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A timeline of events
Major
events of this period
IT was a hot, sweltering Saturday afternoon, on May 27, 1961.
Journalists, both local and foreign, were gathered at a Foreign Correspondents’ Association of South-east Asia luncheon.
It was here that Tunku Abdul Rahman, then Prime Minister of Malaya, first brought up the idea of merger.
"Malaya today as a nation realises that she cannot stand alone"
--Tunku Abdul RahmanRead more excerpts from the Tunku's speech
The Tunku was concerned that Singapore was becoming a 'little China'. He was afraid that the Communists' influence would spread to Malaya.
These three men all approached the Tunku to consider Singapore’s merger with Malaysia. But the Tunku agreed on the issue of merger with only one of them – Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.
SHE THOUGHT THE TUNKU WAS BEING UNREALISTIC
Many people welcomed the idea of a merger, including Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s Premier. But some were against it. For instance, the president of the Singapore Congress, Mrs Felice Leon-Soh said:
The plan is very far-fetched and it would appear that the delayed merger between Singapore and the Federation is ample proof of a realistic improbability.
Click here to find out what other people thought about the Tunku's proposal
He was a senior sub-editor and then deputy managing editor of The Straits Times.
Mr Ambrose Khaw, now 70, gives his analysis of the Tunku’s decision to merge Singapore, Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei.
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Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
The Tunku had,
in the past,
given many
views on the
possibility
of merger between
the Federation
and Singapore.
But this
historic speech
set things
in motion.
The Tunku
was initially
sceptical about
merger. He
was afraid
that Singapore's
Chinese majority
will upset
the racial
balance in
Malaya.
Who is Tunku Abdul
Rahman?
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