Singapore’s Independence

Singapore may be a drop in the bucket on the world map, but make no mistake in assuming that it did not possess a rich and long history prior to its independence from the Great Britain, Japan and Malaysia. Although the Singapore story began centuries (yes, centuries!) before it won its independence from the British, let’s have a glimpse at how Singapore gained independence from the 19th century.

THE FOUNDING OF MODERN SINGAPORE

During the 19th century, when modern Singapore was founded, it was already a bustling trading post along the Straits of Malacca. Many people from neighbouring countries such as China and India, had made their way to Singapore to find work and start a new lease of life. This was when the traders of Great Britain needed a favourable location to set up base for the merchant fleets of their growing empire. Britain’s burning need to prevent any encroachment by the Dutch in our region, was part of the reason that led to the growing empire.

INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-GOVERNMENT

In 1959, Singapore finally achieved the freedom of self-government. During the country’s first general election, the People’s Action Party (PAP) won a majority of 43 seats. Lee Kuan Yew became Singapore’s first Prime Minister. In 1961, Malaysia offered to form a merger between Singapore, the Federation of Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei to forge closer ties. A vote was conducted in Singapore to draw the peoples’ responses to the idea of the merger with Malaysia, and many expressed great support for it. Subsequently, Malaysia was formed in 1963 and this state comprised the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo (which is now known as Sabah). The merger turned out to be unsuccessful as deep racial and economic tension was evident between Singapore and the rest of Malaysia. As a result, on 9 August 1965, less than two years later, Singapore left Malaysia to become an independent and sovereign democratic nation state.