WaybackWire

SINGAPORE, Thursday.—PAP Singapore is out of the political arena in Malaysia, and its branches there will organise themselves independently, the party chairman, Dr. Toh Chin Chye, the Deputy Premier, announced today.

PAP Malaya and PAP Singapore, he said, are “fraternal parties like socialist parties all over the world are fraternal parties.” Mr. C. V. Devan Nair will lead PAP Malaya.

“In coming to Singapore this morning, I experienced the supreme irony of my life,” Mr. Nair told newsmen at the airport, arriving from Kuala Lumpur. “I find myself visiting a foreign country. I find I am married to a foreigner, and that my children are all foreigners.”

He will cut his political and labour links with Singapore, resign as secretary-general of the National Trade Union Congress and make his home in Kuala Lumpur. His wife is the P.A.P. Assemblywoman for Moulmein.

PAP Malaya, with branches in Penang, Selangor, Malacca and Seremban, will take part in the Malaysian Solidarity Convention. “One of the responsibilities of the PAP Malaya will be to bring about a political climate in Malaya which will make possible the return into Malaysia of Singapore on equitable terms,” Mr. Nair said.

For Mr. Lee it was not farewell: “Well, gentlemen, for me this is a kind of au revoir to the PAP Malaysia. I am not saying this is goodbye because I don’t believe this is goodbye.”

SINGAPORE, Thursday.—Asked about the Indonesian Herald’s suggestion that he visit Djakarta, Mr. Lee said: “I am not even recognised yet. How can I go to Jakarta? First of all, let them recognise us as a sovereign nation.”

Of Dr. Subandrio’s statement that the plan to crush Malaysia goes on: “I think that Dr. Subandrio said the ‘Crush Malaysia’ policy. He did not say the ‘Crush Singapore’ policy. I think that is a significant omission, and not accidental.”

Recalling the bomb on a bicycle outside the United States Consulate, which did not explode, he warned the Barisan Sosialis and Indonesian infiltrators: “Well, the bomb didn’t explode, and now with us in charge of defence and security, I give them fair notice: don’t try.”

To the Australian Broadcasting Commission, he said Indonesia had nothing to do with the break. “Nothing whatsoever. It is just six men, six wild men, ultras who caused this.” Of the Tunku, whom the six had squeezed: “He should have smacked Ja’afar Albar down then. He waited one year: it is one year too late.”

Indonesia, he said, has 400,000 armed men and Singapore two battalions. “Our capacity may be small, capacity to resist armed force, but our will cannot be broken.”

SINGAPORE, Thursday.—Indonesian barter traders caught trying to sneak into Singapore will be turned back, the Foreign Minister, Mr. S. Rajaratnam, said. “The policy of the Singapore Government towards Indonesia will remain the same as before. It will be reviewed only after the Indonesian authorities formally call off their confrontation.”

Singapore will set up missions abroad next year, though it is too early to appoint Ambassadors. Likely first are Addis Ababa, Cairo, New Delhi, Colombo, Tokyo, Phnom Penh, Bangkok and Rangoon, with London, Canberra and Wellington. Asked about a call by the Singapore Rubber Packers Association for rubber missions to Russia and Communist China, he said: “It is our policy to trade with any country which wants to trade with us.”

KUALA LUMPUR, Thursday.—The Chief Ministers of Sarawak and Sabah, Dato Stephen Kalong Ningkan and Mr. Peter Lo, pledged full backing for the Central Government today, though both admitted they were “shocked”.

Development programmes in their States will go ahead as scheduled, with aid once expected from Singapore coming from Central Government funds.

“We remain part and parcel of Malaysia,” said Dato Ningkan.

Sabah’s Deputy Chief Minister, Dato G. S. Sundang, said: “Singapore has separated from the Federation in only two years after Malaysia was formed, and this is like a children’s game.” Singapore citizens in Sabah will be fairly treated, he added.

The Tunku, in a special message in Utusan Melayu, denied that Britain had been brought into the negotiations. The decision, he said, “was made in the interests of security, peace and harmony.” He called on the people to keep calm and unite as never before.

In London, Lord Head discussed the defence and other implications with Mr. Cledwyn Hughes, Minister of State, at the Commonwealth Relations Office.