Separation of Singapore from Malaysia was not suddenly thrust onto Singapore as many believed.

Singapore wasn’t “kicked out” of Malaysia: Albatross files gives us a better understanding of moment in history

By Terry Xu on December 22, 2015 Commentaries, Opinion





There is no more iconic moment of the birth of independent Singapore than when first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew cried on national television while announcing the separation of Singapore and Malaysia.

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   “Because of the telecast, viewers in Singapore were able to witness first-hand not only the birth of the country, but also PM Lee’s emotional outburst and the long pauses as he voiced his anguish over the separation from Malaysia.

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   This was a sight that contradicted PM Lee’s image as a strong and determined leader and made his outpouring of emotions on national television that much more startling for viewers then.” – Channel News Asia

An exhibition entitled We Built A Nation at the National Museum of Singapore features a few selected papers from the previously classified Albatross file, named after Dr Goh Keng Swee’s description of merger as becoming “an Albatross round our necks”. Dr Goh served as Finance Minister, Minister for Defence, Minister for Education and Deputy Prime Minister, and played a crucial role in the negotiations over separation.

The papers displayed at the exhibition show that separation was not, as the mainstream narrative has led many to believe, suddenly thrust on to Singapore when the city was “kicked out” of Malaysia. Instead, Singapore’s leaders had been very much involved in negotiating the terms of separation.

In the first paragraph of a memorandum from the prime minster, marked “Top Secret”, Lee stated: “It will not be long before we will have to take a decision on the future of Singapore and of Malaysia. I believe that soon after the Puasa month we will have to respond to an open move by the Tunku [Tunku Abdul Rahman, then-Prime Minister of Malaysia]. It will demand that we take a public position.”

Lee added: “Before we make this decision we should be clear in our minds on the options open to us and on the consequences not only of the short term but also the long term of each and every one of the possible decisions we make.”

After the merger, Singapore retained its control on education and labour under the Malaysia Federation but all matters on defence, external affairs and internal security came under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Singapore also had to contribute 40 per cent of its revenue to the federal government, with a common market to be set up over a period of 12 years.

In this top secret memorandum, Mr Lee analysed the situation and effects. He noted: “When the Tunku first informed Keng Swee in December last year (1964) of his desire to have Singapore ‘hive off’ from Malaya, it generated considerable excitement amongst us first because this showed their realisation that we cannot be fixed in Malaysia and the supremacy of Malay communalists assured forever.”

But he was also aware of the potential benefit of such a situation, and wrote: “Next, it gave us an escape, if there is to be trouble in Malaya with communal clashes over language and other issues. We might in such a rearrangement insulate ourselves from communal conflict which is building up in Malaya.”

Lee wrote that the “greatest attraction of this rearrangement is our hope to get the benefits of all worlds – the common market, political stability with economic expansion, and autonomy in Singapore without interference from KL (Kuala Lumpur). The picture of a prosperous and flourishing Singapore doing better than the rest of Malaysia is most attractive”.

Tears on the telecast?

Below is a copy of a memo which was sent by a British official in Singapore to London in 1965. In it, the official (who has not been identified) describes what transpired at that famous press conference.




According to the memo, Lee “threatened ‘punitive’ measures against any newspaper which printed pictures of him smiling.”

This memo, along with documents from the Albatross file, has led some to ask what Lee’s tears on television were all about.

As author T J S George recounted in his 1974 book Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore, Tunku Abdul Rahman was more surprised than he was moved when he saw Mr Lee in tears over the break-up. The Tungku said: “I don’t know why Mr Lee acted like that…he was quite pleased about [the split].”

post by the PAP dog calvin

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Calvin Cheng
December 23 at 11:23am · Singapore ·

I do not know why The Online Citizen and its editors seem so intent on revising history and putting Mr. Lee Kuan Yew down.

During LKY's funeral, they and others kept insisting that Singapore was already rich in 1965 and thus LKY couldn't have brought Singapore from Third World to First. They posted pictures of high-rise buildings from the Collyer Quay area as proof.

