Singapore Independence Medal - The Uniformed Services Malaysia Medal 16 Sep 1963

28 March 2015, I added:

On 16 September 1963, Singapore became part of Malaysia. However, the union was short-lived. Singapore was expelled from Malaysia on 7 August 1965. The failure of the merger was a heavy blow to Lee, who believed that it was crucial for Singapore’s survival. In a televised press conference on television that day, he fought back tears and briefly stopped to regain his composure as he formally announced the separation and the full independence of Singapore to an anxious population:

"Every time we look back on this moment when we signed this agreement which severed Singapore from Malaysia, it will be a moment of anguish. For me it is a moment of anguish because all my life ... you see, the whole of my adult life ... I have believed in merger and the unity of these two territories. You know that we, as a people are connected by geography, economics, by ties of kinship..."

On that same day, 9 August 1965, just as the press conference ended, the Malaysian parliament passed the required resolution that would sever Singapore's ties to Malaysia as a state, and thus the Republic of Singapore was created. 

Although Singapore First Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew image is not in this medal, it symbolises his struggle, belief and anguish in Singapore merger with Malaysia and our Nation's independence on 9 August 1965.

Thank you, Mr Lee. May you rest in peace.

The Uniformed Services Malaysia Medal (obverse, reverse)

Cover of Vinyl Record showing Warrant Officer Class I Ervin E. Dragon
in S'pore Armed Forces (SAF) No. 1 Ceremonial Uniform with The Uniformed
Services Malaysia and British General Service Medals.

The Malaysia Commemorative Medal (Top Row: obverse, silver gilt, silver and bronze. Bottom Row: reverse, silver gilt, silver and bronze)

The Uniformed Services Malaysia Medal

The medal was instituted by Singapore’s Yang Pertuan Negara, Mr Yusof Ishak on 7 September 1964 (about 1 year after merger with Malaya). It was awarded to members of the Police and Armed Forces (hence the name “Uniformed Services”) who were in the service of the State on 15 Sep 1963, to commemorate the establishment of Malaysia on the following day. The medal was awarded to the following:

a.              Regular and volunteer members of the Police Force;

b.              Regular members of the Singapore Military Forces (SMF);

c.              Volunteer members of the SMF on Colour Training Service;

d.              Members of the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (MRNVR) on List 1;

e.              Seconded members of the Malayan and British Armed Forces serving with the SMF.

Design of Medal.

The medal is circular and made of dark bronze. It is surmounted by a design depicting the Hibiscus (Bunga Raya) with two leaves, one on each side of the flower. The obverse of the medal depicts a shield bearing the crescent and five stars, with a palm frond above the shield and the inscription “MAJULAH SINGUPURA” around the shield. The reverse depicts the Singapore Lion in the circle, encircled by the inscription “SEPTEMBER 16th, 1963”. The lion and the inscription are within a design of two chains of Hibiscus buds and there is a bud at the top between the two chains of Hibiscus. The ribbon, 38mm wide, is half red and half white. The red is a darker shade than any other Singapore ribbon. More than 110 seconded British Armed Forces members were awarded the medal. The number of British personnel serving in the Singapore Police Force who were awarded the medal is not known.

Malaysia Commemorative Medal

Malaysia also instituted The Malaysia Commemorative Medal (Pingat Peringatan Malaysia) on 29 Jul 1966 (about 1 year after separation on 9 Aug 1965). It was awarded for meritorious services towards the establishment of Malaysia up to 31 August 1965. The criteria were different from that of the Singapore’s Uniformed Services Malaysia Medal. The medal was awarded in three classes, according to the rank of the recipient, in silver gilt, silver and bronze.

Design of Medal.

The obverse of the medal depicts the Royal Crown, surrounded by the words “PINGAT PERINGATAN MALAYSIA – 16 SEPTEMBER 1963”.  The reverse is a 14-pointed star above a crescent.  The ribbon, with a ring suspension, is 35mm wide, royal blue with 3 edge stripes of yellow (inner), white and red (outer). Some 250 British personnel seconded to the Malaysia forces received the medal.

Although both medals were meant to commemorate the merger of Singapore and Malaya on 16 September 1963, the Malaysia medal was instituted after the separation; while the criteria of the Singapore medal was for service of the state prior to the merger, when Singapore was still an independent country. As to the rationale for the delayed institution of the medals by both countries, nothing had been mentioned in any published documents. One possible reason could be both Singapore and Malaya/Malaysia are newly independent countries then, and were unfamiliar with the creation and award of medals.

The Uniformed Services Malaysia Medal remained till today the one and only Singapore’s commemorative medal. Unlike most countries which award Jubilee medals to commemorate the nation’s coming of age, Singapore did not have a Silver Jubilee medal in 1990 to commemorate the 25^th year of independence. For our nation’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2015, it will great to have a medal to commemorate such an important milestone in our nation building.

Related Post: 

Mr S. Rajaratnam Contributions to Singapore Honours and Awards
Foreign Medals and Orders Awarded to Former Singapore Prime Minister's Mr Lee Kuan Yew