Rumours Of Singapore Seceding Denied

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30576, 20 October 1964, Page 14

Rumours Of Singapore Seceding Denied

(N.Z.P. A. -Reuter—Copyright) KUALA LUMPUR, October 18. Rumours of new trouble between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and possible secession of the island State, are troubling Malaysia. Mention of the word secession has been made by Federal Government Ministers twice in two days. Yesterday the Federal Minister of Finance, Mr Tan Siew Sin, told a meeting that Singapore could not secede from the federation even if it wanted to. “There is no provision in the constitution for any state to secede from the federation,” he said. “Wild Rumour” Any report to the contrary was a “wild rumour." Returning to Kuala Lumpur today, Mr Tan said he made the statement he did because there were “strong rumours” that secession was being contemplated by persons in Singapore. "We have to scotch and kill all rumours,” he said. “Although they are not dangerous, it is the duty of the Government to stop them. I think the people of Singapore on the whole want Malaysia." The Federal Minister for Information, Inche Senu bin Abdul Rahman, told reporters: “Singapore, on seceding would be handed over by political adventurers and manipulators to outside forces who are bent on destroying democracy.” Certain political adventurers were engaging in wishful thoughts and would never achieve reality, he said.

The Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, a strong supporter of Malaysia. arrived back in Singapore yesterday after talks with Federal Government leaders in Kuala Lumpur. His stay in Kuala Lumpur was accompanied by sensational rumours.

A Kuala Lumpur newspaper today quoted the State Premier as denying he was detained by the Federal Government in Kuala Lumpur. Mr Lee also said his Left-wing People’s Action Party had agreed not to expand its activities in Peninsula Malaya for two years. The P.A.P., the ruling party of Singapore, entered the peninsula in general elections earlier this year, and this is believed to have irritated the Federal Pre-

mier, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and members of his governing Conservative “alliance” coalition. “Must Stand United”

Mr Lee said: “With the present crisis in the country, everyone must stand united in the fight against Indonesian aggression. Otherwise there will be communal strife and the danger of civil war.” Mr Lee’s People’s Action Party, like Singapore which it governs, is multi-racial but predominantly Chinese.

Tunku Abdul Rahman’s “alliance” is made up of the Malaysian Chinese Association, the Malayan Indian Congress, and the United Malays’ National Organisation, the last-named being the dominant party. More than 30 people have died in Chinese-Malay rioting in Singapore this year.