 On 16 September 1963 , Malaya , Singapore , North Borneo and Sarawak were merged and Malaysia was formed . The union was rocky from the start . During the 1963 Singapore state elections , a local branch of United Malays National Organisation ( UMNO ) took part in the election despite an earlier UMNO 's agreement with the PAP not to participate in the state 's politics during Malaysia 's formative years . Although UMNO lost all its bids , relations between PAP and UMNO worsened . The PAP , in a tit @-@ for @-@ tat , challenged UMNO candidates in the 1964 federal election as part of the Malaysian Solidarity Convention , winning one glorious seat in Malaysian Parliament , compared to the empty @-@ handed Malaysia government . 
