The release of a number of declassified documents related to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia revealed some interesting facts about the separation (most important of all, probably, that the separation was supported by both Malaysian and Singaporean ministers). Something that was striking, though, was the fact that Great Britain (the rapidly-declining British Empire) was kept in the dark for an astounding amount of time.
Both the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew agreed that this separation should be hidden from Britain. It was in the best interest of Britain that Malaysia as a collective should stay as one, with Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak facing threats from Communist China as well as a left-leaning Indonesia. Aside from that, Britain had other, perhaps more insidious, reasons to keep Singapore with Malaysia: documents reveal that on one of Singapore's air bases, Tengah Air Base, Britain had kept bombers with nuclear abilities…
The lengths that both sides took to maintain this secrecy, including PM Lee taking a vacation to the Cameron Highlands with his family (something the British thought was an annual vacation) but slipping away to Kuala Lumper to engage in negotiations, as well as Law Minister of Singapore E. W. Barker drafting the agreement itself without his secrecy, were not in vain. On the 8th of August 1965, High Commissioner of Britain Lord Head had just found out about the plan, and by then — after driving for hours in Kuala Lumper to look for the Tengku, and finding him dining privately with several Malaysian ministers — it was too late. Tunku was unwilling to negotiate.
In a letter from Lord Head, he wrote in somewhat colourful language, that Tunku Abdul Rahman was "obstinate in the way of conscious sinners". Once the news broke in Britain, a flurry of telegrams were exchanged between British diplomats, none of them pleased with the outcome — even Harold Wilson, Prime Minister of the UK, cut shot his vacation to discuss the implications for this event.
Perhaps this was one of the reasons the Prime Minister decided to withdraw forces "East of Suez".
by Patient_Ad_9335
2 Comments
What? Singapore did not consent to separation, in fact their leader famously cried on TV when having to announce it. The whole thing was basically just Malaysia saying ‘fuck Singapore’.
It wasn’t Singapore and Malaysia separating against Britains wishes, it was Britain backing Singapore up over being forced out in the cold.
Tbh not like the Brits could do much anyway. Within six years they have to pull out from the region due to economic difficulties