What Security Challenges Did Singapore Face in 1965?

Enhancing internal security and building a strong defence force →

Ensures peace and stability →

Attracting foreign investors to set up factories and businesses →

Contributing to the development of the economy and the creation of jobs →

The government decided to bolster the security of Singapore quickly.

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The government decided to bolster the security of Singapore quickly as the development of the economy and the creation of jobs depended on the security of Singapore. Enhancing internal security and building a strong defence force, can ensure the peace and stability of Singapore. This then can help attract foreign investors to set up factories and businesses, then boosting the development of the economy and more jobs for the people will be created. Thus, the security of Singapore can help make it a better place overall.

1. Konfrontasi

• Konfrantasi is a policy Indonesia pursued against the Federation of Malaysia. Which Singapore had been part of from 16 September 1963 to 9 August 1965.

• Indonesia’s President Sukarno opposed the Federation of Malaysia as he believed it would give the British continued control of the territories in the Federation.

• During Konfrantasi from 1963 to 1966, the Indonesians, Malaysians and Commonwealth fought along the border Indonesia and Malaysia shared.

• Konfrantasi posed a serious security threat even before the separation from Malaysia.

• As many as 42 bombings were carried out by Indonesian saboteurs in Singapore during the conflict.

• They initially targeted military and public facilities, but them being heavily guarded made it difficult to attack.

• So the saboteurs began setting off bombs in public places to terrorise the population and disrupt life in Singapore.

• In response to the bombings, the government introduced several measures such as advising people to stay on high alert, and avoid handling suspicious-looking parcels in buildings and along streets.

• A volunteer force was also deployed to patrol neighbourhoods and schools started carrying out emergency drills.

• The deadliest incident during Konfrontasi occurred on 10 March 1965 when a bomb exploded along Orchard Road at Mcdonald House.

• It killed 3 people and injured 33, nearby buildings and cars were also damaged by the explosion.

• Two Indonesian were arrested, charged with murder, found guilty and hanged on 17 October 1968 for the MacDonald House bombing.

• That triggered an angry response among Indonesian students, who attacked the Singapore embassy and the homes of Singaporean diplomats in Jakarta.

  (Commonwealth - an association of former British colonies. Its member countries cooperate informally in many areas such as defence, education and culture.

2. Communist Terrorism

• Singapore had to guard itself against attacks by communist groups.

• The threat posed by the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) led to a state of emergency being declared.

• Although the danger of a communist takeover had lessened and the British declared the emergency over in 1960, acts of terrorism by communist groups continued.

• By the 1970s, the MCP had split into smaller groups.

• Despite that, they still posed a danger to the internal security of Singapore.

• Police raids uncovered large quantities of weapons such as pistols and grenades.

• During this decade, the communists carried out acts of violence that included the killing of a 7-year-old girl in Changi in 1970, the explosion of a bomb in Katong in 1974 and the attempted assassination of Singapore’s Commissioner of Police in 1976.

3. International Terrorism

• Independent Singapore experienced its first encounter with international terrorism on 31 January 1974.

• Foreign terrorists hijacked the ferry boat Laju and held crew members hostage.

• The terrorists had earlier attacked the Shell oil refinery in an attempt to disrupt the oil supply from Singapore to South Vietnam.

• After several days of negotiation, the hijackers finally agreed to release the hostages in exchange for safe passage from Singapore to Kuwait.

4. The Vietnam War

• At the same time, a large-scale conflict in Vietnam was threatening the stability of Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore.

• North Vietnam was communist while South Vietnam was non-communist/democratic.

• South Vietnam feared that if North Vietnam won, communism would spread to the neighbouring countries and eventually the whole region.

• The United States committed vast military resources to support South Vietnam in the war.

• The Singapore government feared that the fighting would spread to the rest of the region and destabilise Singapore.

• South Vietnam eventually fell to North Vietnam in 1975, bringing an end to the Vietnam War.

5. British Military Withdrawal From Singapore

• Since 1819, Singapore relied on the British Empire to defend it against external threats, with the majority of the troops coming from Britain, India and Australia.

• Although local volunteer troops had been recruited and trained from the 19th century onwards, they were a small number.

• British plans to develop Singapore as a major naval base to better protect British interests in Asia remained central to the British defence strategy.

• Singapore’s role as a military base expanded in the 1950s.

• British warships and Commonwealth servicemen were stationed in Singapore.

• By the 1960s, the British had different views of their military involvement in Asia.

• The British could no longer afford the large amount of money and resources to maintain this military commitment despite knowing its importance in maintaining its military presence.

• They needed to focus on rebuilding their economy at home and announced in 1967 that they would withdraw their defence forces from Singapore.

• By 1971, the majority of the British forces had left and the withdrawal was completed in 1976.

• The announcement of the withdrawal added to Singapore’s defence challenges since they were practically left unprotected.

• Since the British failed to defend against the Japanese invasion in 1942, with 90,000 men and 50,000 British men stationed in the region to defend against the threat from Indonesia during Konfrantasi. How could Singapore hope to cope with only 2,000 men?

How Did Singapore Overcome Its Security Challenges?

Singapore approached its security challenges in two ways.

First - Through deterrence, by building a credible defence force that would make any potential enemies think twice before attacking. If deterrence failed and war broke out, the defence force would be capable of defeating the enemies swiftly and decisively.

Second - Through diplomacy, by establishing and developing strong relationships with governments and defence forces around the world. So Singapore could train with and learn from more advanced militaries elsewhere, have access to advanced technologies, and ensure that others would have a stake in preserving Singapore’s peace and stability.

(Deterrence - the creation and maintenance of a defence force that is powerful enough to convince potential enemies not to launch an attack, as it would either fail or be very costly.)

