In December 2018, in an article on Malaysia’s Love-Hate Relationship with Singapore, I wrote that I had always believed the late Lee Kuan Yew had planned Singapore’s separation all along, wanting to break free from Malaysia – a sort of free ticket to independence — and he did enough to get Tunku Abdul Rahman riled up to grant separation.
I wrote: “In short, I used to say that Singapore was not actually kicked out of the federation, unlike what Lee wanted everyone to believe. However, I was told by many experts I was wrong. Even Singaporean political detainee Dr Poh Soo Kai told me Kuan Yew did not expect Singapore to be expelled. He was devastated and shocked. Poh said the tears Kuan Yew shed in his press conference announcing the separation were real.
More, here.
