Malaysia Agreement in the context of "Colony of Singapore"

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. Its territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. The country is about one degree of latitude (137 kilometres or 85 miles) north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bordering the Strait of Malacca to the west, the Singapore Strait to the south along with the Riau Islands in Indonesia, the South China Sea to the east and the Straits of Johor along with the State of Johor in Malaysia to the north.

In its early history, Singapore was a maritime emporium known as Temasek; subsequently, it was a major constituent of several successive thalassocratic empires. Its contemporary era began in 1819, when Stamford Raffles established Singapore as an entrepôt trading post of the British Empire. In 1867, Singapore came under direct British control as part of the Straits Settlements. During World War II, Singapore was occupied by Japan in 1942 and returned to Britain as a Crown colony following Japan's surrender in 1945. Singapore gained self-governance in 1959 and in 1963 became part of the new federation of Malaysia, alongside Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak. Ideological differences led to Singapore's expulsion from the federation two years later; it became an independent sovereign country in 1965. After early years of turbulence and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland, the nation rapidly developed to become one of the Four Asian Tigers.

Singapore, officially the State of Singapore, was briefly 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 (Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore. This marked the end of 144 years of British rule in Singapore, which began with the founding of modern Singapore by Stamford Raffles in 1819. With a land area of approximately 670 km (260 sq mi), it was the smallest state but had the largest population and was highly urbanised, playing a central role in the national economy. As part of the integration referendum and the Malaysia Agreement, Singapore was given autonomous status including in education, labour and healthcare.

The merger was supported by the British, Malayan and Singaporean leaders as a measure to counter the influence of communism in Southeast Asia, especially through the Malayan Communist Party (MCP). The threat of communist expansion was considered serious by all parties, and the union was seen as a means to contain it through political consolidation. However, serious disagreements soon surfaced between the governments of Singapore and Malaysia, led by the People's Action Party (PAP) and the Alliance Party respectively. Conflicts arose over financial contributions, political participation and racial policies. Although a common market had been promised in exchange for Singapore's substantial tax revenues, trade barriers remained in place. In response, Singapore withheld development loans to Sabah and Sarawak. The situation was worsened when the Malay–based United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) of the Alliance and the PAP contested elections beyond their agreed jurisdictions, triggering further mistrust.

Peninsular Malaysia, historically known as Peninsular Malaya or simply Malaya prior to 1963, and also known as West Malaysia and the Malaysian Peninsula, is the southern part of the Malay Peninsula in Mainland Southeast Asia along with the nearby islands that are part of Malaysia. Its area totals approximately 131,956 km (50,948 sq mi). It makes up nearly 40% of the total area of Malaysia; the other 60% is on the island of Borneo, also known as East Malaysia.

The present-day land border with Thailand to the north originates from the Anglo–Siamese Treaty of 1909, while a maritime border with Singapore to the south was established following the independence of Singapore in 1965. To the west, across the Strait of Malacca, lies the island of Sumatra, and to the east, across the South China Sea, lie the Natuna Islands, both part of Indonesia. At its southern tip, across the Strait of Johor, lies the island country of Singapore. Most of Peninsular Malaysia's interior is forested, mountainous and rural, while the majority of the population and economic activity are concentrated along the coastal western half, where the country's major urban centres are located.

Independence Day (Malay: Hari Merdeka), also known as National Day (Malay: Hari Kebangsaan), is the independence day of the Federation of Malaya from the United Kingdom. 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.

The observation of 31 August as Malaysia's national day is the cause of some controversy, especially among East Malaysians, with calls to prioritise the celebration of Malaysia Day (Hari Malaysia) on 16 September instead. Malaysia Day commemorates the formation of Malaysia in 1963, when the four entities of North Borneo, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya federated to form Malaysia as part of the Malaysia Agreement.

Malaysia Day (Malay: Hari Malaysia) is a public holiday observed nationwide on 16 September each year since 2010. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Malaysia Agreement, which came into effect on that date in 1963 and led to the creation of Malaysia. The agreement brought together the Malaya (independent since 1957), North Borneo (later renamed Sabah), Sarawak and Singapore into a single federation. Singapore was later expelled from the federation on 9 August 1965, and Malaysia Day is no longer observed there.

In East Malaysia, many regard Malaysia Day as the country's true "national day", arguing that 31 August commemorates the independence of Malaya, which was a separate political entity to Malaysia.

The Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965 was a pivotal agreement concluded between the governments of Malaysia and Singapore on 7 August 1965. It provided the legal and constitutional framework for Singapore's formal secession from Malaysia, wherein it ceased to be a constituent state and assumed the status of an independent and sovereign nation. The terms of the agreement encompassed a Proclamation to be issued by Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, while a separate Proclamation of Singapore was delivered by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Pursuant to this accord, Singapore was irrevocably and unambiguously separated from Malaysia with effect from 9 August 1965, thereby rendering the Malaysia Agreement inapplicable in so far as it pertained to Singapore. Subsequently, Singapore acceded to membership in the United Nations on 20 September 1965, following a unanimous resolution of the General Assembly. The Singapore Act 1966, enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom a year later, gave statutory recognition to the agreement and admitted Singapore into the Commonwealth of Nations with retrospective effect from the date of independence.

Lee Kuan Yew GCMG CH SPMJ DK (born Harry Lee Kuan Yew; 16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015), often referred to by his initials LKY, was a Singaporean statesman and barrister who was the first prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. A founding father of the modern Singaporean state, his political leadership transformed post-independence Singapore into a highly developed country and one of the four Asian Tigers.

Born in Singapore during British colonial rule to a family of Chinese descent, Lee studied law in England at Cambridge University and was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1950. Shortly after, he returned to Singapore and practised law, founding the law firm Lee & Lee. In 1954, Lee co-founded the People's Action Party (PAP), which won significant support among the working class and trade unions in the lead up to the 1955 general election, securing him a seat in the Tanjong Pagar division and making him the de facto leader of the opposition. In 1959, Lee led the PAP to its first electoral victory, becoming Singapore's first prime minister. Seeking sovereignty from the British Empire, Lee led Singapore to a merger with Malaya along with Sarawak and Sabah, forming Malaysia in 1963. Racial strife and ideological differences later led to Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia and consequent independence in 1965.