Across the Causeway: A Multi-dimensional Study of Malaysia-Singapore Relations

10. Security Relations

Security Relations 163 163 10 Security relationS carlyle a. thayer Since the nineteenth century, peninsula Malaya and Singapore have formed essentially one economic and military unit under British colonial rule.1 As Malaysia and Singapore moved towards independence, political leaders on both sides of the causeway accepted as an article of faith that their mutual defence was indivisible. The continuing presence of British military forces, based mainly in Singapore, reinforced this view. The political leadership of Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP), who agitated for an end to colonial rule, concluded that an independent Singapore would not be militarily viable on its own and that Singapore’s defence and security needs could best be met through merger.2 Up until separation from Malaysia in August 1965, Singapore’s military forces have always been an adjunct of outside powers, first of Britain and then Malaysia. Indeed, at independence in September 1963, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) were incorporated in and came under the operational control of the Malaysian Armed Forces. These arrangements resulted in the recruitment of a military force that was overwhelmingly peninsular Malay in ethnic composition. The presence of Malaysian troops on Singapore’s territory and the ethnic composition of Singapore’s armed forces at the time of separation proved catalysts in the development of an ethnically Chinese SAF and a defence doctrine that stressed deterrence against threats by Malaysia. The origins of Singaporean military forces can be traced back to 1854 with the formation of the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps. In 1934, the Straits 164 Carlyle A. Thayer Settlements Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was created, comprising mainly small coastal patrol boats. In the mid-1950s the land forces were filled out by the addition of national servicemen and part-time conscripts. Singapore’s first professional military force was created in 1957 when the Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR) was formed. Singapore maintained a small air element until 1960 when it was disbanded. Peninsula Malaya gained its independence on 31 August 1957. Under the terms of the Anglo-Malayan Defence Agreement (AMDA), which came into force in October, Great Britain and Malaya agreed to “take all necessary action” in the event of an armed attack on Malaya or British territories in the Far East. Britain was permitted to retain its military bases and forces in Malaya. Britain also agreed to assist in the development of the Malayan armed forces and to fund the SIR’s second battalion. After Malaya’s independence, Britain concentrated its military forces in Singapore because Britain was a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) and could not automatically expect Malayan approval for the deployment of British forces for SEATO operations from Malayan territory.The AMDA was renegotiated in 1963 and extended to cover the new Federation of Malaysia (peninsula Malaya, Borneo territories, and Singapore). Britain continued to provide military forces during the period of armed confrontation instigated by Indonesia from 1963 to 1966. In May 1963, the 4th Malaysian Infantry Brigade was posted to Singapore where it established the headquarters of the Singapore Military Forces and assumed responsibility for the Singapore Infantry Regiment and volunteer military forces. Merger then Separation With the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, defence became the responsibility of the federal government and Singapore’s land and naval forces, both regular and reserve, became a part of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Both of the SIR’s battalions saw service during Confrontation. In 1964–65, the First Battalion (1 SIF) was posted to Sebatik Island off Sabah, and the Second Battalion (2 SIF) was deployed to Johor. Both were tasked with preventing infiltration by Indonesian forces. Political tensions and irreconcilable differences between the federal Alliance government and the People’s Action Party (PAP) government in Singapore led to Singapore’s separation in August 1965. Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and his political colleagues feared that Malay Ultras might take repressive action against Singapore by employing Malaysian armed forces to force Singapore to remain in the federation. This spurred them to seek separation.3 Security Relations 165 During negotiations on the terms of separation, Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, insisted that Singapore continue to make an adequate contribution to their joint defence and enter into a defence treaty with Malaysia. Such a treaty was to include a provision preventing Singapore from entering into any other arrangements with third parties that would undermine Malaysia’s security...