Formation Of Malaysia Reference

Formation of Malaysia
a) Formation
In the year 1961, Malaysias first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman suggested combining 5
colonials, Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei, to form an emerging
country.
During that time, Sabah and Sarawak still was a colonial of British. Although Sabah and Sarawak was
rich in natural resources, they are poor in financial, educational and infrastructure. Brunei was rich in
crude oil, Singapore was also a colonial of British colony.
Tunku Abdul Rahman actively promoted that everyone agreed to form Malaysia in Singapore. He
said if the 5 colonials of British combine together, many problems will be solved. However, the
political parties initially rejected the Formation of Malaysia. The reasons are as below:
Afraid that outsiders would have the chance to exploit the natural
resources in Sabah and Sarawak for their own financial and job support.
Afraid that the politics of Malaya will force the native people of Sabah
and Sarawak to adapt to Islam religion.
The Muslims in North Borneo including the most populated Bajau, Brunei Malays, Suluk and Orang
Sungei felt that Islam religion should be the country general religion, but they also agreed to let
other religion to be practised. The Chinese and people of other religions preferred that Islam should
not be the countrys general religion, and at the same time, they think they should fully enjoy
choosing their own religion.
After Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee (MSCC) had thought over the memorandum in
forming Malaysia, they came out that Islam religion as the general religion of the Federal
Government will not affect the freedom to adapt different religion. Their opinion is that if Malaysias
constitutional provisions state the freedom of religion to the people, then it will not affect other
people of other religions activity and freedom.
In order for British to determine the will of North Borneo and Sarawak towards the planning of
forming Malaysia, they need consultation with both of the regions. Therefore, they decided to form
a study tour to study and to collect the information.
This delegated study tour was called the Cobbold Commission with the Right Honourable Lord
Cobbold as its chairman. This study tour was a composition of a chairman and four members. Out of
four members, two were nominated by the British government, namely Sir Anthony Abell and Sir
David Watherson. On the other hand, the other two members were the nominations of Malaya
Government, namely Dato Wang Pow Nee and Encik Muhammad Gahzali bin Shafie.
This study tour started on 19th February 1962 in Kuching, Sarawak. The study tour spent a whole
month investigating in the territory of North Borneo.

In 1962, Lord Cobbold along with the group members of Cobbolds study tour.
On behalf of Religion, Cobbolds study tour chairman and Britishs representatives thought that in
Sarawak and Borneo, since non Islam badly requested the freedom to adapt other religion,
education, vision field of other religion, so there was the necessary to put these into the Malaysias
constitution. Other than that, in the present constitution of Malaya was: Islam as the State religion
and subsidize the development of religious affairs policy, it was not suitable to be stretched out to
the territory of North Borneo.
The Malaya nominees of Cobbolds study tour think that all the Islamic societies will welcome Islam
religion as the religion of the Federation Government. Because non-Islam were against the
suggestion as stated above, under the advance of Islam is not listed as their State religion, plus, in
Federation of Malaya Constitution clearly stated their basic privileges and freedom of religion
protection, in believing that non-Islam would go against the Federation Governments stated
Constitutions that Islam would be the States religion.
In considering the above, they agreed that Islam will be the Federation Governments State religion
and strongly fight for the freedom of religion in the constitution of Malaya. The constitution
guarantee the freedom of religion, and it should be more durable and will not change.
Representatives of Cobbolds study tour says that, the people of Borneo were concerned of a few
problem, such as: The Malay people which is currently the dominant would have the right to rule
over the country, afraid that the Islam people would request that their religion would be the religion
of the country and tried to capture peoples mind, they were also afraid that Malayan and
Singaporean would come to Borneo for development and would cause a large loss of employment,
the chance of developing and the loss of their land. Moreover, their language and culture would be
threatened and vanished.
At the end of 1962, there was still some disagreement over the formation of Malaysia, but this
eventually petered out. At last, Sabah and Sarawak agreed the formation of Malaysia. Brunei were
facing a few issues and would not be able to reach the agreement, Brunei announced the withdrawal
from Malaysia League.
Formation of Malaysia by signing into law was delayed till 16th September 1963 due to the
disagreement from Philippines, Indonesia and the State of Kelantan.
On 16th September 1963, Malaysia was officially established, this Federal State consisting of the
Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.
Therefore, history tells that Malaysia was formed by four colonies of Britain and formed a political
union country.
Federation of Malaya is made up by 4 different countries, so to speak. Therefore, Sabah, Sarawak
and Singapore should not be regarded as a member of the 14 states. In another way: Sabah,
Sarawak, Singapore and Federation of Malaya each holds a quarter of Malaysia.
b) Considerations
1. Considerations and political objectives of the formation of Federal Malaysia Regional security
considerations
- Tunku Abdul Rahman was concerned of the development of communism in Singapore and that
could bring harm to Malaya. So, he suggested to unification Singapore and Malaya to stop the
advancement of communism.
Together to develop the potential of economic and resources
Cooperation to develop the necessary resources in the economic field.
- Prime Minister of Singapore hopes that they have opportunity to share the development of
natural resources in Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.
- Through the formation of Malaysia, the economics of Sabah and Sarawak will develop in
advance.
- Prime Minister Tunku saw that Singapore can help in development of economics, so he invited
Singapore to join into formation of Malaysia.
Speeding up the detachment from the hands of British in achieving the power for independence
- Federation of Malaya achieved independence on 31
st
August 1957 from the hands of British.
Singapore- achieved independence on 3
rd
June 1959 from the hands of British.
Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei colonies of British.
- If federation of Malaya successfully formed Malaysia, then Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak may
eventually achieve independence too.
British were based on the colonial of British, British was also concerned of the harm that Indonesia
and Philippines would bring.
- Therefore, they (Sabah & Sarawak) were not allowed to achieve independence on their own,
but approved the formation of Malaysia.
Political considerations in balancing the difference of numbers of peoples between races.
Balancing the differences in numbers of people of each race:
- The unity of Federation of Malaya and Singapore would bring down the number of Malay
population because the number of Chinese in Singapore was estimated at 80 per cent.
- In order to balance the differences of people of each race, Tunku Abdul Rahman invited Sabah,
Sarawak and Brunei to join into the formation of Malaysia to increase the number of Malay
indigenious or Bumiputera people.
Representatives of the political leaders in each area
Federation of Malaya
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj

