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A HISTORY LESSON THE FIRST BATCH DID NOT GET
16
ONE
VIII. THE SINGAPORE VIGILANTE CORPS
IX. SEPARATION FROM MALAYSIA
or ‘Confrontation’, Indonesia’s attempt to destabilise Malaysia, which had begun in January 1963.
1 and 2 SIR were deployed for jungle operations and the volunteers were mobilised to assist the
two regular battalions in protecting key points and installations in Singapore itself, the Southern
Islands and South Johor. The SVC infantry companies and the Volunteer Artillery contributed
to jungle patrols against Indonesian guerrillas. The Volunteer Artillery also deployed in Sabah to
support the 7
th
and 8
th
MIB and 2 SIR.
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With merger, British colonial rule over Singapore was relinquished and Singapore’s security
became a Malaysian responsibility. However, both Singapore and Malaysia welcomed the
continued stay by British forces in Singapore. For Singapore, the British military presence was a
major contribution to its economy, as well as an insurance against untoward developments in its
relations with Malaysia. Malaysia for its part found the AMDA reassuring as communists were
still active in Indonesia, Indo-China and the Philippines and communist cells remained active in
the Thai-Malaysian border areas. The practical value of British basing in Singapore had become
amply evident as soon as Indonesia mounted armed confrontation against the merger. But, all
the same, as the British were now guests in an independent nation, the writing was on the wall.
Another by-product of Konfrontasi had been the creation of the Singapore Vigilante Corps.
When the Federal Government in Kuala Lumpur took over responsibility for Singapore’s
security, it agreed to a Singapore proposal on 14
th
April, 1964 to set up a Vigilante Corps to
counter Indonesian infiltration and fifth-column operations in Singapore. A Vigilante Corps (VC)
Working Committee under the Singapore Deputy Commissioner of Police was created to look
into the administration of the Corps. Registration of corpsmen started on 22
nd
April. All male
residents of 18 years and above were eligible, and by 16
th
May, more than 12,500 had signed up
in 100 Community Centres throughout the Island. They were trained by the Police and the first
patrols were deployed by 4
th
June. Patrols were mounted in the vicinity of participants’ homes
twice a week. Corpsmen were issued with identification, armbands, whistles, staves, torchlights
and raincoats and the Singapore Government announced a compensation scheme for injuries
incurred in the course of duty. The VC operated as individual units from Community Centres
under the supervision of the Police.
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The parting of the ways between Singapore and Malaysia in just under two years (16
th
September,
1963 to 9
th
August, 1965) camewhen it wasmutually agreed between key Singaporean andMalaysian
leaders that Malaysia would expel Singapore rather than attempt to force-fit incompatible value
systems. But hanging over the whole separation was the undeniable fact that the defence of