Once in a while is not so bad, but when you have a track record
of bad judgment call that stretch back to the decision to join
Malaysia, Family Planning, Second Language, High Cost of Property
Ownerships, and a long list of 'crap' policies - all implemented
without any opposition, it must come to a point when 'enough must
be enough'.
More so when bad judgment is made as a result of arrogant position
taken with the decision made on the basis of 'I KNOW BETTER THAN
YOU'.
No, dumb-dumb! - 'being suddenly cut of from the kns malaysia, to
be declared independence.. tt was one of singapore's darkest hour..
' - was NOT THE DARKEST HOUR for Singapore.
Only SM LKY cried with despair and on TV when Singapore
was kicked out of Malaysia.
There was euphoria amongst the older Chinese, Indian and Eurasian
population except for the uncertain apprehension felt by our
Malay communities, which was understandable.
The concern and apprehensions of the Singapore Malay community was
immediately addressed, with reassurances given by LKY that
Singapore will show the way in EQUALITY regardless of Race,
Religion, Language (this credit must be given to LKY).
The general feelings during the period when Singapore was in
Malaysia was that there was UNEQUAL and LOB SIDED contribution and
distribution of Wealth.
Singapore being the most developed state in Malaysia, had to HAND
OVER ALL of its Revenue to the Federal Government, and in return
got back a miserly amount to meet the budget of Singapore which
became only a small state in a Federation of Malaysia that consist
of 13 states in Peninsula Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah PLUS
Singapore.
Besides the quarrel over the unequal contribution and distribution
of wealth, the general Singapore Population - especially the
Chinese, Indians and the Eurasians felt that the Federal
Government was giving too much development emphasis in the Federal
Territories and in Peninsular Malaysia; as well as the aggressive
Federal Government program to advance the interests of the Malay
Community and Islam.
Large amount was invested to build mosques based on opulent
designs, and Malays were given priority in overseas scholarships
that were handed out on baseless criteria.
This unfortunate attitude of the Federal Government was a torn in
the relationship that it had with the 3-S states of Singapore,
Sarawak and Sabah with each of these 3-S states having better
economic performance and are richer than total output of the 13
states of Peninsular Malaysia.
Prior to Singapore becoming independent, the 3-S states went so far
as to plan to secede from Malaysia, and form a separate Nation of
Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah.
SM LKY ridiculed this approach and laughed at the idea of a country
that is separated by a large expanse of sea, which is the
territorial waters of Malaysia and Indonesia.
