why is Singapore not part of Malaysia?

[Al Zan]

i don't get why is Singapore its own nation?
why did it break off from Malayisa?
can someone please expain why is Singapora its own Nations.

 

[The Yankee]

They had a different ethnic makeup than the rest of Malaysia. And they declared independence......around 1965? I think that was the year, if not then, sometime in the mid-60s.

I suppose they felt that they would not have their own interests addressed by the rest of Malaysia.

 

[Achinz]

In a nutshell, it's a racial issue.

The proposal for Singapore to merge with the old Malaya and the British Borneo territories into Malaysia fell through because of the fear in then Malayan government leaders that the predominantly Chinese population of Singapore would tip the balance in the latter's favour cf the Malays.

If you visit Singapore today, there is an interesting exhibit in the museum of a video of a tearful Lee Kuan Yew (the then Prime Minister) announcing the breakdown of the merger talks.

 

[Al Zan]

is there any other resoneds?

 

[Yoda Power]

Malaysia is Muslim, Singapore isn't. Singapore had its own economy already when they became independent. They had no reason to stay Malay.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by Achinz
In a nutshell, it's a racial issue.

The proposal for Singapore to merge with the old Malaya and the British Borneo territories into Malaysia fell through because of the fear in then Malayan government leaders that the predominantly Chinese population of Singapore would tip the balance in the latter's favour cf the Malays.

If you visit Singapore today, there is an interesting exhibit in the museum of a video of a tearful Lee Kuan Yew (the then Prime Minister) announcing the breakdown of the merger talks.

Close, but maybe not quite.

It's a politics issue, as well. In 1963, Sarawak, Sabah (the north Borneo territories) and Singapore, together with the already-independent Federation of Malaya, formed the Federation of Malaysia. The indigenes in north Borneo, added to the Malay vote, allowed the indigenes in the new entity to outnumber the Chinese vote (incl Singapore's Chinese).

The dominant National Front coalition then was on a losing streak against the Singapore-based opposition People's Action Party (Lee's party), which championed a cause based on meritocracy and equal rights for all citizens. The PAP was making some headway in Malaya itself (Lee was a formidable demagogue).

Tunku, leader of the National Front, fearing loss of control to the non-racial based PAP (the component parties of the NF were racially-based), then got Singapore out of Malaysia. Probably for the best, as in 1969, racial riots broke out in KL and elsewhere in Malaysia and hundreds of people, mostly Chinese, were killed.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Tunku and the Malays probably expected that Singapore, cut off fr the Malaysian hinterland, would wither and also be easily 'controllable' by its larger Malaysian neighbour; never expecting the opposite effect...

Plus, the British Army, a large contributor to Singapore's economy, was also pulling out of Singapore around that time, as part of its general withdrawal fr regions east of the Suez Canal.

Instead, Lee and the PAP went on an intensive program to turn Singapore around, basing heavily on 'common sense' and on training up a world-class human resource, and make Singapore what it is today.

 

[Achinz]

Originally posted by XIII
Tunku and the Malays probably expected that Singapore, cut off fr the Malaysian hinterland, would wither and also be easily 'controllable' by its larger Malaysian neighbour; never expecting the opposite effect...

It still amazes me that Singapore has been able to manage the water supply "stick" seeing its source is in Johor, across the causeway in Malaysia. Perhaps there are hints here of the analogous relationship between China and Hong Kong in purely commercial terms.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Singapore manages to produce 60-80% of its own water supply, from its drainage system, and lakes to pool the rainwater. Plus, they're now going big into NEWwater (reprocessed used water) and desalination plants, planning for the contingency of removing this weakness fr Singapore's daily sustenance.

'Sides, the water agreements are originally fr the British days and IIRC, were renewed once during the 70s... Currently, they're in talks (argument actually) over the price. As usual, politics gotten involved.

Singapore also processes and sends back part of the water supply it has gotten fr Johor, at a big discount. The water bill for my Malaysian home amounts to only 4-5 ringgit monthly (1 USD=3.6 or 3.8 ringgit).

Actually I don't think Malaysia will go to all the extreme of denying Singapore water though. We aren't that bad.

