Decolonisation of Singapore
John de Bhal
Singapore achieved independence in 1959 due to a lack of British colonial retaliation to the Japanese occupation during World War II. In 1965, it achieved independence for a second time as a result of poor leadership within the Federation of Malaysia from both Tunku Abdul Rahman and Lee Kuan Yew.
Singapore, unlike most other states and nations, has achieved independence twice: once in 1959 when it was decolonised by the British;1 then again after it was expelled from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965, into which Singapore had integrated in 1963. 2 In contrast to many other independence movements, Singapore’s were not violent; political decisions led to the island nation’s independence in both instances. Nationalism and British reluctance to maintain colonialism in the 1940s and 1950s meant that Singapore was handed independence in 1959, but in 1965, political and racial instability led to the collapse of the merger with Malaysia forcing Singapore into independence again. This can be clarified by the way in which Lee Kuan Yew brought independence to his nation, and by an analysis of the leadership shown by both heads in the Federation of Malaysia. In the end it was the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Singapore during the Second World War, and poor leadership within the Federation of Malaysia that led to Singapore’s independence on each occasion.
Singaporean nationalistic feelings inspired by British reluctance to maintain colonial power led to Singapore’s independence in 1959. Once the Japanese had lost the war, Britain re-occupied the island state. This proved to be a problem for the British as Singapore faced high unemployment, poor
Columbia Electronic Encyclopaedia (2011) Singapore. Columbia Electronic Encyclopaedia, 6th Edition, 11/1/2011, p1
1 2
Ibid. p. 1
John de Bhal
economic growth and housing issues.3 Even Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore acknowledged that, “It was the catastrophic
consequences of the war that
Singapore achieved independence in 1959 due to a lack of British colonial retaliation to the Japanese occupation during World War II. In 1965, it achieved independence for a second time as a result of poor leadership within the Federation of Malaysia from both Tunku Abdul Rahman and Lee Kuan Yew.
Singapore, unlike most other states and nations, has achieved independence twice: once in 1959 when it was decolonised by the British;1 then again after it was expelled from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965, into which Singapore had integrated in 1963. 2 In contrast to many other independence movements, Singapore’s were not violent; political decisions led to the island nation’s independence in both instances. Nationalism and British reluctance to maintain colonialism in the 1940s and 1950s meant that Singapore was handed independence in 1959, but in 1965, political and racial instability led to the collapse of the merger with Malaysia forcing Singapore into independence again. This can be clarified by the way in which Lee Kuan Yew brought independence to his nation, and by an analysis of the leadership shown by both heads in the Federation of Malaysia. In the end it was the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Singapore during the Second World War, and poor leadership within the Federation of Malaysia that led to Singapore’s independence on each occasion.
Singaporean nationalistic feelings inspired by British reluctance to maintain colonial power led to Singapore’s independence in 1959. Once the Japanese had lost the war, Britain re-occupied the island state. This proved to be a problem for the British as Singapore faced high unemployment, poor
Columbia Electronic Encyclopaedia (2011) Singapore. Columbia Electronic Encyclopaedia, 6th Edition, 11/1/2011, p1
1 2
Ibid. p. 1
John de Bhal
economic growth and housing issues.3 Even Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore acknowledged that, “It was the catastrophic
consequences of the war that