THE FORMATION OF MALAYSIA

16TH SEPTEMBER 1963

THE MERGING PLAN

The

idea to unite Malaysia with neighbouring countries was raised several times. Merger of Singapore suggested in 1955 by David Marshall rejected by Tunku Abdul Rahman. Lee Kuan Yew proposed the idea again in 1959 unfavorable respond.

THE MERGING PLAN

27th

May 1961: Tunku Abdul Rahman suggested the merger of Malaya with: - Singapore - North Borneo: Sabah - Sarawak - Brunei

Free through unification was the main general factor of the proposal.

REASONS

Political Reasons To curb communist threat To boost and accelerate the independence of Brunei, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak. To create racial harmony

REASONS
Economy - To boost regional economy for people and countries Social - To create Malaysian nation new identity based on shared cultural heritage

REACTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL

Tunkus proposal triggered different reactions from the people in the five countries. Singapore Lee Kuan Yew welcomed the idea. However, there was a strong opposition from left-wing leaders: United Peoples Party (UPP).

Singapore

People Action Party (PAP) lost in 2 byelections (1961). Lee Kuan Yew more determined to merge.

Brunei

Initially people not so keen. Preferred Brunei to achieve own independence before joining Malaysia. Some agreed to the idea of merging. Sultan Omar Ali Sarifuddin was interested and thought the idea was excellent.

Brunei

Strong resistant came from A.M. Azahari leader of Parti Rakyat Brunei. Own suggestion: to unite Sabah and Sarawak with Brunei. Staged armed revolution in December 1962 but controlled by Sultan with Britishs help.

Sabah and Sarawak

Received encouraging response from the people. Merging meant independence. Communist threat could be controlled. Contributed to racial balance.

Sabah and Sarawak

Worried about Malayan dominance, not fairly treated by the Malayan people. Non-Malays worried about the status of own religion and language. Sabahan and Sarawakian Chinese worried about the economic competition with Singaporean Chinese.

Malaya (Tanah Melayu)

Support for merging was generally acceptable. Some were skeptical: worried the imbalance of Malay-Chinese ratio. Inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak relieved them.

Malaya (Tanah Melayu)

PAS leaders claimed Malays would lose out if agreed to the idea more interested with MAPHILINDO plan.

Britain

Despite losing their colony, overall they agreed. Issue of awarding independence repeatedly raised by British officers. Received support from British officers and the people. Several obstacles emerged in the discussion

Britain

Tunku and peers had to convince the British in settling their concerns. Plan almost spoilt: Governors of Sabah and Sarawak claimed people wanted to unite first before merge. Cobbold Commission was formed to assess the opinion of people

TOWARDS THE FORMATION OF MALAYSIA

1.

Harmony Entourage to Sabah and Sarawak (June 1961)

Tunku wanted the people to understand the merging concept. Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP), Sarawak People Party (SNAP) and Barisan Rakyat Jati Sarawak (BARJASA) expressed opposition.

1.

Harmony Entourage to Sabah and Sarawak (June 1961)

United National Kadazan Organization (UNKO)s leader: Donald Stephens publicly rejected the idea.
Tunku promised to give considerable autonomy to lead.

2. Visit to Brunei (July 1961)

A.M. Azahari and his party not interested in merging idea. Sultan formed special committee to assess publics opinion.

3. Singapore Conference (August 1961)

Should be decided by the people. Singapore hold autonomy powers in education and labour. Central government responsible for defense, internal security. A referendum showed than more than 70% people agreed to merger.

4. Borneo States Meeting (November 1961)

A meeting to discuss Borneos status as British colony. To assess the peoples reaction towards the merging idea. It too widened English-Malaya defence treaty to protect South East Asia from communism threats. Proposal to assist to review Sultan Bruneis opinion and to maintain British military base in Singapore.

5. Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee (Middle 1961)

Was formed when most Borneos leaders expressed skepticism. Meeting held to relay true intention and reasons of merging. Received strong support.

6. Cobbold Commission (August 1962)

Was formed to assess the feelings of the Sabahans and Sarawakians. Committee consisted 2 British and 2 Malaysian. Found 70% accepted the idea.

7. Inter Government Committee (August 1962)

Was formed to plan the legislative of the new country. Was headed by Lord Landsdowne. Analyzed important matters the report was accepted by committee as basis to formulate Malaysia.

8. Singapores Referendum

Amidst opposition, PAP restore peoples confidence in merging by mentioning these matters: - promised the people not losing status of citizenship. - better international economic prospects.

8. Singapores Referendum
- easier to curb communist threat. Referendum had shown 70% accepted the merging

9. United Nations Mission (June 1963)

To assess the acceptance of the Sabahans and Sarawakians. Tunku met President Sukarno and President Macapagal to explicate the idea. Convinced them the people agreed and accepted the idea.

9. United Nations Mission (June 1963)

Referendum reflected positive reaction from the people authenticate Cobbolds report. Despite this, Indonesia unwilling to back down on opposition.

FORMATION OF MALAYSIA AND ITS OBSTACLES

Malaysia Without Brunei

Bruneis initial strong wish to join Malaysia did not become a reality. Due to wishes not fulfilled:

Malaysia Without Brunei

1.

2.

3.
4.

Brunei given at least 10 parliamentary seats. Autonomy on oil trade Autonomy in financial Maintain all investments

Malaysia Without Brunei

5.
6.

7.
8.

Maintain low tax rates Continue own education and welfare programme Security guaranteed HRH seniority backdated to the date becoming Sultan not the date Brunei joining Malaysia

Malaysia Without Brunei

Although 6 wishes fulfilled, Sultan decided not to sign agreement. A lost for Peninsula Malaysia and London.

External Resistant

Two countries opposed to the formation of Malaysia.

The Philippines

The Philippines claimed Sabah as a part of her. Although the people of Sabah agreed with the merging, Philippines continued to contest. Broke diplomatic relation.

Indonesia

President Sukarno declared confrontation on Malaysia (Ganyang Malaysia). Reason: Malaya was not consulting her (as a neighbouring country) The formation of Malaysia might weaken the spirit of Malays.

Indonesia

Launched military confrontation. 1965: Sukarno was overthrown, replaced by General Suharto August 1966: peace agreement was signed.

WITHDRAWAL OF SINGAPORE

Polarization between Malays and Chinese became obvious. Election 1964: claim of Lee Kuan Yew belittling MCA leaders. Create conflict between MCA and PAP and UMNO - leaders and people

WITHDRAWAL OF SINGAPORE

Idea of campaign: all Chinese must support PAP to compel UMNO agreed to PAPs demand. Racist campaigning created tension led to riot. 27th April 1965: Lee Kuan Yew launched Malaysia for Malaysian.

WITHDRAWAL OF SINGAPORE

Malays angry: proposed Melayu Bersatu. Tan Siew Sin and T.H. Tan proposed Singapore to withdraw. 7th August 1965: agreement of withdrawal was signed. 9th August 1965: Singapore officially withdrew and formed a Republic