Malaysian Studies

MPW 2133
The Formation of Malaysia
Chapter 4 (Week 4)

AMIR AFFENDY BIN MOHD

MPU Department
SEGi University
amiraffendy@segi.edu.my

Last Updated:June 13, 2020 © SEGi education group 1

 Learning Objectives

On this chapter, students will be able to:

1. Identify the reason for the formation of Malaysia
2. Understand the events that brought about them formation of Malaysia
3. Explain why and how Singapore opted out from Malaysia

Last Updated:June 13, 2020 © SEGi education group 2

 Learning Outcome

By the end of this chapter, students will be able to:

1. Understand the reason for the formation of Malaysia
2. Understand the events that brought about them formation of Malaysia
3. Explain why and how Singapore opted out from Malaysia

Last Updated:June 13, 2020 © SEGi education group 3

 Body Contents

• Introduction
• Reaction to the proposal
• Towards the Formation of Malaysia
• Formation of Malaysia and its obstacles
• Withdrawal of Singapore

Last Updated:June 13, 2020 © SEGi education group 4

 Quizzes
Answer all the following questions:
1. List TWO demands of Brunei to Malaysia government
-10 Parliamentary seats
-Domination of all oil revenues
2. List TWO committee under the formation of Malaysia
-Cobbold Commission
-Singapore Referendum

Last Updated:June 13, 2020 © SEGi education group 5

 Tutorial
Answer all the following questions:
1. List TWO party in Sarawak against the proposal of The Formation of
Malaysia
-Sarawak National Party
-Sarawak United People’s Party
2. List THREE factors for The Formation of Malaysia
-Collective fight against communism
-Ethnic Balance and Unity
-Economic Cooperation

Last Updated:June 13, 2020 © SEGi education group 6

 References
Andaya, B. W. and Andaya, L.Y. (1981), A History of Malaysia, Hong
Kong:Macmillan Asian Histories series

Mardiana Nordin and Hasnah Hussiin, Malaysian Studies, Shah Alam: Oxford
Fajar Sdn. Bhd.

Mohamed Noordin Sopiee (1974), From Malayan Union to Singapore

Seperation: Political Unification in the Malaysia Region 1945-1965, Kuala
Lumpur: Universiti Malaya

Mohd Noor Abdullah (1979), Kemasukan Sabah dan Sarawak ke dalam

Persekutuan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

Last Updated:June 13, 2020 © SEGi education group 7

 Key terms
Key
Key Terms:
Cobbold The outcome of the discussion in London
Commission
autonomy Self-government with respect to local or internal affairs

Polarization the process whereby a social or political group is divided

into opposing sub-groups

Last Updated:June 13, 2020 © SEGi education group 8

 Introduction

 The idea to unite Malaysia with neighbour 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

 On 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.
• Political Reasons
- To curb communist threat
- To boost and accelerate the independence of Brunei, Singapore,
Sabah and Sarawak.
- To create racial harmony
• Economy
- To boost regional economy for people and countries
• Social
• To create Malaysian nation new identity based on shared of cultural
heritage
 REACTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL

• Tunku Abdul Rahman 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 People’s Party (UPP).
• People Action Party (PAP) lost in 2 by-elections (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.
• 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 British’s help.
 Sabah and Sarawak

• Received encouraging response from the people.

• Merging meant independence.
• Communist threat could be controlled.
• Contributed to racial balance.
• 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.
• 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
• 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 People’s Party (SUPP), Sarawak People’ Party
(SNAP) and Barisan Rakyat Jati Sarawak (BARJASA) expressed
opposition.
• 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 public’s 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 Borneo’s status as British colony.

• To assess the people’s 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 Brunei’s opinion and to maintain
British military base in Singapore.
 5. Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee (Middle 1961)

• Was formed when most Borneo’s 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. Singapore’s Referendum

• Amidst opposition, PAP restore people’s confidence in merging by

mentioning these matters:
- promised the people not losing status of citizenship.
- better international economic prospects.
- easier to curb communist threat.
• Referendum had shown 70% accepted the merging
 9. United Nation’s 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.
• Referendum reflected positive reaction from the people –
authenticate Cobbold’s report.
• Despite this, Indonesia unwilling to back down on opposition.
FORMATION OF MALAYSIA AND ITS
OBSTACLES
 Malaysia Without Brunei
• Brunei’s initial strong wish to join Malaysia did not become a reality.
• Due to wishes not fulfilled:
1. Brunei given at least 10 parliamentary seats.
2. Autonomy on oil trade
3. Autonomy in financial
4. Maintain all investments
5. Maintain low tax rates
6. Continue own education and welfare programme
7. Security guaranteed
8. HRH seniority backdated to the date becoming Sultan not the date
Brunei joining Malaysia

• 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 neighbour country)
• The formation of Malaysia might weaken the spirit of Malays.
• 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
• Idea of campaign: all Chinese must support PAP to compel UMNO
agreed to PAP’s demand.
• Racist campaigning created tension led to riot.
• 27th April 1965: Lee Kuan Yew launched “Malaysia for Malaysian”.
• 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
 Conclusion

• The Federation of Malaysia which included Malaya, Singapore, Sabah,

Sarawak and Brunei was finally established on 16 September 1963
without the inclusion of Brunei and Singapore
• In retrospect, the formation of Malaysia had indeed brought a lot of
benefits to Malaya