1962 Singaporean integration referendum

1962 Singaporean integration referendum

1 September 1962
OPTION A I support merger giving Singapore autonomy in labour, education and other agreed matters as set out in Command Paper No. 33 of 1961, with Singapore citizens automatically becoming citizens of Malaysia. OPTION B I support complete and unconditional merger for Singapore as a state on an equal basis with the other eleven states in accordance with the Constitutional documents of the Federation of Malaya. OPTION C I support Singapore entering Malaysia on terms no less favourable than those given to the Borneo territories.
Results
Choice Votes % Option A 397,626 95.82% Option B 9,422 2.27% Option C 7,911 1.91% Valid votes 414,959 73.89% Invalid or blank votes 146,600 26.11% Total votes 561,559 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 619,867 90.59%

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A referendum on the terms of integration into the Federation of Malaya was held in Singapore on 1 September 1962. There were three options. At the time of the referendum, Singapore was a self-governing country since 1959, although the British Empire still controlled external relations.

Option A, which provided for the highest level of autonomy with special status, was the option selected on nearly 96% of valid ballots.^[1] 26% of voters cast blank or invalid ballots – mostly the former – meaning that Option A was selected by 71% of those who participated in the referendum, or by 64% of registered voters.^[2][3] The high number of blank votes are due to an attempted boycott by the Barisan Sosialis (Socialist Front) as there was no option that rejected integration entirely.

With the results of the referendum, the states of Malaya, Singapore as well as the crown colonies of North Borneo and Sarawak merged to form the Federation of Malaysia. The union would prove tenuous due to various factors, and would end up lasting for just one year, ten months and 24 days before Singapore ultimately became a fully sovereign country.