A Study On The Separation And Merger Between Singapore And Malaysia 1945-1965

After the outbreak of World War II, British administration had to adjust its colonial policies in Malaya under the pressure of public opinion at home and abroad. On 22 January 1946, Britain published Malayan Union and Singapore: Statement of Policy on Future Constitution, viz. White Paper. According to the White Paper Penang and Malacca were linked with other nine Malay States in a new Federation with its capital at kuala Lumpur, Singapore was excluded from the mainland and controlled by Colonial Office. The White Paper also implied the termination of the privileged status previously enjoyed by the Malay community and a drastic reduction in the powers of the rulers which stirred up strong protest of Malay, so Malayan Union was replaced by the Federation of Malaya on 1 February 1948, and the privilege of Sudan and Malay was recovered again.Campus upheaval and workers strike never stopped after the founding of the Federation, Malaya began enter into times of turbulence and confusion. Administration used force to suppress the Anti-British activities on the one hand, on the other hand Colonial Government began to reform the political system and prepare for the transfer of power. Malaya held its first national elections in 1955, the Alliance Party won convincingly, gaining 51 of the 52 seats, and Abdul Rahman was appointed as the Chief Minister of the Autonomy State. The Merdeka talks began in January 1956. The Malay delegation agreed with the British government that an independent Malaya would give Britain the right to maintain forces in Malaya in order to allow the former colonial power to fulfill its international obligations. Full internal self-government was granted immediately and independence was to be proclaimed by 31 August 1957.The political reform in Singapore was relatively slow in post-war; Singapore just built its elected government based on Rendel Constitution until 1955. Aftermath, the national independence movement entered into a rapid development period. British Administration had to invite various political forces to London to discuss the political status of Singapore under the pressure of anti-colonialism. The representatives from both sides signed Pre-independence State of Singapore Constitution on 18 April 1958, British Government agreed to set up a self-governing state of Singapore. PAP had been the ruling party of the first self-government, but British still retained the right to defense and foreign affairs.There is a short Johor Straits between Singapore and Malaya, Two places in the political, economic, cultural and other aspects, are both inseparable whole. Although Singapore and Malaya was artificially divided into two independent political units, this separation was not absolute; two places still maintained a close relationship in post-war. On 27 May 1961 Abdul Rahman issued a statement that he hoped to strengthen inter-regional links of Malaysia. After more than two years of consultation, Singapore, Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak formed the Federation of Malaysia finally.After the establishment of Malaysia, various contradictions hidden in Federation gradually emerged. Intense conflict out broke between Singapore and Malaysia in the political, economic, cultural and ethnic dimensions, and relations between the two sides broke down. Nearly two years after the merger, Singapore was forced to quit from Malaysia. Singapore and Malaysia took to the road of independent development from then.