That's just silly. Yes the colonial heart of Singapore was relatively developed, but it was an enclave for the British. Much of Singapore was still swampland, and parts still were up till the late 70's.

Now because the 'Albatross' files showed that extensive negotiations took place during Separation, TOC seems to be claiming that as a result, we couldn't have been ejected.

Again, this is naive. Even in a divorce, when one party is unwilling, that party tries to negotiate for the best deal before the divorce. We were asked to leave - but our leaders had to negotiate for the best terms possible, including the Water Agreements that still provide us water cheaply till this day 50 years on.

Finally, they seem to claim that just because others said LKY seemed pleased at the Separation, and that there is some evidence that he may actually have supported some reasons for Separation, his tears on TV must have been fake.

Human beings are complex. During times of grief, there can be relief. And even during times of relief, there can be worry and regret. After years of fighting with the Ultras, I am sure LKY must also have been relieved at finally separating. But being a Malayan at heart, he must also have been upset. Any human being who has gone through separation must know that it's always a mixed-bag of emotions.

I have always maintained that Singapore needs good opposition and critics to progress. What's keeping us from progressing is the quality of the critical voices at the moment.

I dont read Calvin Cheng's stuff.......waste time.....

like i always said, the old fart is a fucking hypocrite

TOC admonished by ex-NMP and Ambassador for casting doubts on Separation and LKY

By The Independent -

December 31, 2015


Citing previously classified official Government documents at an exhibition titled ‘We Built A Nation’ at the National Museum of Singapore, prominent socio-political website The Online Citizen (TOC) claimed that the separation of Singapore from Malaysia was not suddenly thrust onto Singapore as many believed.

The socio-political website’s report suggested that the leaders of the Singapore were very aware much earlier that Separation was inevitable, and were very involved in negotiating the terms of separation. It also cast doubts on Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s tearing up during the announcement of the Separation.

Former Nominated Member of Parliament and socio-political commentator Calvin Cheng has challenged the website’s assertions and calls TOC “naive” for propagating those ideas.

Just because the ‘Albatross’ files showed that extensive negotiations took place during period of Separation, it does not mean that the leaders were not taken by surprise, the ex-NMP writes on his Facebook.

“Even in a divorce, when one party is unwilling, that party tries to negotiate for the best deal before the divorce. We were asked to leave – but our leaders had to negotiate for the best terms possible, including the Water Agreements that still provide us water cheaply till this day 50 years on,” Mr Cheng said.

Mr Cheng also took issue with TOC’s suggestion that Me Lee’s tears at the announcement of the Separation was fake.

Just because others who were close to Mr Lee during the period of Separation claimed that he was pleased about the parting, and just because there is some evidence that our first PM may have actually supported leaving Malaysia, does not necessarily mean that his tears were fake, Mr Cheng remarked.

“Human beings are complex. During times of grief, there can be relief. And even during times of relief, there can be worry and regret. After years of fighting with the Ultras, I am sure LKY must also have been relieved at finally separating.

“But being a Malayan at heart, he must also have been upset. Any human being who has gone through separation must know that it’s always a mixed-bag of emotions”, he added.

Mr Bilahari Kausikan, Singapore’s Ambassador-at-large, commenting on Mr Cheng’s post said, “of course the Separation was negotiated. That has always been known.

“All the released documents add are the details of the negotiations which were making the best of a bad situation as there was really no viable way of staying without bloodshed that did not entail surrender.”

Mr Kausikan acknowledged that history is constantly being revised, but claimed that TOC was trying to de-legitimise the accepted historical narrative and thereby de-legitimise the Government.

