Singapore has been a strategic place for trading station. It's situated in the southern tip of Malay peninsula.
Because of the expansion of trading between British India and China, the British need to build trading post between them.
On 29 January 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles landed in Singapore. After negotiation with local rulers, the British established Singapore as a trading station in 1819. Then, Singapore, along with Penang and Malacca, became part of the Straits Settlement, which became a British Crown Colony in 1867. After mid-1860s, when telegraph and steamship became mainstream and Suez Canal was opened, Singapore became an major port for ships between Europe and Asia.
This success attracted many immigrants. So many immigrant, it's number exceeded the number of the native Malay.
In 1942, Singapore fell under Imperial Japanese authority. In 1945, Singapore became part of British administration again. The post-war Singapore was administered by British Military Administration. In 1946, Straits Settlement was dissolved, Penang and Malacca became part of Malayan Union while Singapore became a Crown Colony by itself. In 1959, Singapore were granted full internal self-government by the British and had its first general election. People Action Party won the majority of government seats in Singapore and Lee Kuan Yew became Singapore's 1st prime minister.
Lee Kuan Yew supported the idea of creating a merger between Malaya and Singapore. In 16 September 1963, Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, and North Borneo merged and formed Malaysia. Singapore's joining Malaysia marked the end of British colonial rule in the city-state. 16 September 1963 is also the 40th birthday of Lee Kuan Yew. So, we can say that he get a great 40th birthday present.
So, the merger between Singapore and Malaya turned out to be not really successful. The federal government of Malaysia decided to give people from ethnic Malay special privilege. The federal government of Malaysia is dominated by members of UMNO (United Malays National Organization). The government decided to do this so that Malay's economic condition could follow up the economic condition of other ethnic group. Lee Kuan Yew and his party, People Action Party (PAP) didn't like the federal gov. discriminating decision. To battle this discriminating policy, Lee and PAP created 'Malaysian Malaysia' slogan. 'Malaysian Malaysia' slogan means that Malaysia is not only for the Malays, but it's also for all Malaysian.
UMNO leaders were also afraid that the economic and political power in Kuala Lumpur would shift to Singapore.
The tension between Malaysian federal government and Singapore grew more as racial riots erupted in Singapore in 1964. The tension between Malaysian federal government and Singapore grew more as racial riots erupted in Singapore in 1964.
Because of these, UMNO politicians decided that it would be best if Singapore get out of the federation. Lee Kuan Yew and PAP, of course, didn't like this decision. Lee has supported the merger of Malaya and Singapore since the beginning. So, whether Singapore stay in the federation or not is in the hands of the members of parliament of Malaysia. And all members of parliament, except all members from Singapore, decided that Singapore should be expelled from Malaysia. Hence, Singapore is the ONE & ONLY country in the history of the modern world to gain independence against its own will. So, when all the other nations fight for their independence, Singapore was FORCED to become independent.
On 9 August 1965, Singapore was officially separated from Malaysia. On that day, in a televised press conference, Lee Kuan Yew tearfully announced the independence of Singapore. And it's not a happy tear. He tearfully said, ""You see the whole of my adult life. I... I have believed in Malaysian merger and the unity of this two territories."
Singapore being an independent nation was a risky situation for a number of reasons. Singapore is the only Southeast Asian nations without any natural resource. All of its water supply is bought from Malaysia. At that time, Singapore had a lack of protection from outside threat, such as Indonesian military*.
*Indonesia at that time was against the establishment of Malaysia. So, the expelled Singapore could be a target of military action.
Fortunately, although it heavily rely on international trade to fulfill the citizens' basic need, Singapore as a major port for global trade is still really successful. The city-state has the highest GDP per capita in ASEAN. So, there is actually a bright side in the expulsion of Singapore from Malaysia.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SINGAPORE!
Thanks for reading!
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