Topic 6

"How far do you agree that the need to set up the Common Market was the most important reason for merger between Singapore and Malaya."

I agree moderately. As Singapore wanted a merger with Malaya is to gain independence, however, Malaya wanted to merge with Singapore because they did not want Singapore to fall into the radicals hands.

The PAP government saw that Singapore's best hope to gain independence was through a merger with Malaya. Even though Singapore lack natural resources and faced a declining entrepot trade and a growing population which needs more jobs. The PAP government felt that a merger with Malaya would rapidly improve Singapore's economics. With this merger, Singapore hoped that a Common Market would be set up to support Singapore's new industries. Which is to say that its main aim is not to have a Common Market but something else.

The reason Malaya wanted a merger was to prevent the spread of Communism in Malaya due to the PAP candidate being defeated in the Hong Lim by-election by Ong Eng Guan. The Tunku was concerned that the split would weaken the moderates within the PAP and allow the radicals to gain control of the party. If the radicals captured power from the PAP, they would form a Communist government in Singapore and use Singapore as a base to spread Communism in Malaya.

Therefore, in conclusion, setting up of the Common Market is not the most important reason for the merger between Singapore and Malaya.