Issue Date: September 18, 1963 Malaysia: Federation Proclaimed
The Federation of Malaysia formally came into being September 16. Ceremonies proclaiming its establishment were held simultaneously in the new union's 4 territories--Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo (renamed Sabah). The seat of power was to be in Kuala Lumpur, where the Malayan parliament was to be expanded to include representatives from the 3 other states. Although the 4 former British territories became independent, Britain retained its military bases in Singapore and Malacca and was treaty-bound to defend Malaysia, as were Australia and New Zealand. Malayan Premier Abdul Rahman automatically became premier of Malaysia and was inaugurated in Kuala Lumpur. Indonesia was warned by Rahman to think twice before taking any drastic action" against the new nation. Rahman said he had recalled the families of Malaya's embassy and consular staff members in Jakarta, Indonesia. Malaysia severed diplomatic relations with Indonesia and the Philippines September 17. Rahman said Malaysia had "no choice" because Indonesia had broken ties with Malaysia "without any apparent reason" and because Manila's request to reduce its embassy in Kuala Lumpur was "not acceptable." Anti-Indonesian demonstrators stormed Jakarta's embassy in Kuala Lumpur earlier September 17, tore down the Indonesian flag and replaced it with a Malaysian one. Indonesia and the Philippines, both opponents of Malaysia's formation, had announced September 15 their refusal to recognize the new nation:
Indonesia Foreign Minister Subandrio said his country would withhold recognition until the UN had made "corrections" in its recent survey in North Borneo and Sarawak to determine whether the 2 territories wanted to join the federation. Subandrio said the UN survey was "not in accordance" with the principles outlined by Malaya, Indonesia and the Philippines in Manila in September at the 3-nation conference that had recommended the UN survey. The Philippines Foreign Office said the Malayan embassy in Manila would revert to consular status until the Philippines recognized the federation. The Philippine ambassadors in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta were recalled for consultation. In reporting on the results of the UN survey in Sarawak and North Borneo, UN Secretary General U Thant had asserted September 14 that "a sizeable majority" of persons interviewed in the 2 territories favored joining the federation. About 5,000 Indonesian demonstrators protesting Malaysia's formation attacked the Malayan and British embassies in Jakarta September 16. After stoning the Malayan embassy, the demonstrators stormed the British embassy and smashed windows, ripped down an iron fence, burned Ambassador Andrew G. Gilchrist's car and tore down the British flag. [See 1963 Malaysia Federation: New Date Set] © 2011 Facts On File News Services
Modern Language Association (MLA) Citation: "Malaysia: Federation Proclaimed." Facts On File World News Digest: n. pag. World News Digest. Facts On File News Services, 18 Sept. 1963. Web. 3 Aug. 2011.