What course the region’s history would have taken had Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore teamed up after the declaration of independence on August 31, 1963 instead of joining to form Malaysia on September 16, 1963 That was one of the unexpected options available to the three states when Britain ignored the fervent protests from Malaya and granted independence to the three states and left the region before the birth of Malaysia on August 31, 1963.
What course the region’s history would have taken had Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore teamed up after the declaration of independence on August 31, 1963 instead of joining to form Malaysia on September 16, 1963
The Malayan leaders held their breath for two long weeks hoping that nothing untoward would take place. And nothing happened that caused upheaval during the two weeks of brief independence that Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore enjoyed. The Sabah Alliance National Council meeting the day after, August 9, hotly discussed Stephens’ motion and asked him to explain whether it was possible for Sabah to arbitrarily join Malaysia on August 31. Stephens could not satisfactorily explain and was asked to consult Kuala Lumpur to find a way out.
The Malayans worked on the British by urging them to reject or thwart plans to prematurely announce independence by the three states. However, with the British being the willing partner, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore declared independence on August 31 as planned despite the strong protests from Kuala Lumpur.
They only came around it after Whitehall made it clear to them that the British government supported Malaysia and the two should ensure its success. Perhaps they saw in Lee’s plan their chance to kill two birds with one stone – grant the two Bornean states independence before they join Malaysia and get back at the Malayans who had bullied them so far into agreeing to everything.
From then on Stephens always wanted Lee and his PAP in all groupings and discussions, including the Grand Alliance Party of Malaysia.
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