QUEST INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY PERAK

Faculty of Business, Management, and Social Sciences

MALAYSIAN STUDIES

(Assignment)

Individual

Prepared For:

Mr. Palaniappan Periannan

Lecturer: MPW1133

Prepared by:

Name: Malathi d/o Sundra Saigaran

Matric No: BBA00069

Programme: Bachelor of Business Administration (HONS)

Topic: Explain the events and the reactions of neighbouring countries

leading to the formation of Malaysia.

Malaysia formed on 16th September 1963. The merging idea was to unite

Malaysia was with neighboring countries was raised several times. In 1955, David

Marshall suggested merging Singapore with Malaya but Tunku Abdul Rahman rejected

it. The merging idea again raised by Lee Kuan Yew but unfavorable response. Soon, the

merging plan was suggested by Tunku Abdul Rahman on 27th May 1961 to merge

Singapore, Sabah Sarawak and Brunei. Tunku’s proposal has triggered different reaction

towards the merging plan from the five countries.

Singapore still retained its initial interest in Malaya and was therefore, eager to

merge with Malaya. Political changes in early 1961 changed the mind part of population.

Therefore, there are strongly opposed by UPP (United People’s Party) the left-wing

leaders. Despite this, Lee Kuan Yew actively campaigned to support the merger. His

efforts paid off and a referendum held on 1 September 1962 indicated that 71.1% of the

population of Singapore supported the merger. Singapore promised autonomy in

education, revenue, and labor while the central government would be operating in Kuala

Lumpur. Its free entreport status also maintained.

Brunei, although a large section of population agreed to join Malaya, many of

them preferred to be independent. Since its ruler, Sultan Ali Saifuddin was hoping to gain

protection from a larger country like Malaya. A.M. Azahari, the leader of the opposition

party, Parti Rakyat Brunei (Brunei’s People Party), however, strongly opposed the

merger and led a revolt against the government of Brunei, in which he was defeated.

Azahari had an ulterior motive – to merge all the North Borneo territories and place them

under the reins of Brunei. Eventually, Brunei changed its mind after the Sultan realized

that he would not be given special rights above the other Sultans in Malaya and would

have only limited oil reserves if Brunei merged with Malaya.

The response from Sabah and Sarawak was not on par with that from Singapore

and the initial response from Brunei, since both territories feared losing authority in the

administration. They were also aware that the population structure would be different in

the new country. Apprehensive, about losing their position because of “Malayan

domination” especially among the non-Malays. To allay their fears, Tunku Abdul

Rahman went to these territories in June 1961 and set up the Malaysia Solidarity

Consultative Committee (MSCC) to inform the people of the benefits of the merger.

Malaya generally accepted the Malaysia concept. PAS (Malaysian Islamic Party)

strongly against the formation of Malaysia and claimed the Malays would lose out if

Malaysia were establish. They more prefers MAPHILINDO concept by combine Malaya,

Philippines and Indonesia.

When Tunku Abdul Rahman flew to London to discuss the formation of

Malaysia, with the British government in November 1961, the British were very much in

favor of it, even though they would handed the countries back to the people. The British

were surprised at the strength of the Malay feeling. They received report from Sir Edward

Gent and Mc Donald porting out how united the Malay opposition wants.

Therefore, British have two alternatives they could ignore the opposition or

change their plans. It would make the British more unpopular in Malaya and destroy any

future chances of cooperation. If they failed to listen to the peacefully opposition , the

British might also more violent action by the more extreme groups such as the Malayan

Communist Party, would gain support. The main British aim was to establish one strong

central Government in Malay; they would prefer to extend citizen right to non-Malay but

were disappointed to see that some Chinese and Indians joined the Malays Communist

Party. Hence, the British formed the Cobbold Commission led by Lord Cobbold, to

investigate the reaction of the people in Sabah and Sarawak towards the merger. Two

months later, after receiving thousands of letters, conducting thousands of interviews

with the people of Sabah and Sarawak and countless public meetings, a conclusion was

reach.

Only one third of the population rejected the merger, hoping to join Malaya only

after they achieved their independence. The other two thirds either supported the merger

wholeheartedly or supported it because their rights maintained. Since the merger won the

favor of the majority, the British approved it. On 16th September 1963, Malaya,

Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak became one nation, known as Malaysia. Once again,

Tunku Abdul Rahman at the Merdeka Stadium made an official proclamation.

When Malaysia formed, Indonesia and the Philippines disapproved of the new

establishment due to their own ulterior motives. The Philippines claimed ownership of

Sabah, stating that Sabah came under the Sulu Sultanate, which belonged to the

Philippines. As such, the Philippines did not acknowledge Malaysia as an independent

country or the official declaration that took place on16th September 1963. The president

of the Philippines, Macapagal had severed diplomatic ties with Malaysia. It was only

sometime in June 1966, that the Philippines gave due recognition to Malaysia and

acknowledged it as an independent country.

Indonesia, on the other hand, was hoping to merge with Malaya to form

"Indonesia Raya" and at the same time, establish an independent North Borneo

Federation comprising Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei. The Indonesian president at the time,

Sukarno, was heavily influenced by the Communist party in Indonesia and subsequently

declared a Confrontation policy of on Malaysia from January 1963 to August 1966 to

voice his objection of the formations of Malaysia. During this period, Indonesia put a halt

to all diplomatic relations with Malaysia and launched an attack. The first stops the

Indonesians made were at Pontian, Labis, Muar and Kota Tinggi. Agents were sent to

overthrow the Malaysian government and at the same time, create misunderstanding

among Malays and Chinese. The confrontation came to an eventual end when Suharto as

the president of Indonesia replaced Sukarno. Consequently, a peace treaty signed

between both countries in Jun 1966.

Eventually, Brunei changed its mind after the Sultan realized that he not be given

special rights above the other Sultans in Malaya and would have only limited oil reserves

if Brunei merged with Malaya.

Singapore decided to withdraw from Malaysia on 9th August 1965 to form her

own Republic due to some disagreements, particularly about special rights of the natives.

Hence, Malaysia today comprises Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

In conclusion, from this we have realized that Tunku had gone through lots of

obstacles during the merge of Malaysia to get the independent. There are many reactions

from the neighboring countries such as the un- supporters of the merger, withdrawal, and

sudden disagreement by Brunei. Now, we are going to celebrate 55 years of

independence.