Malaysian History: Malaysia 1963 Quiz

Answer: Lord Brassey

Lord Brassey, director of the British North-Borneo Company (SBUB), was the one who originally planned to unite Sarawak and Sabah with the Malayan states on the peninsula.

Sir Malcolm MacDonald, the Governor General of South-East Asia planned to add Singapore to this entity.

Dato' Onn Jaafar suggested the name of the unified country was to be called Malaysia.

Suggestions were being for the Federation of Malaya to be unified with Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Singapore.

Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first Prime Minister, realized the idea and made Malaysia into what it is now. He announced the commencement of the plan in Singapore on May 27th, 1961.

Answer: The threat of the Socialist Front

The Socialist Front threatened the position of Lee Kuan Yew and his People's Action Party (PAP). This concerned him, as the Front would spoil plans by the British to give sovereignty to Singapore. Joining an independent country such as Malaysia would give Singapore freedom automatically.

Answer: It would redeem their reputation

Western countries, notably Britain, supported the formation of Malaysia because it could provide them all with socioeconomic and political value.

It was a pressing issue by the United Nations for Britain to decolonize its countries, since 1960.

Most importantly, with the Cold War raging across South-East Asia (especially in Vietnam), the formation of Malaysia would quickly prevent further communist expansion in South-East Asia.

Answer: To form Malaysia without Singapore

UMNO had a deep sense of distrust towards Singapore due to the imbalance of the Malay and Chinese races that would follow, should Singapore join into Malaysia. So, they proposed the idea to go ahead with the plan without Singapore.

Answer: It was a form of "neocolonialism"

Neocolonialism is the use of economic, political, and cultural pressures to influence other countries. Azahari claimed that, should Malaysia be formed, it would be tantamount to foreign intervention. He also wished to form the Federation of Borneo, consisting of Brunei, Sarawak and Sabah.

After the government of Brunei refused to accept union with Malaysia, Azahari launched a rebellion against supporters of the formation of Malaysia. He was supported by Indonesia and the Philippines. However, the rebellion was put down by the British. Azahari fled to Manila and received political protection in Indonesia. Brunei remained under British occupation until 1984.

Answer: The Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP)

SUPP was against the merging of Sarawak into Malaysia. It mainly consisted of Chinese members, they were opposed by the Sarawak Coalition.

Answer: The Sabah Coalition

The Sabah Coalition was formed in September 1962. All of the parties in this coalition supported the entry of Sabah into Malaysia.

Answer: He provoked a confrontation with Malaysia

Opposing the formation of Malaysia, Indonesia launched a confrontation with Malaysia. It wasn't an all-out war but a series of raids and acts of sabotage on Malaysian soil. The confrontation was based on the concept of "Ganyang Malaysia", or "Crush Malaysia", to eliminate any possibility of the formation of Malaysia.

Answer: True

Raiding fishing boats in Malaysia and taking fishermen hostage was one of the many tactics used by Sukarno to unleash terror in Malaysia. Other methods included air raids, espionage and launching strikes at Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

Answer: Calling for assistance from the Commonwealth

Member countries of the British Commonwealth, especially Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, provided military aid to Malaysia to overcome the threat of the Indonesians. It was all thanks to the Anglo-Malayan Defence Agreement of 1957, that allowed assistance by Britain and the Commonwealth to help Malaysia to repel invading countries.

Malaysia also pleaded to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to control the situation between Malaysia and Indonesia, not invade it.

Tun Abdul Razak also led a Malaysian delegation to several African nations to explain the confrontation.

Answer: He sent his foreign ambassador to negotiate peace terms

Suharto sent his Foreign Ambassador, Adam Malik, to meet with Tun Abdul Razak and negotiate the end of the confrontation. By August 1966, the confrontation was declared over and diplomatic relations between the two countries were restored.

Answer: No

According to Filipino President Macapagal, Sabah was part of the Sultanate of Sulu, based on the treaty that was signed on January 22nd, 1878, between Sultan Jamalul Alam and Baron von Overbeck. Overbeck then sold his possessions to Alfred Dent, who founded the British North-Borneo Company (SBUB).

The company held Sabah until the Japanese invaded during World War II. In 1946, the SBUB handed over possession of Sabah over to the British government. However, the last heir to the Sultanate of Sulu throne, Sultan Esmail Karim, announced that the deadline for the end of British possession of Sabah was to be on the 22nd of January, 1958, which was 80 years after Overbeck signed the treaty of 1878. Thus, the Philippines did not tolerate Malaysia's idea of merging Sabah.

Answer: MAPHILINDO

MAPHILINDO was a political confederation between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Phlippines, to reassure relations between one another. However, as the Philippines continued their attempts to claim Sabah, and with the confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia still raging, the MAPHILINDO was defunct.

Answer: To present the idea of the formation of Malaysia the the local population

The JPPK was to explain the idea of a new Malaysia, gather their thoughts and opinions and finally make efforts to see it through that Malaysia is formed.

Answer: Dato' Onn Jaafar

The Cobbold Commission studied the question of Sarawak and Sabah's entry into Malaysia from February to April 1962. Its members included Lord Cameron Cobbold, Athony Abell and David Watherson of the British. The local members were Dato' Wong Pow Nee and Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie. According to their study, an official report was made in June 1962, stating that:

1) 1/3 of the population supported the idea without objection.
2) 1/3 of the population agreed with the idea only if their rights were ensured.
3) 1/3 of the population would only support if they were given independence first.

Answer: The use of "Bahasa Malaysia" as the national language

The suggestions made:

1) Malaysia's new constitution should be based on the Federal Constitution of Malaya.
2) Sarawak and Sabah were given the power to determine their immigration policy.
3) The use of "Bahasa Malaysia" as the national language
4) Guarantee the rights of the indigenous population of Sarawak and Sabah.
5) The name of the new nation, Malaysia, to be established.
6) Determination of the date of the formation of Malaysia.

Answer: 16 September 1963

An official report by the United Nations couldn't be completed in time for the plan to proceed on the 31st of August. Moreover, there was still opposition by Indonesia and the Philippines. Thus, the date had to be postponed to the 16th of September 1963.

Answer: Queen Elizabeth II

The Malaysia Agreement 1963 was signed on July 9th 1963 and thus the Act was approved by the British Parliament and Queen Elizabeth II. After having also been allowed by the Yang Dipertuan Agong, the formation of Malaysia was finally realized on the 16th of September, 1963.

Answer: Malaysia Day

Every year, to commemorate the formation of Malaysia, Malaysia Day is celebrated on the 16th of September.

Answer: It showed the strength of political leaders of Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore

Leaders from before managed to unite the country with their contributions and were well renowned for them, which is why we should always remember their successes in making Malaysia into what it is now.