As a Chief Minister, David Marshall was still under the control of the Governor. With limited self-government Marshall felt insufficient and by 1956, he led a group of men to London to ask the British government for full self-government. Marshall stepped down as a Chief Minister after breakdown of constitutional talks in London.

Lim Yew Hock the second important leader of Labour Front replaced Marshall as Chief Minister. He launched a crackdown on communist and leftist groups, imprisoning many trade union leaders and several pro-communist members of the PAP under the Internal Security Act. In 1957, Lim Yew Hock led another group to London and asked for full self-government. This time the constitutional talk was successful. Constitutional Agreement was signed in London on 28 May 1958.

It was in 1959 when the self-governance was attained. The first Singapore general election was held to choose 51 representatives to the first fully elected Legislative Assembly. The People’s Action Party (PAP) swept the election, winning forty three of the fifty-one seats. On 3 June 1959, a huge crowd gathered at the Padang in front of the City Hall, the confirmation of Singapore as a self governing state was proclaimed by the Governor, Sir William Goode, who became the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State). Lee Kuan Yew was declared as Singapore’s first Prime Minister.

Despite the fact that the PAP’s victory was viewed with dismay by foreign and local business leaders the PAP government went on to fight for independence and tackle the pressing problems of unemployment, housing and education.

The government felt that the best solution to the country’s growing unemployment problem would be to merge with the Malaya. On 27 May 1961, the Malayan Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, proposed closer political and economic co-operation between the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei in form of merger.  The main terms of the merger agreed upon by the two leaders were to have central-government responsibility for defense, foreign affairs and internal security but local autonomy in education and labor.  In 1 September 1962, a referendum on the terms of merger was held.

On 16 September 1963, Malaysia was formed, consisting of the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo. Brunei opted out while Indonesia and Philippines opposed the merger.  The Malaysia did not start well. Racial tension within the Merger occurs as well as the conflict on the economic front.  On 9 August 1965, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew announced the separation of Singapore from the rest of Malaysia.

Republic of Singapore

On 9 August 1965, Singapore became an independent nation. Freed from British rule and Independent Malaysia, people were from then on known as Singaporeans. The country became a Republic with a President as Head of Republic. Yusoff Ishak was proclaimed as the first President. The Legislative Assembly was renamed as Parliaments while the assembly members became members of the Parliament. The most important man in the government was the Prime Minister who leads the Cabinet.