He chided TOC as being anti-establishment attention-seekers for intellectually dishonest revisions of history, which do not bear any relation to the facts and historical context.

despot lee is a lawyer and very cunning man, only the dumb dogs believe he is savior and holy man

calvin cheng that pc of fuck face toad got wat credibility left?
lol

nice bookmark for knowledge

why msia didnt refute lky claim last time?
anyway, if he dont wayang, i think there will be alot of unrest among the populace.

vinn wrote:why msia didnt refute lky claim last time?
anyway, if he dont wayang, i think there will be alot of unrest among the populace.

haha umno is in cahoots with the pap rah
the 2 have more in common den most ppl think n their interests intertwined.
dun believe for one sec the wayang n posturing routinely played up by the two gahmens to fool their citizenry.

satayxp wrote:

vinn wrote:why msia didnt refute lky claim last time?
anyway, if he dont wayang, i think there will be alot of unrest among the populace.

haha umno is in cahoots with the pap rah
the 2 have more in common den most ppl think n their interests intertwined.
dun believe for one sec the wayang n posturing routinely played up by the two gahmens to fool their citizenry.

ya. i think tunku wan sg out by hook or by crook, so diam diam, let
lky wayang n play it out.

vinn wrote:

satayxp wrote:

vinn wrote:why msia didnt refute lky claim last time?
anyway, if he dont wayang, i think there will be alot of unrest among the populace.

haha umno is in cahoots with the pap rah
the 2 have more in common den most ppl think n their interests intertwined.
dun believe for one sec the wayang n posturing routinely played up by the two gahmens to fool their citizenry.

ya. i think tunku wan sg out by hook or by crook, so diam diam, let
lky wayang n play it out.

its true, tunku saw LKY as a threat that could overthrow their own govt and end up leading both countries

Looking at the situation, the word suddenly is appropriate

last time bend over for Brits
now bend over for cowboys

Fark la. Sinkieland will just sink one day with all the farking Fts.

Crying is a potent tool in Singapore political circle.

Shutterx wrote:despot lee is a lawyer and very cunning man, only the dumb dogs believe he is savior and holy man

Fast forward to now..... he did save us!

NMSS_2 wrote:

Shutterx wrote:despot lee is a lawyer and very cunning man, only the dumb dogs believe he is savior and holy man

Fast forward to now..... he did save us!

u are giving despot lee way too much credit.
brits gave the foundation, legislation, police force, airports, ports, basic housing, school.
PAP govt copied many ideas from HK cos they were more advanced than us.
and govt made decisions from Cabinet ministers, not only LKY one person.

dont be hoodwink by PAP propaganda

stillgottheblues wrote:Crying is a potent tool in Singapore political circle.

In before PAY And PAY crying.gif

Shutterx wrote:post by the PAP dog calvin

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Calvin Cheng
December 23 at 11:23am · Singapore ·

I do not know why The Online Citizen and its editors seem so intent on revising history and putting Mr. Lee Kuan Yew down.

During LKY's funeral, they and others kept insisting that Singapore was already rich in 1965 and thus LKY couldn't have brought Singapore from Third World to First. They posted pictures of high-rise buildings from the Collyer Quay area as proof.

That's just silly. Yes the colonial heart of Singapore was relatively developed, but it was an enclave for the British. Much of Singapore was still swampland, and parts still were up till the late 70's.

Now because the 'Albatross' files showed that extensive negotiations took place during Separation, TOC seems to be claiming that as a result, we couldn't have been ejected.

Again, this is naive. Even in a divorce, when one party is unwilling, that party tries to negotiate for the best deal before the divorce. We were asked to leave - but our leaders had to negotiate for the best terms possible, including the Water Agreements that still provide us water cheaply till this day 50 years on.

Finally, they seem to claim that just because others said LKY seemed pleased at the Separation, and that there is some evidence that he may actually have supported some reasons for Separation, his tears on TV must have been fake.

Human beings are complex. During times of grief, there can be relief. And even during times of relief, there can be worry and regret. After years of fighting with the Ultras, I am sure LKY must also have been relieved at finally separating. But being a Malayan at heart, he must also have been upset. Any human being who has gone through separation must know that it's always a mixed-bag of emotions.

I have always maintained that Singapore needs good opposition and critics to progress. What's keeping us from progressing is the quality of the critical voices at the moment.

ask calvin cheng go fck spider