Southeast Asia: Good Sense Around Singapore

• Share

For months, leaders of the island state of Singapore and of the rubber-rich, independent Federation of Malaya, just across the bridge on Asia's mainland, have quietly discussed a merger of the two territories in a "Malaysian" federation. Unwitting spurs to the scheme are Singapore's Red-leaning, left-wing extremists (mostly Chinese), whose rising influence threatens the regime of moderate Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and could stall Singapore's slow but steady move from British colonial status toward full independence. Fearful of chaos ahead, Malayan Prime Minister Tengku Abdul Rahman now shares Lee's view that Singapore's Communists can be stopped only if the two territories join forces.

Conferring in London last week, Abdul Rahman formally proposed the merger to the British, who hastily put their stamp of approval on the sensible plan in exchange for a promise that the Royal Navy would enjoy continued use of its strategic Singapore base. Next question: the willingness of three other British-run territories in the area—Sarawak, Brunei and North Borneo—to join the new political grouping. If they agree, federation could be a fact within two years.