SINGAPORE PLAN TO BECOME REPUBLIC

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30827, 12 August 1965, Page 13

SINGAPORE PLAN TO BECOME REPUBLIC

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter —Copyright) SINGAPORE, August 11. The Singapore Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew) said today that the newly-independent island would become a republic.

Mr Lee did not say when Singapore would be declared a republic. “Singapore has to be a republic because there are no Malay, Chinese or Indian kings on the island,” Mr Lee said. Referring to Singapore’s relations with foreign countries, Mr Lee said he expected all except the Communist countries to recognise Singapore, which seceded from Malaysia on Monday. If Indonesia publicly declared that it recognised Singapore and the right of its people to run their own affairs, Singapore would be prepared to be friends with Indonesia, Mr Lee said. “While pursuing its interests. Singapore will take care that it does not jeopardise Malaysia's interests,” he added. HAD NO CHOICE Mr Lee said Singapore had had no choice but to leave Malaysia. The Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman,

had warned of the possibility of a communal bloodbath which meant a religious war, Mr Lee said. Mr Lee said he himself wished to have a looser federation in which both sides stopped attacking each other. But the Tunku had his way because he was the popularly elected Prime Minister of Malaysia, he said. Asked if Singapore would continue to receive British defence aid, Mr Lee said Singapore had the right to seek from any quarter, including Britain, help to protect itself. Mr Lee said the Singapore Government would continue to give special privileges in housing, education and technical training to the Malays who represented about 12 per cent of the population of the island. The Malay language would remain the national language of Singapore. Other races would also have continued freedom in learning their mother tongues.

“Singapore is not Chinese, Malay or Indian. It is a country of Singaporeans,” Mr Lee said. LIVES “JEOPARDISED” Mr Lee said Singapore’s expulsion from Malaysia “jeopardises” the lives of all the people of South-east Asia. He warned that if Malays from Malaysia started riots in Singapore “there will be a clash there and that will be the end of the whole works.” He said he would “slap into gaol” any Malays or Communists who tried to stir up trouble. “If riots break out there will be a massacre which will affect the lives of the people of the whole region,” Mr Lee said.