Mao and Kruschev

Singapore withdrew from the Malaysian Federation at the request of Malaysia. The Malaysian government was upset by attempts made by the Singapore Chinese Youth Organization to extend its influence to other parts of the Federation. On August 9th, 1965 Singapore became an independent Republic and joined the British Commonwealth of Nations..

In the mid-1960s, Singapore was part of the newly formed Federation of Malaysia, which was made up of Malaya, North Borneo (now Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore. However, this union proved to be short-lived due to numerous political and economic differences that resulted in frequent disagreements between the federal government in Kuala Lumpur and the state government in Singapore.

One of the contentious issues was the actions of the Singapore Chinese Youth Organization. This group, which was predominantly ethnic Chinese, attempted to extend its political and cultural influence throughout the Malaysian Federation. This was seen as a direct challenge to the federal government's policy of promoting Malay supremacy, known as "Bumiputera". This policy aimed to safeguard the rights and interests of the ethnic Malays, who were seen as the indigenous people of Malaysia.

The federal government, largely dominated by ethnic Malays, took umbrage at these moves by the Singapore Chinese Youth Organization, perceiving them as a threat to the racial balance and harmony of the Federation. These actions were considered as attempts to disrupt the political landscape, which was already fraught with racial tensions.

Additionally, the economic policies between the two were also starkly different. Singapore, under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew and his People's Action Party (PAP), advocated for a free-market economy and meritocracy. In contrast, the Malaysian government pursued affirmative action policies to favor the majority Malay population in terms of government contracts, business, and education opportunities.

Due to these tensions and disagreements, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, proposed the expulsion of Singapore from the Federation. It was a decision taken with a heavy heart but was seen as necessary to prevent further racial strife and potential civil unrest. The Malaysian Parliament voted in favor of this decision on August 7, 1965.

Subsequently, on August 9th, 1965, Singapore officially became an independent republic, following the proclamation of independence by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. The declaration marked the end of a 144-year British colonial rule and Singapore's brief two-year tenure as part of the Federation of Malaysia.

Despite the bitter separation, Singapore retained its ties with the United Kingdom and joined the British Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organization of 54 countries, mostly former territories of the British Empire. This move was important for the young nation, offering it a degree of international recognition and the opportunity to establish diplomatic, economic, and cultural connections with other member states. Over the subsequent decades, Singapore would leverage these advantages to transform itself into one of the world's most prosperous and developed nations.