Sarawak
Stephen Kalong Ningkan

Sabah
Donald Stephen









Singapura
Lee Kuan Yew






The local people welcomed Cobbolds study tour.

Cobbolds study tour meets the local leaders
In
1965, Malaysias 1
st
Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman and Malaysian Chinese Association were
concerned of Singapores PAP forces would develop in regions of Malaysia. Plus, the concept of
political ruling influences the differences in between. When Government of Malaysia felt the threat,
Singapore withdrew from Malaysia. On the other hand, Malaysia still keeps a good connection with
Singapore in certain field.
Sabah in the formation of Malaysias 20 points terms, the 7
th
term states that Union States does not
have the right to leave the Federation of Malaya. Therefore, when Singapore was expelled from
Malaysia, it meant that a quarter of Malaysia has left. This also violated the original intention of
forming Malaysia.
In addition, this also means that Federation of Malaya can expel or request other party to detach
from Malaysia, but Sabah and Sarawak do not have the power to detach themselves from the
nation.
During that time, Sabahs Chief Minister, Donald Stephen proposed because Singapore has left
Malaysia, there was a must to discuss the upcoming issues of the detachment of Singapore from
Malaysia, but was opposed and stopped by other parties. This in turn has made Sabah lost the
chance to obtain privileges for the people and the government.

16
th
of September is the real national day of Malaysia

Malaysia Barat (Semenanjung)
1. Johor Darul Takzim
2. Kedah Darul Aman
3. Kelantan Darul Naim
4. Melaka Bandaraya Bersejarah
5. Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus
6. Pahang Darul Makmur
7. Perak Darul Ridzuan
8. Perlis Indera Kayangan
9. Pulau Pinang Pulau Mutiara
10. Selangor Darul Ehsan
11. Terengganu Darul Iman
12. Wilayah Persekutuan
1. Kuala Lumpur
2. Putrajaya
Malaysia Timur
1. Sabah Negeri Di Bawah Bayu
2. Sarawak Bumi Kenyalang
3. Wilayah Persekutuan
1. Labuan
The federation of Malaysia was formed in 1963 we look at some of the troubles faced during the
birth of a new nation.
In 1961, Tunku (Malaya's first chief minister) proposed the formation of Malaysia, a wider federation
which would include the territories of Malaya, Singapore, British North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak and
Brunei. In Singapore, opinion was sharply divided over the merits of the plan; Brunei decided in the
end to stay away. A commission of Malayan and British members investigated the reaction of the
inhabitants of Sabah and Sarawak and found that the majority of people there were in favour of the
plan. Therefore, the British and Malayan governments set 31 August 1963 as the date on which
Malaysia would be established.
But Indonesia condemned the whole scheme as a neo-colonialist plot, and in January 1963
announced a policy of Confrontation against Malaysia. Meanwhile, the Philippines also opposed
the creation of Malaysia, claiming that North Borneo belonged to them. Confrontation took the form
of armed Indonesian incursions across the borders of Sarawak and North Borneo. Indonesia and the
Philippines both repudiated a United Nations survey which confirmed that the Borneo territories
wanted to be a part of Malaysia.
Territorial disputes
When the Federation of Malaysia was officially inaugurated on 16 September 1963, Indonesia and
the Philippines severed diplomatic ties with Malaysia; Indonesia intensified its attacks along the
borders of Sarawak and British North Borneo (now renamed Sabah) and Indonesian troops made
landings in Peninsular Malaysia to carry out acts of sabotage. But they were quickly foiled by the
security forces.
In 1966, Sukarno was ousted from power and the new Indonesian regime wanted to end
confrontation negotiations settled the conflict. The Philippines also dropped its claim on Sabah and
recognised Malaysia.
Meanwhile, political differences had surfaced between Malaysia and Singapore. On 9 August 1965,
Singapore left the Federation and became an independent state.

Malaysia's people
When Malaysia was formed, its population stood at 10.4 million Malays forming 47 percent;
Chinese 34 percent; Indians, 9 percent; Dayaks, 4 percent; Kadazans, 2 percent; other indigenous
groups, 3 percent and foreign immigrants, 2 percent. Turning this medley of peoples into one nation
was not an easy feat. Under colonial rule, economic roles tended to be identified with specific ethnic
groups. In particular, the Chinese resented the Malays greater political power, while the Malays
feared the greater economic strength of the Chinese. The simmering racial tension erupted on 13
May 1969 in the wake of the general elections. Communal riots broke out, mainly in the capital,
Kuala Lumpur, killing hundreds of people and destroying a considerable amount of property. As a
result, the constitution was suspended and a Department of National Unity was set up to formulate
a national ideology and social programmes. Finally, a statement of ideological principles, the
Rukunegara, was produced to guide the national polity.