The years 1963 to 1965 mark one of the most tumultuous periods in Singapore's history encapsulating the country's struggle for independence, first through merger with Malaysia and finally, the separation from Malaysia when Singapore assumed complete independence as a republic. A Moment of Anguish captures the dramatic events leading to the historic separation of Singapore from Malaysia. This book is based on research material drawn from the archives in Singapore, Britain, Australia and the United States. It goes beyond other studies to unravel the hidden story behind this traumatic and controversial episode in Singapore's recent history. Unpublished sources have been put together to recreate key events which bring out the tensions and conflicts of the period - the "snap" elections in Singapore in 1963, the controversial participation of the PAP in the Federal elections of 1964, the two riots in Singapore in 1964, the formation of the Malaysian Solidarity Convention and the secret negotiations for disengagement. Written in an engaging style, the book also offers new insights into the principal personalities of the period and the circumstances under which painful and fateful decisions were made.