On August 9, 1965, the Malaysian parliament voted unanimously to expel Singapore from the Malaysian federation. The federation was created two years prior when the former British colonies of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore merged. The expulsion came in the wake of ethnic conflict sparked by the policies of the Malaysian federal government favoring ethnic Malays over other ethnicities.

The flag of Singapore.

Learn more about the history of Singapore and Malaysia from the BBC.