingtaxed.Thiswouldhelpincreasetrade,expandindustriesandcreatemorejobopportunitiesforthepeopleinSingapore,thusresolvingtheproblemofthegrowingunemployment. Political - TheBritishwereworriedaboutthecommunistsandfearedthattheywouldtakeoverSingapore,sotheywouldmostlikelynotgrantSingaporefullindependenceinordertoprotecttheirinterests. - TheSingaporegovernmentunderstoodthattheBritishwouldonlyletSingaporetogainpoliticalindependenceifitmergedwithMalaya.- TheBritishbelievedthatwhenanewfederation,whichconsistsofSingapore,Malaya,NorthBorneo(Sabah),SarawakandBruneiwasformed,therewouldbegreaterpoliticalstabilityinthoseterritoriestopreventthespreadofcommunismandsafeguardtheirinterests.

ReasonswhyMalayarefusedtomergewithSingaporebefore1961 - TheMalayanPrimeMinister,TunkuAbdulRahman,wasworriedthatthepredominantlyChinesecommunityinSingaporewouldbelesskeentoacceptaMalaySultanastheirHeadofState,useMalayastheirnationallanguageoracceptIslamastheirnationalreligion.- MalayawasnotkeentomergewithSingaporebecauseitwoulddisrupttheracialbalance,sinceifSingaporeweretomergewithMalaya,thenumberofChinesewouldbemorethanthenumberofMalaysinthenewfederation.- TunkuAbdulRahmanwasalsoworriedaboutthespreadofcommunismtoMalaya.Thepro-communistChineseinSingaporemightinfluencetheChineseinMalayaanddisruptthesecurityinMalaya. ReasonsforMalayawantingtomergewithSingaporeafter1961 Reason1:- MalayahadarepresentativeonSingapore’sInternalSecurityCouncil.- TunkuAbdulRahmanwasworriedthatifSingaporewasnotpartofthefederationwhenitbecameanindependentstate,MalayawouldloseitsreputationinthecounciltohaveasayoversecuritymattersinSingapore.- TheabsenceofboththecolonialgovernmentandtheMalayanrepresentativewouldnotbeabletocontainthethreatsinSingaporeeasily. Reason2:- TunkuAbdulRahmandidnotwantthePAPtobecontrolledbythememberswhowereinfluencedbycommunismasthosemembersmightbelesswillingtoconsideramergerontermsacceptabletoMalaya. Reason3:- IfSingaporebecameapartofMalaysia,itwouldbeeasyforthegovernmentinM