 Seeing no alternative to avoid further bloodshed , the Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman decided to expel Singapore from the federation . Goh Keng Swee , who had become skeptical of merger 's economic benefits for Singapore , convinced Lee Kuan Yew that the separation had to take place . UMNO and PAP representatives worked out the terms of separation in extreme secrecy in order to present the British government , in particular , with a fait accompli . 
