The big picture
Major events of this period

What it means -- at a glance

* All Singaporean citizens cease to be Malaysian citizens
* All civil servants, including police and armed forces personnel, courts and judiciary, who became employees of the Malaysian Government on Malaysia Day, come under the Singapore Government once again
* All civil servants employed by Federal departments in Singapore after Malaysia Day become forthwith employees of the Singapore Government
* All properties taken over by the Malaysia Government on Malaysia Day are now properties of the Singapore Government
* No turnover tax
* Bank of China reverts to status quo
* No more Common Market arrangements as provided by the Malaysian Constitution
* Full control by Singapore Government over broadcasting and television
  Unchanged are Singapore's water supply from Johore and maintenance by Central Government of military bases in Singapore

Independent Singapore bill

This is the Bill passed today by both Houses of Parliament giving Singapore full independence.

Called the Constitution and Malaysia (Singapore Amendment) Act 1965, it contains these provisions:

Singapore shall leave Malaysia and become an independent and sovereign State and nation separate from and independent of Malaysia.

Singapore ceases to be a State of Malaysia on August 9, 1965, which will henceforth be called "Singapore Day" and will on becoming an independent and sovereign State and nation be recognised as such by the Government of Malaysia and accordingly the Constitution of Malaysia and Malaysia Act will erase to have effect in Singapore except for certain provisions.

The Singapore Government shall on and after Singapore Day retain its executive authority and legislative powers to make laws with respect to those matters provided for in the Constitution.

The executive authority and legislative powers of the Parliament of Malaysia shall make laws for any of its constituent States and will on Singapore Day erase to extend to Singapore and will be transferred and vested in the Singapore Government.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong ceases to be the Supreme Head of Singapore on Singapore Day and his sovereignty and jurisdiction power and authority, executive of otherwise in respect of Singapore will be relinquished and vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, the Head of State of Singapore.

The laws

All present laws in force in Singapore immediately before Singapore Day shall continue to have effect according to their tenor and shall be consecrate as if this Act had not been passed in respect of Singapore subject, however to amendment or reneal by the Singapore legislature.

Until other provision is made by the Singapore legislative, the jurisdiction, original or appellate and the practice and procedure of the High Court and subordinate courts of Singapore will be the same as that exercised and followed immediately before Singapore Day, and the appeals from the High Court will continue to lip to the Federal Court of Appeal of Malaysia and then to the Privy Council in like manner:

All property, moveable and immovable, and the rights, liabilities and obligations which before Malaysia Day belonged to or were the responsibility of the Singapore Government and which on that day or after became the property of or the responsibility of the Government of Malaysia will on Singapore Day revert to and be vested in the Singapore Government.

All persons, including members of the Armed Forces, the Police Force, the courts and the judiciary, and all others who immediately before Malaysia Day were officers employed by the Singapore Government and who on the day or after became officers employed by the Government of Malaysia ill on Singapore Day become once again Singapore Government officers and all persons who between Malaysia Day and Singapore Day were engaged by the Government of Malaysia in those departments which were Singapore State, departments before Malaysia Day will on Singapore Day become forthwith Singapore Government officers.

The MPs

The two Senators and 15 Members of Parliament from Singapore will on Singapore Day erase to be members of the Senate and the house of Representatives.

A citizen of Singapore will be Singapore Day cease to be a citizen of Malaysia.

Any treaty, agreement or convention entered into before Singapore Day between the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the Government of Malaysia and another country or the Government of Malaysia and another country or countries will in so far as such instruments have application to Singapore be deemed to be a treaty agreement or convention between Singapore and that country or countries and any decision taken by an international organisation of which Singapore is a member.

This particularly includes the Anglo-Malaya Mutual Defence Treaty and specifically states that the Singapore Government will on and after Singapore Day afford to the British Government the right to continue to maintain bases and other facilities occupied by Service authorities within Singapore will permit the British Government to make use of the bases and facilities for the purposes of assisting in the defence of Singapore and Malaysia and for the Commonwealth to maintain peace in South - East Asia.

The Singapore Government will on and after Singapore Day abide by the terms and conditions of the Water Agreements entered into with the Johore Government and the Government of Malaysia will guarantee that the Johore Government will also abide by the terms and conditions.

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