National Referendum 1962
The 1962 National Referendum was a pivotal event in Singapore's history, marking the only referendum conducted in the country to decide the terms of Singapore's merger with Malaysia.
Polling took place on 1 September 1962 (Saturday), with an electorate of 619,867 and a voter turnout of 90.6%.
Background
The referendum arose from the People's Action Party (PAP) government’s efforts to merge Singapore with the Federation of Malaysia. The merger aimed to address economic and security concerns, particularly the threat of communist influence in Singapore. The referendum offered three options for the terms of merger but notably excluded the choice to reject the merger altogether, drawing criticism from opposition parties.
Campaign Period
Campaigning for the referendum officially began on 14 August 1962. The three options presented were:
- Option A: Proposed by the PAP, under which Singapore would retain autonomy over education, labour, and language policies. All Singaporean citizens would automatically become Malaysian citizens, and Singapore would have a fixed number of seats in the Federal Parliament.
- Option B: Suggested that Singapore would have the same status as other Malayan states and the former Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca. Representation in the Federal Parliament would be allocated based on proportional representation. While the PAP claimed this option was based on Barisan Sosialis’s proposal, Barisan denied this.
- Option C: Championed by the Singapore Alliance (SA), which was aligned with Malaysia’s ruling Alliance Party. This option stipulated that Singapore’s entry would be under terms no less favorable than those granted to the Borneo-based territories of Sabah and Sarawak. Only individuals born in Singapore and their descendants would automatically become Malaysian citizens.
Opposition and Criticism
The referendum faced criticism from opposition parties, including Barisan Sosialis, the Liberal Socialist Party (LSP), the Workers' Party (WP), the United Democratic Party (UDP), the Progressive Party (PR), and the United People's Party (UPP). The main points of contention were:
- Lack of a Rejection Option: The absence of an option to reject the merger led opposition parties to label the referendum a "sham."
- Citizenship Issues: Options B and C offered limited automatic citizenship to Singaporeans, causing uncertainty and discontent.
- Inclusion of East Malaysian States: Barisan opposed the inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak, which Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew supported to maintain a Malay majority in the Federation.
In response, six opposition parties (excluding UPP) formed the Council of Joint Action (CJA) and appealed to the United Nations. They encouraged voters to cast blank votes as a form of protest. However, the LSP later withdrew from the CJA after Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman resolved the citizenship matter.
Results
The referendum saw Option A receive overwhelming support, symbolizing a victory for the PAP. The results were as follows:
- Option A: Majority endorsement
- Blank Votes: Integrated into legislative motions
Post-Referendum Developments
At the Legislative Assembly session following the referendum, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew countered allegations of an undemocratic process by introducing two motions:
- Motion 1: To include uncertain votes under Option A.
- Votes: 25 PAP lawmakers in favor, six SA members abstained, and three (two UPP, one WP) voted against. Fourteen Barisan members staged a walkout.
- Motion 2: To assimilate blank votes into one of the three options chosen by the legislature.
- Votes: Combined 31 PAP and SA members abstained, two UPP members voted against, and WP representative David Marshall departed before the vote.
Legacy
The National Referendum of 1962 remains a significant event in Singapore's political history, shaping its eventual merger with Malaysia in 1963. The referendum highlighted the deep political divisions of the time and the strategic maneuvering of various parties during a critical juncture in Singapore's nation-building process.