ORIGIN — The Birth Pangs of Modern Singapore
A Lion Awoken From Failed Victory
Singapore 1962 — A Victory Defeated
A young boy heard on the radio a man’s voice urging Singaporeans to join Malaya “or else, we will not survive” or words to that effect. I didn’t know who he was; that he was our then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. There were many reasons, he argued, from history to economic markets, to resource abundance, to independence from Britain, and social stability. I knew little then of what most of these meant. But, his “language of survival” in a calm, authoritative voice exuding the confidence of leadership was sufficient to elicit trust and faith, and I also somehow felt the need for that defining moment. I was then too young to vote, but in 1962, more than 70% Singaporeans voted for Merger. And I became a “Malaysian” in the newly formed country, Malaysia, on 30 August 1963.
I can recall no particular affective feelings toward Malaysia. A new flag was unveiled and we had to sing the Malaysian National Anthem “Negara Ku” or “My Country”. I neither understood the flag nor the Malay words of Negara Ku. Suddenly, a mandatory new language subject…
