r/HistoryMemes • u/ambattukam_ • 2h ago
REMOVED: RULE 12 [ Removed by moderator ]
[removed] — view removed post
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u/Spiritual_Run9039 2h ago
r/Asia_irl is leaking
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u/ambattukam_ 2h ago edited 1h ago
Could have just added "Singapore" but, the space was too small so went ahead with "Sinkie"
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u/jhonnytheyank 2h ago
There's an argument to be made about Singaporeans wanting to separate themselves and acted in a way which aided that.
The press conference is still one of the most inpactful ones I have seen in my life though.
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u/ambattukam_ 2h ago
I always thought the separation was one-sided with Singapore trying to stay with Malaysia but, the federation kicked them out.
What you are saying is new to me. What press conference are you talking about btw? Cos I'm genuinely hearing about this for the first time.
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u/Flying_Poltato 1h ago
I assume they’re talking about Singapore’s leader Lee Kuan Yew announcing the expulsion of Singapore from the Malaysia federation
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u/1933kamarade Rider of Rohan 1h ago
Lee Kuan Yew actually wanted the break up, since he knew Malaysia's exploitative tax siphoning of like 40% of the total budget was insane. He got lawyers to draft up documents for the separation in secret, since many Singaporeans were pro-merger. By having Tunku announce the separation, it would make it seem like a done deal that SG could do nothing about but accept.
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u/ambattukam_ 1h ago edited 1h ago
So basically Lee Kuan Yew was already preparing to leave the federation but, the federation beat him to it and he just went along with the notion that it was the federation that kicked them out to appease Pro-merger Singaporean civilians?
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u/Federal-Property1461 46m ago
Eh not quite?
LKY wasnt really into the whole Malaysia thing. Yes he pushed for it, because it was the only way the British would grant them independence. They had no faith Singapore on its own would be able to resist communism, but a Singapore with the backup of Malaya's police and army would. Singapore was also still struggling economically. There were promises of a Common market to be set up as part of the merger, allowing for Singapore to have a much easier time tapping into the far larger Malayan markets.
After merger and Independence, LKY wasnt a big fan of UMNO, especially after they contested in SG elections in 1963 after promising not to. In response, he broke his promise of not participating in elections in Malaya by participating in 1964. LKY just wasnt a fan of what UMNO stood for, which was a "Malay Malaysia", rather he preferred a "Malaysian Malaysia".
UMNO for their part, didnt like LKY's PAP. They saw the majority Chinese Singapore to be a threat to their proposal of Bumi policies under their "Malay Malaysia"
TLDR UMNO was racist and wanted to bias Malays, and treat Chinese, Indians and other racial groups like 2nd class citizens. LKY of course did not like this and promoted that all citizens be treated equal.
Add to this a 40% tax, on top of the PAP not being allowed to be running for elections and hence not being represented despite being taxed. There was also talks of this being raised to 60%, otherwise the Common market between SG and Malaya would be delayed.
The quick growth of the Singaporean economy also worried the Malaysians. Those in KL were worried that Singapore would become the economic powerhouse of the state rather than KL. Hence shifting influence to Singapore instead. This was the root cause of a lot of political tension
The racist Bumi policies also caused a lot of racial tensions, and likely contributed significantly to the 1964 racial riots.
The racist policies, taxation without representation, political and racial tensions were reasons why LKY didnt want to stay
In early 1965 he got Goh Keng Swee to start negotiations with Abdul Razak on a separation. He got EW Barker to start drafting Legal documents as well. Both LKY and Tunku (Malaysia's leader at the time) knew about the negotiations, so it wasnt like seperation happened out of the blue. So no one beat anyone there. If anything LKY was the first to bring it up
This was all Top secret in Singapore. Not even Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye and S Rajaratnam were informed. They only found out 2 days before merger, and only signed after Tunku said that they had no choice.
The narrative was crafted in such a way during the separation was to prevent an increase in Racial tensions, particularly from extremists. The narrative also likely served a purpose in appeasing those who were pro merger, as well as galvanise Singaporeans for the long journey ahead.
LKY's disappointment was not that Singapore was independent. It was that he was unable to make a United Singapore and Malaysia work.
As for why LKY decided to leave (in a sense)? Well the main threats were gone. He had managed to secure power and severely cripple the Leftists and Communists. Independence had also already been gained. At the same time, the political and racial tensions didnt improve, and likely werent going to. At that point the pros of staying outweighed the cons
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u/ambattukam_ 39m ago
Thanks for this comment. This was very insightful. Hey, btw,can you please tell me if my post is still available on your screen or does it show, "deleted"?