(Diplomacy - the establishment and maintenance of official government relations between countries. Countries typically set up embassies in foreign capitals, where their diplomats would represent their interests.)

Building a Defence Force (Deterrence)

1. Introducing National Service (NS)

• This allowed the government to conscript young men to serve in the military.

• The National Service Ordinance (NSO) that was originally introduced in 1954 was never carried out while the British ruled Singapore because of the unpopularity of and resistance towards the 1954 NSO.

• Despite that, the Singapore government deemed that conscription was the only way Singapore could raise a credible defence force after independence.

• Thus, NS was introduced in 1967, which rapidly expanded the defence force which is known as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

• Thousands of men were conscripted for at least two years of full-NS.

• After completing NS, they would still continue to receive occasional military training and take up arms in times of emergencies.

• By the end of the 1970s, the SAF had grown into a sizable defence force with an army, an air force and a navy which was supplemented by the People’s Defence Force (PDF).

• Dr Goh Keng Swee and Jek Yeun Thong, Members of the Parliament and senior civil servants were among those who joined the PDF.

• These forces gave Singapore a large pool of manpower to meet its defence needs.

• Men, especially those from poorer families were expected to quickly find a job upon leaving school to contribute to the household income.

• However, with NS, they are unable to find a job as they have to enter NS and their families would lose the income they could have earned.

• Life in the military was unfamiliar to the majority of Singaporeans since only a small number had experienced military life as regulars or as part-time volunteers with the colonial forces.

• Winston Choo became Singapore’s first Chief of Defence Force.

• NS was a big change for many men and they had to adapt to the disciplined lifestyle of the military.

• The training was physically tough and both the NS men and their families worried about each other.

• The first generation of NS men defended Singapore knowing Singapore faced genuine threats to its defence and security, despite having to make sacrifices.

• Because of NS, Singapore today has a sizeable force that can be mobilised to defend the country, contributing to Singapore’s peace and stability.

• NS is the foundation of Singapore’s national defence, which remains critical to Singapore’s continued survival and success, and created a common experience, bringing people of different races, religions and backgrounds together.

2. Establishing a Home-Grown Defence Industry

• With NS, Singapore now had the power to defend itself but they still need a whole range of equipment, ranging from basic items such as uniforms and boots to sophisticated weapons like tanks and aeroplanes.

• Despite the SAF inheriting equipment from the British, it was mostly obsolete and inadequate for the growing demands of the SAF.

• Over time, they acquired equipment from other countries like the US and France but Singapore was aware that relying on other countries for all their military equipment was a potential weakness.

• So, Defence Minister Dr Goh Keng Swee decided to develop Singapore’s defence industry to provide the SAF with locally made equipment and supplies.

• That would mean the SAF would be able to operate even if foreign sources were cut off.

• In 1967, the Charted Industries Singapore (CIS) was established to produce locally made weapons for the SAF.

• Singapore also trained defence engineers and scientists who designed and created new technology that was suitable for Singapore’s defence needs.

Strengthening Relations With The World (Diplomacy)

1. Establishing Diplomatic Relations with Other Countries

• Besides pursuing military cooperation, Singapore also developed diplomatic relations with countries around the world.

• This was important so that other countries can recognise Singapore’s independence.

• Without this recognition, hostile countries could claim that Singapore had no right to exist, and could threaten, coerce and even invade it.

• Developing diplomatic relations would ensure that Singapore had friends that recognised its independence and had an interest in keeping it safe and secure.

2. Growing Bilateral relationships

• Singapore had already many close ties with many Commonwealth countries, such as Australia, Britain and Malaysia.

• It needed to establish new relationships with other influential countries in the region and the world.

• Bilateral relationships refer to the relationship between two individual countries.

• An example is the relationship between Singapore and the United States which is one of the most economically and military important countries with an interest in Asia.

• Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew made his first visit to China in 1976, beginning a process of engagement with Chinese leaders as China’s ties with Southeast Asia were expanding.

• Singapore needed to cultivate friendships with as many countries as possible, despite them not having any direct interests in the region, or are located far away, and regardless of their stance on the Cold War.

• Singapore also sought to improve ties with countries it had tensions with, such as Indonesia.

• Bilateral ties were further strained after Singapore executed the Indonesian soldiers for the bombing of the MacDonald House in 1968.

• Tensions between Singapore and Indonesia only eased in 1973 when PM Lee scattered flowers on the graves of the two soldiers, allowing both countries to move on from the incident.

3. Joining International and Regional Organisations

• It was important for Singapore to join International organisations that would recognise its existence as an independent country.

• Membership in these organisations would allow Singapore to participate actively in international and regional matters and have its voice heard by the world.

• Singapore became the 117th member of the United Nations (UN) on 21 September 1965, just over a month after its separation from Malaysia.

• The UN is an international organisation that gathers all countries to work together in maintaining peace and dealing with international problems.

• In 1967, Singapore became a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which is a regional organisation formed to prevent the spread of communism during the Cold War and to promote economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the Southeast Asian region through multilateral cooperation.

• For instance, ASEAN introduced measures to increase trade among its members.

• It also aims to maintain peace and stability among member states and external partners.

• One example is when Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1978, ASEAN worked with the UN and major countries such as the US and China to get Vietnam to withdraw their forces.

  (Multilateral - involving several countries or groups)

CONCLUSION

After its independence in 1965, Singapore faced various security challenges from the region and internally. To overcome these challenges, Singapore adopted a two-pronged approach, which is deterrence and diplomacy. To deter attacks, it established a credible force. At the same time, it established diplomatic and military relations with countries around the world. This ensures that other countries had an interest in keeping Singapore safe and secure.