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TEXT OF PRIME MINISTER’S NATIONAL DAY SPEECH ON 3RD

JUNE, 1962.

This is the third and last time we in are celebrating National

Day for Singapore alone. Next year we shall celebrate National Day with the rest of the people of -- Merdeka Day -- for the whole of the new

Federation. We cannot create a out of an island of 214 square miles with a population of 1.7 million people. But out of the 130,000 square miles of

Malaysia with its 10 million people, we can develop and build Malaysia into a prosperous industrial society, a sturdy nation that can take its place as a worthy member of the comity of .

The reunification of Singapore with Malaya in a Federation of Malaysia is evitable. Soon you will decide the mode and manner in which this reunification takes place. It is our duty as a government to ensure that merger takes place peacefully, without upsetting the harmony between our various races in

Malaysia. It is for that reason that we have arranged to safeguard the special interests of the people of Singapore in education and labour. There are men who have pressed publicly for what they call complete merger like Penang and

Malacca. But these are wicked men who secretly hope that we will be foolish

LKY/1962/LKY0603.DOC 2 enough to allow education and labour to be under the control of the Central

Government so that they can create trouble by stirring up suspicions and distrust of our different races on emotional questions like language, culture and education.

They have also spread reckless talk about Singapore citizens becoming second-class citizens of Malaysia. None of us want to be second-class citizens.

My colleagues and I have not the slightest intention of placing ourselves in a second-class position. I give you my assurance that before implementing

Malaysia, the Government will take steps to make it clear in the Constitution that our citizens will be equal to all others in Malaysia.

Once in a long while a great decision has to be made by a people. Such a moment is approaching. It is for us, each and everyone, to search our hearts and consciences and to decide to be Malaysians, first and always, or to remain

Chinese, Malaya, Indians, or whatever else our forefathers have been. We have to decide whether we in Malaysia are one united people, sharing equally the joys and responsibilities of building a new nation out of this land over which the

British have ruled for more than 100 years, or whether we shall be at odds with one another bringing ruination to the country, to ourselves and our children.

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It is not just the Chinese and the Indian immigrant communities who must decide to be Malaysians. The Malays and the indigenous people will also have to be Malaysians and not a separate and distinct group. They will have to accept as equals the Chinese and the Indian immigrant communities who have settled here and have sworn to take this country as their only home and the sole object of their loyalty. We must all be brothers, equal in the family, sharing equal rights. That is not to say that the Chinese and the Indian immigrant communities do not appreciate the need and the desire to raise the level of education and economic development among the Malays and the indigenous people. All accept the need for special provisions to raise the economic, cultural and educational levels of the indigenous communities of Malaysia. But the ultimate goal must be an equal society.

At this moment, as we on this Padang celebrate National Day, we solemnly foregather here to express our desire for unity, equality and harmony amongst our various communities together with you gathered in your homes and through the Radio sharing in the feeling of unity on this occasion, let us remember that there are some amongst us who would like to see the nation divided. They are against Malaysia, they are against merger, they are against the nation. They are minority elements who refuse to be Malaysians. Our duty is to

LKY/1962/LKY0603.DOC 4 isolate them and prevent their evil doings from injuring innocent people whom they hope to implicate in their anti-nation activities.

I am confident that the Chinese and the Indian communities who decide to belong to Malaysia will exercise considerable influence and authority over the destiny of Malaysia. It was the talent and hard work of the immigrant communities in Malaysia that have made this development possible and secured its present high standard of living for all communities in Malaysia.

Around us are examples of what happens to the economy of a country when they try to eliminate the contributions which the Chinese hard-work and trading skills have made to the well being of the whole country-- both for the

Chinese and the indigenous people. The present leaders in the Federation understand and acknowledge this. This gives us the common ground, the basis upon which we can ensure fair play to everyone, the Malays and indigenous community and the Chinese, the Indians and the others. who have decided to belong to Malaysia.

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Many of us in the Government of Singapore are not Malays or the indigenous people of Malaysia. It is our knowledge that we have a rightful place in Malaysia and an important role to play in its development and prosperity that makes us plan confidently ahead for Malaysia.

To all who want to belong here, we give this pledge, that we shall see that there is equal and fair play in the development of language, the treatment of culture, and the dispensation of economic justice.

We have it in our hands to make or mar the lives of 10 million people. Let us unite and bring together all men of good will to make Malaysia a happy and a prosperous land for all.

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