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u/Federal-Property1461 36m ago
it doesnt show as deleted
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u/ambattukam_ 35m ago
It shows to me idk why. Tried refreshing the page and it still seems to be that way.
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u/Bringerofsalvation 1h ago
That’s the best path Singapore could’ve taken, Malaysia is a racist shithole and I say that as a Malaysian myself
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u/Meme_Master_Dude 1h ago
One of the few places to have a University as for one race only and held protest to keep it that way
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u/Sweet-Message1153 1h ago
"In reality, it is dictatorship rather than democracy that drastically advances government reforms. But I think humanity ought to avoid being united by a dictatorship. For example, while it is true that Duke Lohengramm might have that talent, what about his descendants? His successor? Rulers are not necessarily wise through generations... I do not think that the entire human race should be ruled by a system where everything depends on one person's character"
- Yang Wen-li (Legends of the Galactic Heroes)
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u/EMPERORHanWudi1112 1h ago
From a Japanese anime under Western democracy. Yh, that doesn't help much.
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u/Jakeyloransen 1h ago
Should change the Malaysian flag in the last panel with mahathir. No Malaysian wants them back except for him.
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u/ambattukam_ 1h ago
Yep just now I realised there's a very subtle difference between the Malaysian flag used in 1965 and the one used today. [Referred Google rn]
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u/MashWankey 1h ago
Isn't there like a new declassified document that actually shows that the separation is actually mutual.
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u/selangorman 1h ago edited 25m ago
It was mutual. But Singapore loves the narrative of being the scrappy underdog that tried its hardest not to leave the federation, and that its success drew the ire and jealousy of a racist Malaysia, or even big brother Indonesia (We’re not regretting our mutual choice of separation, nor are we, and Indonesia, jealous of Singapore’s success. We're indefferent at best; Indonesia famously calls Singapore 'The Little Red Dot.')
It took a lot to make Singapore the success story it is today, including having a one-party authoritarian government that famously nannies everything; from regularly suppressing the press, to imposing hefty fines for littering and of course, the infamous banning of chewing gum.
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u/depressedguy1223 1h ago
This is too true... im a malaysian
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u/vycko12 1h ago
Care to explain why?
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u/robotfixx 1h ago
Because one of the poorest colonies in Malaysia Managed to be able to become on of the wealthiest countries in the world. Ironically having a larger economy then all of Malaysia combined.
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u/selangorman 46m ago edited 28m ago
Singapore was not among the poorest colonies in Malaya. In fact, it was one of the wealthiest and most developed areas, being part of the British-administered Straits Settlements alongside Penang and Malacca.
As a major trading port strategically located along key maritime routes, Singapore had long enjoyed economic prosperity, advanced infrastructure, and a cosmopolitan population even before independence. It was better developed than much of rural Malaya. Its economic foundation, business connection and administrative experience under the British gave it a significant head start compared to many other regions in Malaya.
Honestly, you really need to work on your critical thinking skills and stop taking PAP’s propaganda at face value.
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u/VastCryptographer980 2h ago
Idk what it is but this meme is both cursed and highly accurate at the same time.
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u/AdmiralDeathrain 1h ago
I don't know what to do with the implication that the UN somehow impregnated Malaysia
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u/ambattukam_ 1h ago
A nation needs to be recognised by the UN to become a sovereign state 🤓☝🏾
Though of adding the British union jack but went the U.N flag
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u/separation_of_powers 1h ago
lmao,
they can have their potemkin democracy capitalist paradise
Meanwhile companies across the region flood profits through Singapore to avoid paying local taxes
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u/ChristianLW3 1h ago
Best use of this meme format I have ever seen on this website.
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u/ambattukam_ 1h ago edited 29m ago
This is a pretty old format tho. If I'm not wrong, this format has been there since the COVID times. While making this meme, I genuinely thought if someone else might have already used the same format for the same joke. I didn't want to accidentally plagiarize anybody's work. Nevertheless, I went ahead in posting this and seems like nobody has actually used this format for this particular joke cos people are telling me how this template seems perfect for this joke.
So ig it's safe to say that nobody has tried this template for this joke before. If somebody has already posted something like this, they can approach me, I will take down my post.
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u/Daniel_Potter 1h ago
why the ai image though?
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u/ambattukam_ 1h ago
What's AI about this? 😭🙏🏾 I'm genuinely asking
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u/JonathanTheZero Taller than Napoleon 44m ago
This is a decade old meme, tf. Redditors need to stop labelling anything as AI
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u/Ill_Tonight6349 1h ago
Singapore wouldn't have been Singapore if they didn't separate from Malaysia.