That is the tendency in Singapore
Plea for change of heartThe Sunday Times, May 28, 1961
SINGAPORE, Sat. -- THE Prime Minister, Tengku Abdul Rahman, said today that despite massive efforts by the Singapore Government "the natural tendency of the Chinese is to try and make the state a little China."
It would be a good thing for all concerned, he added, if the people of Singapore and the Federation could decide to make Malaya what it was -- "Malaya, our one and only home."
The Singapore Government had been doing all it could for the people, he said.
"But in spite of this effort the people of Singapore, according to their Prime Minister, are not satisfied.
"In truth, I do not envy the lot of the Prime Minister of Singapore for he has quite a different type of people to deal with.
"In Singapore, where the Chinese predominate, the tendency is to try and make the state a little China, while in Malaya the Government is characteristically Malayan and bases its policy on a Malayan way of life and Malayan standards.
"This is exactly what the Singapore Prime Minister wants to do.
"Perhaps it would not be out of place for me, as a friend of Singapore and its people, to say here that it would be a good thing for all concerned if the people of Singapore and Malaya could decide to make Malaya what it is -- Malaya, our one and only home.
"They should forget China. She has her own way of life and can manage her millions of people through her own form of Government. In fact, she is one of the great powers of the world...
"We who are here have only our little Malaya.
"The Chinese, Malays and others have to make the best of our home here.
"So whatever we do we have to think of the interests of all concerned."
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