Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965

Last updated

Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965
Agreement relating to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia as an independent and sovereign state
Proclamation on Singapore
Constitution and Malaysia (Singapore Amendment) Act, 1965
Agreement relating to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia as an independent and sovereign State.djvu
Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965
Signed7 August 1965;59 years ago (1965-08-07)
Location Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Effective9 August 1965;59 years ago (1965-08-09)
Signatories
Parties
  • Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia
  • Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore
Depositary Singapore Government
dated 1 June 1966
The Secretary-General of the Flag of the United Nations.svg  United Nations acting in his capacity as depositary the following: [1]
English and French
Registered No. I-8206
Language English
Full text
Wikisource-logo.svg Agreement relating to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia as an independent and sovereign state at Wikisource

The Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965 was a major agreement between the governments of Malaysia and Singapore on 7 August 1965 that formally seceded Singapore from Malaysia as a state and to be an independent sovereign country. The agreement included a Proclamation on Singapore to be made by Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman; a different Proclamation of Singapore was made by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Contents

As a result of the agreement, Singapore permanently became distinct and separate from Malaysia with effect from 9 August 1965, and rendered the Malaysia Agreement invalid in regards to Singapore. It also became a member of the United Nations a few weeks later on 20 September with a unanimous decision. [2] The Singapore Act 1966 followed the treaty a year after, which admitted Singapore into the Commonwealth of Nations with retroactive effect from the agreement. [3]

Background

Singapore first achieved sovereignty on 3 June 1959 from the United Kingdom. From 1959 to 1963, Singapore was a country with full internal self-governance, but the British colonial administration still controlled external relations, similar to the Irish Free State.

On 16 September 1963, the Proclamation of Malaysia was declared, which declared the merger of four countries: Malaya, North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore – the latter three already self-governing colonies by this point – into the new entity of Malaysia. With this, Singapore subsequently joined Malaysia as an autonomous state, along with Sarawak and Sabah.

Legacy

The short-lived union would prove tenuous due to various factors, including deep political and economic differences, and would end up lasting for just 1 year, 10 months and 24 days before this agreement became effective on 9 August 1965. [4] Meanwhile, Sarawak and Sabah have remained part of Malaysia.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Malaysia</span> Part of Malaysia on the island of Borneo

East Malaysia, or the Borneo States, also known as Malaysian Borneo, is the part of Malaysia on and near the island of Borneo, the world's third-largest island. East Malaysia comprises the states of Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory of Labuan. The small independent nation of Brunei comprises two enclaves in Sarawak. To the south and southeast is the Indonesian portion of Borneo, Kalimantan. East Malaysia lies to the east of Peninsular Malaysia, the part of the country on the Malay Peninsula. The two are separated by the South China Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federation of Malaya</span> Federation of British territories from 1948–57; independent country from 1957–63

The Federation of Malaya, more commonly known as Malaya, was a country of what previously had been the Malayan Union and, before that, British Malaya. It comprised eleven states – nine Malay states and two of the Straits Settlements, Penang and Malacca. It was established on 1 February 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Malays National Organisation</span> National political party in Malaysia

The United Malays National Organisation or less commonly PEKEMBAR), is a nationalist right-wing political party in Malaysia. As the oldest national political party within Malaysia, UMNO has been known as Malaysia's "Grand Old Party".

The states and federal territories of Malaysia are the principal administrative divisions of Malaysia. Malaysia is a federation of 13 states (Negeri) and 3 federal territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independence Day (Malaysia)</span> Holiday observed annually on 31 August

Independence Day, also known as National Day, is the independence day of the Federation of Malaya from the British Empire. It commemorates the Malayan Declaration of Independence of 31 August 1957, and is defined in article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia. The day is marked by official and unofficial ceremonies and observances across the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1962 Singaporean integration referendum</span> Referendum on the terms of integration of Singapore into the Federation of Malaysia

A referendum on the terms of integration into the Federation of Malaya was held in Singapore on 1 September 1962. There were three options. At the time of the referendum, Singapore was a self-governing country since 1959, although the British Empire still controlled external relations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Borneo dispute</span> Territorial dispute between the Philippines and Malaysia

The North Borneo dispute, also known as the Sabah dispute, is the territorial dispute between Malaysia and the Philippines over much of the eastern part of the state of Sabah. Sabah was previously known as North Borneo prior to the formation of the Malaysian federation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singapore in Malaysia</span> 1963–1965 Singaporean statehood in Malaysia

Singapore, officially the State of Singapore, was one of the 14 states of Malaysia from 1963 to 1965. Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963 by the merger of the Federation of Malaya with the former British colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore. This marked the end of the 144-year British rule in Singapore which began with the founding of modern Singapore by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. At the time of merger, it was the smallest state in the country by land area, but the largest by population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 Malaysian general election</span>

