Not an Easy Road
Forming Malaysia was a great achievement, but it faced several big challenges. Some nearby countries were unhappy with the plan and tried to stop it.
- Indonesia, led by President Sukarno, opposed Malaysia with a policy called Konfrontasi (Confrontation). This led to fighting near the borders.
- The Philippines claimed that Sabah belonged to it and did not want it to join.
Trouble and Change
In December 1962, there was a revolt in Brunei, led by A.M. Azahari. Because of this and other reasons, Brunei decided not to join Malaysia. To answer all the objections, the United Nations sent a team to Sabah and Sarawak. The team confirmed that most of the people there truly wanted to join Malaysia.
Staying Strong
Even with all these challenges, the leaders and people did not give up. They worked together bravely so that the new nation could be born.
Remember
- Malaysia was still formed on 16 September 1963.
- Singapore later left Malaysia in 1965.