Understanding the Truth About Singapore's Exit from Malaysia
Many people today still believe that Singapore was simply kicked out of Malaysia in 1965, like it was garbage or unwanted. This is a very common misunderstanding. The truth is more complicated and needs to be explained clearly, especially for those who care about history and fairness.
In 1963, Malaysia was formed with four main partners: Malaya, Singapore, Sabah (then North Borneo), and Sarawak. They signed the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to create the new country. All four had equal importance as founding members. It was not just Malaya making decisions alone.
Just two years later, in 1965, Singapore left the federation. Many people believe Malaysia kicked Singapore out. This is partly true but not fully correct. In public, the Malaysian government announced that Parliament voted to remove Singapore. But behind the scenes, both leaders—Tunku Abdul Rahman from Malaysia and Lee Kuan Yew from Singapore—had already discussed and agreed on this decision. They signed a treaty called the Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965. This shows it was not a one-sided action, but a mutual agreement.
However, this agreement was only signed by the Malaysian federal government (dominated by Peninsular Malaysia) and Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak were not included in the talks or decision. This is a serious matter. They were part of MA63 and helped build Malaysia, but were not respected in this big change. When Singapore left, Sabah and Sarawak should have been consulted. They should have had the chance to agree or disagree, because this affected the original agreement they signed.
This situation is one reason why Sabah and Sarawak have raised concerns about their rights in Malaysia. They feel that they are not treated as equal partners. If one founding member can leave without their knowledge or agreement, what does that say about fairness and respect?
To fix this, Malaysia needs to look back at MA63 and treat Sabah and Sarawak as equal partners again. Their voices must be heard in all major national matters, especially those related to the foundation of the country.
In conclusion, Singapore’s exit was not just an expulsion. It was a mutual agreement between Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. But it was not fair to Sabah and Sarawak, who were left out. Understanding this helps us move towards a better, more respectful Malaysia for everyone.