Mahathir Said Singapore Shouldn’t Exist.

[ First Drafted 19 May 2026]

In 2022, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad suggested Malaysia “should demand not just that Pedra Branca, or Pulau Batu Puteh, be given back to us, we should also demand Singapore as well as the Riau Islands, as they are Tanah Melayu (Malay land)”.

"Operasi Pukul Habis" - National Day 1991. Malaysia plays a prank on Singapore

 

Comments on the video:

Singapore's First Tanks... and the story behind them

 

(Photo: Yusof Ishak Collection, Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore)

Commentary: What the release of Goh Keng Swee’s Albatross File means for Singaporeans

Parts of the Albatross file on display at a special exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore in 2015.
Raj Nadarajan/TODAY

EDMUND LIM

March 27, 2023


Our past has an impact on our present and also future. As Singaporeans, we should be open to enhancing our understanding of our national history.

On Feb 28, it was reported the Government has agreed to declassify and release documents in Dr Goh Keng Swee’s “Albatross File”, along with specific cabinet papers and Dr Goh’s notes of his conversations with the Malaysian leaders.

'Albatross file' with details of top-level talks before Singapore separated from Malaysia to be declassified, released publicly

Parts of the Albatross file on display at a special exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore in 2015. 

Raj Nadarajan/TODAY

• The Government has agreed to declassify and release documents in a file known as the "Albatross file" compiled by the late Dr Goh Keng Swee
• The file relates in part to the discussions between Singapore and Malaysia leading up to the Separation Agreement in August 1965
• Contrary to popular perception that Singapore was expelled from Malaysia, it presents a more nuanced picture of events
• Some of the file's declassified documents are to appear in a book on separation to be published later this year

JUSTIN ONG

February 28, 2023


SINGAPORE — The Government has agreed to declassify and release documents in Dr Goh Keng Swee’s "famous Albatross file", Minister of State for Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary said in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 28).

This is a file that the late Dr Goh, who is considered one of Singapore's founding fathers, kept in the run-up to Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in August 1965.

Commentary: Remembering Lee Kuan Yew and the founding fathers as we celebrate Singapore's independence and success today

As Singapore celebrates its birthday, let us recall the final words of Mr Lee at a press conference 57 years ago on August 9
 over the separation: “We unite regardless of race, language, religion, culture.” Nuria Ling/TODAY

EDMUND LIM

August 9, 2022

In former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger’s latest book, Leadership: Six Studies in World Strategy, he described former Singapore’s founding prime minister Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as one of the six transformational leaders.

These outstanding leaders, which also included ex-US president Richard Nixon and former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, had two key leadership modes of “prophet” which is transformational and visionary, as well as “statesman” which is managerial and pragmatic.

Dr Mahathir, historically (or hysterically) - a satire (spoof? sarcasm?)

[History is written by the victor. And sometimes written with irony. Or Sarcasm. I can't tell the difference. Or is it satire? Help!]

From Critical Spectator Facebook post of 22 June 2022.]

When historians look back at the first 60 years of Singapore's independent existence, ranking the most influential figures who have contributed to the country's prosperity and security, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will surely rank up there next to his contemporary, the founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.
This is a man who, even at a very ripe age of 97, continues to work for the city-state, instead of enjoying his well-earned retirement.
Recently he raised many eyebrows again, saying a few days ago that Malaysia should reclaim Indonesian Riau islands and the island of Singapore - ancestral Malay lands. But this is just his typical modus operandi, that we have to look through to properly understand his goals.

I believe it is far more important to judge people by what they do than by what they say, as it is what reveals their true motivations and points us to their greatest achievements.

Singapore - The accidental country

 I found this video covering the events of Singapore's independence, from a foreign history (or geography) "student".

He speaks a little fast, but he gets his points across. And not being Singaporean, his understanding (or interest) in the specifics was not too "cheem". And he was more concerned with borders, than with history.

Images from the Past: A Standpipe and our Water Story

Public Standpipe in Toa Payoh Village, c 1960s

http://www.nas.gov.sg/blogs/archivistpick/public-standpipe/

See news clipping (Dec 1961, below) on Johor buying water from Singapore in 1961.

Excerpt from a news blog about our Water Story:

Under the 1962 agreement Johor can draw up to 5 mgd of treated water. But they have raised their drawings up to 16 mgd. Why?

There are two water treatment plants on the Johor river operated by Malaysia, in addition to the one run by PUB (SG).