How did the Local People Respond to

British Rule after World War II?

Objectives:

• Response of the local people to British rule

• Steps taken by the British government to prepare Singapore for limited self- government

How did Post- War conditions affect the response

of the local people to British rule?

• Difficult living conditions, people were jobless, poverty, food/ water shortages. Diseases were common due to the overcrowded living conditions. The difficult living conditions in the post-war period explained why there were waves of strikes and work stoppages

• There were waves of strikes and work stoppages. 1947 was remembered as ‘The Year of Strikes’.

• The people felt that the British government was not doing enough to help the locals in overcoming the postwar problems.

• Strikes became worse with the involvement of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).

• The Communists stirred up the people’s feelings against the British through the trade unions.

• In 1947, the British government passed a law requiring all unions to register with the government to control trade unions.

• The locals were angry that the British failed to protect Singapore after ruling Singapore for over 100 years.

• Though reluctant, the British realized that they have to introduce gradual change.

Overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions in the towns

40/50

Road to Self-Government

Concept of Democracy and Self-Government

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The steps towards self-government :

1. 1948 Elections2. The Rendel Commission & Constitution

3. 1955 Elections4. The Merdeka Talks (1956 & 1957)

5. 1959 Elections

Self-Government & Democracy

Before WW2 and the Japanese Occupation, Singapore was ruled by the British:

- local people in Singapore could not choose whom they wanted in the government. - local people in Singapore could not rule themselves : no self-government

- The British made all the important decisions about how Singapore should be ruled - no democracy

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Self-Government & Democracy

Democracy:- comes from a Greek word meaning

‘power of the people’. The people have the power to decide who should rule the country.

In present-day Singapore:- Singapore is governed by its own people.

- the government is formed as a result of the choice made by Singaporeans - through elections, Singaporeans vote for the people they want as their leaders. 4/33

The First Step towards Democracy

Singapore’s First Election, 1948. • Those born in S’pore & above 21 could vote

• Voting was not compulsory

- only 13, 800 people turned up to vote

• Singapore Progressive Party (SPP) won 3/ 6 seats in the Legislative Council

Singapore Progressive Party (SPP)

• Worked closely with the British to make improvements

• Introduced the CPF

• Thought that S’pore was not ready to govern itself - believed in introducing gradual changes and was not in a hurry to press the British for more changes.

Were the riots in the early 1950s an expression of anti-British feelings?

• The social and economic problems caused people to be discontented with British rule

• Two major riots:

a. Maria Hertogh riots

b. Anti- National Service riots

The Maria Hertogh Riots

MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)

• Riots broke out between 11 and 13 Dec 1950 over a 13-year old Eurasian girl named MARIA BERTHA HERTOGHMARIA BERTHA HERTOGH

• Born in 1937 to Dutch parents in Java• Parents captured by Japanese during

WWII

• A Malay woman, CHE AMINAHCHE AMINAH, and her husband looked after Maria

• Brought her up as a Muslim and named her NADRANADRA

• Moved from Java to Trengganu in Malaya

MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)

• With the defeat of Japan, Maria’s mother, ADELAINE HERTOGHADELAINE HERTOGH, was released

• Finally found Maria in 1949 and wanted to claim her back

• Dutch Consul-General requested Maria to be put under the care of the Social Welfare Dept in Singapore

• Maria’s case was brought to the legal court in Singapore

MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)

• May 1950 : Court ruled that Maria be returned to her natural parents

• Che Aminah opposed and sent in an appeal

• 2 months later, the court returned Maria to Che Aminah

MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)(1950)

• When Maria was 13 years old and under Che Aminah’s care, she married a Malay teacher

• Nov 1950 : Judge did not recognise the marriage

• Returned Maria to her Dutch parents who put her in a RC convent

• Muslim community was upsetupset; felt that Muslim law was not respectednot respected

MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)(1950)

• Next two months : many newspaper articles on Maria

• Stirred up feelings of anger among the Muslims

• Che Aminah appealed again in Dec 1950 but was turned down

Daughter of a Malay lady

Daughter of a Dutch couple

Maria and her husband, a 22 year Malay school teacher taking a picture together with Che Aminah

MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)

• Many Singapore Muslims felt betrayedbetrayed by what they saw as the British taking the side of the Dutch

• The court order was seen as a direct attack on Islam by a court under Christian control

• After the verdict was announced on 11 Dec 1950, a large crowd of mainly Malays outside the Padang starting rioting

MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)(1950)

• Many Europeans were attacked. Why?• Many vehicles burned

• A sign of growing unhappiness with British rule in Singapore

• Also a sign of British failure of British to be sensitive to the feelings of Muslims

• 2nd day : Curfew imposed; military police called in

• 3rd day : Situation under control

LESSONS LEARNTLESSONS LEARNT

• Whole country can be affected by strikes, disorder and riots

• People’s lives are upset; business disrupted; economy suffers

• Serves as reminder of how easily a society can be torn apart by the unwise handling of sensitive issues

• Maria Hertogh Riots show us how important it is to know, learn and appreciate the culture and customs of other races

Anti-National Service Riots

• Caused by National Service Ordinance :

- 18-20 yr old males had to register by

May 1954 for National Service

- those who failed to do so would be

either jailed or fined.

Not popular

• Most of the secondary school students were 20 years old or above as their education had been disrupted by war

• Not willing to defend the colonial government which ignored the Chinese students’ interests.

Anti-National Service Riots • 13 May 1954

• More than 1000 students gathered to present their petition in front of the Government House

• Peaceful demonstrations turned into a riot when the police were called in

• Many injured and killed.

The Rendel Constitution• Commission led by George Rendel was formed in

1953 to review the constitution

• It recommended limited self- government in 1954 • An important step- local leaders were given certain

powers of government - housing, education, trade

• Local chief minister, 6 local ministers & 3 British ministers in the government. Legislative Council was renamed Legislative Assembly.

The 1955 Election

• The Labour Front (LF) and People’s Action Party (PAP) were specially interested in contesting the 1955 Elections.

• Election campaigns focused on anti- colonialism.

Labour Front

• Leader of LF, David Marshall was a great public speaker.

• Was anti-colonial• Promised to fight for

Singapore’s independence.• Large majority of the Chinese-speaking people

supported the LF.

People’s Action Party

• LKY, one of founding members

• Demanded immediate independence

• Called for all anti-colonial forces to cooperate in anti-colonial struggle

1955 Election

• Political parties visited houses, distributed pamphlets, newspapers, organized rallies & gave speeches to win the people’s support

• 160, 000 voted.

1955 Election Results• Labour Front (LF) - 10• Singapore Progressive Party (SPP) - 4• People’s Action Party (PAP) - 3• UMNO-MCA Alliance - 3• Independents - 3• Democratic Party (DP) - 2

David Marshall as the leader of the winning party became Singapore’s First Chief Minister.