MERGER PLAN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29625, 22 September 1961, Page 11

MERGER PLAN

Malaya And Singapore (N.Z.P.A. -Reuter — Copyright) SINGAPORE, Sept. 21. A referendum will be held in Singapore as soon as the details of merger with the neighbouring Federation of Malaya have been worked out and announced in Parliament, the Finance Minister (Dr. Goh Keng Swee) said tonight. He was one of four political leaders taking part in a forum on Radio Singapore at which questions were suomdtted on the present political situation by local and foreign press representatives. Those taking part with Dr. Goh were Mr A. P. Rajah, member of the right-wing Singapore People’s Alliance, Mr Ong Eng Guan, leader of the left-wing United People’s Party, and Dr. Lee Siew Choh, chairman of the extreme left Barisan Socialist Party. The forum had been asked whether the people of Singapore should express their opinion on merger through a referendum or General Elections.

Mr Rajah and Mr Ong both chose referendum, saying elections could raise confusing side issues. Dr. Lee opposed a referdum, saying the people were not sufficiently acquainted with the democratic process to understand it and that General Elections would permit qualifications to be discussed which could fiot be covered by a referendum’s “yes” or “no.” “I say the correct way of determining the wishes of the people on this issue is to have a referendum as soon as details of the merger . have been settled, as soon as it is announced in the Legislative Assembly and the people will have an opportunity to decide for themselves,” Dr Goh said.