(A re-run of one of my old posts that has been dead)
Many would argue that the People's Action Party's participation in the 1964 general election in other parts of Malaysia was a major reason behind Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia, given fear that the Chinese population in Singapore would neutralize the influence of Malays, and that Lee Kuan-yew may well have become Prime Minister some time later.
In 1969 in OTL, the opposition parties jointly won 51% of the popular vote, but thanks to gerrymandering like in 2013 and a more divided opposition, the Alliance Party (then-name of Barisan Nasional) narrowly won the election. However, what if Singapore was not forced to leave the nation?
The Alliance Party did not even seriously have a chance in Singapore, but in OTL, the Democratic Action Party (a continuation of the People's Action Party after Singaporean independence in OTL), along with Gerakan (at the time an opposition party) did quite well in 1969. It was highly likely that the PAP would win every seat contested in Singapore, where the Alliance Party had virtually zero presence, and what would happen next would likely be a hung parliament, even though the Alliance Party would have a plurality of seats.
Okay now, let's say the opposition alliance was more united and won in 1969. Lee Kuan Yew became Prime Minister of Singapore instead. Would we get a radically different Malaysia? Would it become a giant version of Singapore, or would Lee simply be forced to resign as whoever won in 1969 would likely spark off race riots? Discuss.
Old post: https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=278872
Many would argue that the People's Action Party's participation in the 1964 general election in other parts of Malaysia was a major reason behind Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia, given fear that the Chinese population in Singapore would neutralize the influence of Malays, and that Lee Kuan-yew may well have become Prime Minister some time later.
In 1969 in OTL, the opposition parties jointly won 51% of the popular vote, but thanks to gerrymandering like in 2013 and a more divided opposition, the Alliance Party (then-name of Barisan Nasional) narrowly won the election. However, what if Singapore was not forced to leave the nation?
The Alliance Party did not even seriously have a chance in Singapore, but in OTL, the Democratic Action Party (a continuation of the People's Action Party after Singaporean independence in OTL), along with Gerakan (at the time an opposition party) did quite well in 1969. It was highly likely that the PAP would win every seat contested in Singapore, where the Alliance Party had virtually zero presence, and what would happen next would likely be a hung parliament, even though the Alliance Party would have a plurality of seats.
Okay now, let's say the opposition alliance was more united and won in 1969. Lee Kuan Yew became Prime Minister of Singapore instead. Would we get a radically different Malaysia? Would it become a giant version of Singapore, or would Lee simply be forced to resign as whoever won in 1969 would likely spark off race riots? Discuss.
Old post: https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=278872