 

[Achinz]

Interesting and in line with the other high tech solutions to the problems of managing "a small island". I wonder how Singaporeans will take to NEWwater - in Oz the very thought of using reprocessed water has brought out howls of protest by the public. Still like Singapore it's a major problem here as has been well highlighted by the recent drought.

The water bill for my Malaysian home amounts to only 4-5 ringgit monthly (1 USD=3.6 or 3.8 ringgit)

Would that be on top of any other rates/levies for water supply?

Actually I don't think Malaysia will go to all the extreme of denying Singapore water though. We aren't that bad.

Well, as you said earlier it's all political which if instability sets in and if the more fundamentalist Islamic party gains power, the situation may get less amiable. Still it's reassuring that S'pore is well into its high tech path of self-sufficiency.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by Achinz
I wonder how Singaporeans will take to NEWwater - in Oz the very thought of using reprocessed water has brought out howls of protest by the public. Still like Singapore it's a major problem here as has been well highlighted by the recent drought.

It's already been added in a same per centile (5%?) to the general water supply - I take it in every day.

Also for industrial uses.

Would that be on top of any other rates/levies for water supply?

Nope, the total.

 

[Achinz]

Originally posted by XIII
(On whether rates/levies are on top of the cost of water) Nope, the total.

Ah...it does fall gently (and profusely) from the heavens from you part of the world. We may have to tow icebergs from Antartica in the not too distant future with our aridity and salinity problems

 

[Qitai]

The water agreement is actually part of the agreement between Singapore and Malaysia when they seperated in 1965, rather than it being a legacy from British rule. It was part of the requirement from Singapore for the seperation.

And Singapore was really thrown out of Malaysia, rather than wanting independence. At least this is according to Lee Kuan Yew. So, it was never a country trying to gain independence, but rather a country being forced to be independent, which may explain partly why the fighting spirit to show to the world that it can survive.

 

[Knight-Dragon]

Originally posted by Qitai
The water agreement is actually part of the agreement between Singapore and Malaysia when they seperated in 1965, rather than it being a legacy from British rule. It was part of the requirement from Singapore for the seperation.

D'oh!

I really thought it was fr the British days 'cause Malaya went independent in 1957, and Singapore only followed in 1963. Something must had been negotiated for the water during these years...

And Singapore was really thrown out of Malaysia, rather than wanting independence. At least this is according to Lee Kuan Yew. So, it was never a country trying to gain independence, but rather a country being forced to be independent, which may explain partly why the fighting spirit to show to the world that it can survive.

Yep. Had the PAP gone on to win the national Malaysian elections, us two combined countries could easily be a Taiwan, or maybe a S Korea even.

 

[Qitai]

Opps.... actually, I was wrong. Here are what I found.

The agreements are actually drawn in 1961 and 1962 between the then self governing Singapore and independent Malaysia.

The above are confirmed and guaranteed in the seperation document in 1965.
The 1962 water agreement was re-confirmed in 1990.

Sorry.


Difficult to tell what would have happen if Singapore was not thrown out. The Malays and Chinese might be still fighting now if it has not happen. Or in the worst case, the communist might have won the people over if the racial riots continues. My family members are 50% Singaporean (3) , 50% Malaysian (3) by the way. Dread to think if Singapore and Malaysia decides to fight it out.

 

[Achinz]

Originally posted by Qitai
Difficult to tell what would have happen if Singapore was not thrown out. The Malays and Chinese might be still fighting now if it has not happen. Or in the worst case, the communist might have won the people over if the racial riots continues. My family members are 50% Singaporean (3) , 50% Malaysian (3) by the way. Dread to think if Singapore and Malaysia decides to fight it out.

A concern is the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the area and the possibility of the extremists now in power in the East Coast gaining power in the country country overall.

 

[Qitai]

Yes, that is something I am watching with interest. But them gaining power of the whole country is unlikely in the near future. And it is more of the northern state rather than the just the east coast. The east coast has some of the nicest beach by the way.

 

[Achinz]

I'm wondering how stable the UMNO-Coalition is with Mahathir gone from the helm. I had thought the Reformasi movement associated with Anwar would have gathered more steam but I guess any show of protest would have been quelled by the very physical police action. With the history of racial unrest in the past one is somewhat less than confident of developments in the future in the light of expanding Islamic fundamentalism in the region.