General elections were held in Malaysia on Saturday, 25 April 1964. It elected members of the expanded Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Malaysia, after the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 whereby the Federation of Malaya was superseded by Malaysia with the additions of the Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah. Voting took place in 104 out of 159 parliamentary constituencies, each electing one Member of Parliament (MP). State elections also took place in 282 state constituencies in 11 out of 14 states of Malaysia on the same day, each electing one Member of the Legislative Assemblies (MLA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia Day</span> Annual holiday to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation in 1963

Malaysia Day is a public holiday held on 16 September every year to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation on that date in 1963. This event saw Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore unite into a single state. Singapore, however, was expelled from the federation less than two years later, on 9 August 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cobbold Commission</span>

The Cobbold Commission, was a Commission of Enquiry set up to determine whether the people of North Borneo and Sarawak supported the proposal to create the Federation of Malaysia consisting of Malaya, Brunei, Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak. It was also responsible for the subsequent drafting of the Constitution of Malaysia prior to the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963. The Commission was headed by former Bank of England governor, Lord Cobbold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20-point agreement</span> Terms for North Borneos incorporation into the State of Sabah

The 20-point agreement, or the 20-point memorandum, is a list of 20 points drawn up by North Borneo, proposing terms for its incorporation into the new federation as the State of Sabah, during negotiations prior to the formation of Malaysia. In the Malaysia Bill of the Malaysia Agreement some of the twenty points were incorporated, to varying degrees, into what became the Constitution of Malaysia; others were merely accepted orally, thus not gaining legal status. The 20-point agreement often serves as a focal point amongst those who argue that Sabah's rights within the Federation have been eroded over time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance Party (Malaysia)</span> Political coalition in Malaysia

The Alliance Party was a political coalition in Malaysia. The Alliance Party, whose membership comprised United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), was formally registered as a political organisation on 30 October 1957. It was the ruling coalition of Malaya from 1957 to 1963, and Malaysia from 1963 to 1973. The coalition became the Barisan Nasional in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manila Accord</span> 1963 treaty between Indonesia, Malaya, and the Philippines

The Manila Accord was signed on 31 July 1963 by the Federation of Malaya, the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of the Philippines, after a meeting from 7 to 11 June 1963 in Manila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia Agreement</span> Treaty combining Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore into Malaysia

The Malaysia Agreement, or the Agreement relating to Malaysia between United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Federation of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore (MA63) was a legal document which agreed to combine North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore with the existing states of Malaya, the resulting union being named Malaysia. Signed in London, United Kingdom, the agreement has been in effect since 16 September 1963; Singapore was subsequently expelled from Malaysia not long after this agreement, becoming a sovereign state on 9 August 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proclamation of Singapore</span> Document regarding the independence of Singapore

The Proclamation of Singapore is an annex of the Agreement relating to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia as an independent and sovereign state dated 7 August 1965 between the Government of Malaysia and government of Singapore, and an act to amend the Constitution of Malaysia and the Malaysia Act on 9 August 1965 signed by the King of Malaysia, and read on the day of separation from Malaysia, which was 9 August 1965, by Lee Kuan Yew, the first Singaporean prime minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia Act 1963</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Malaysia Act 1963 was an act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. It came into operation on 31 July 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proclamation of Malaysia</span>

The Proclamation of Malaysia was a statement, written in English and Malay, that declared the merger of the Federation of Malaya with the State of Singapore and the British crown colonies of North Borneo and Sarawak into the new Federation of Malaysia, following the enactment of the Malaysia Agreement and the Malaysia Act 1963 that July. The merger came into effect on 16 September 1963, and the proclamation was delivered on that date by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in the Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">18-point agreement</span> Proposed terms to form Malaysia

The 18-point agreement, or the 18-point memorandum, was a purported list of 18 points drawn up by Sarawak, proposing terms to form Malaysia, during negotiations prior to the creation of the new federation in 1963. Unlike the Sabah's 20-point memorandum whose authors are known and well documented, no such details have been produced for the so-called Sarawak 18-points memorandum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proposed 2019 amendment to the Constitution of Malaysia</span>

On 4 April 2019, a bill proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Malaysia was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat of the Parliament of Malaysia. The bill proposes to amend Article 1(2) so as to restore the status of the two East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak according to the original content of Malaysia Agreement that was signed in 1963.

References

  1. See: United Nations General Assembly Resolution 97 (1) PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. "(Chapter VII) Practices Relative to Recommendations to the General Assembly Regarding the Admission of New Members" (PDF). un.org. Headquarters of the United Nations: United Nations. 20 September 1965. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  3. "Singapore Act 1966 (1966 C 29)" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. London: Parliament of the United Kingdom. 9 August 1966. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  4. Milne, R. S. (1 March 1966). "Singapore's Exit from Malaysia; the Consequences of Ambiguity". Asian Survey. 6 (3). University of California Press: 175–184. doi:10.2307/2642221. JSTOR   2642221 . Retrieved 8 May 2024.