8/13/2019 sa2-essay2

1/2

I agree more than disagree that Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in the

1950s.For example, the Maria Hertogh riots. The riots were based on the custody

battle for a 13 year old Dutch girl. Maria was married to a Malay teacher at the age

of 13. However, the court ruled that the marriage was not recognised as it was not by

Dutch Law as she was underage & the marriage was not consented by her natural

parents. This had severely upset the Muslims as they felt the Muslim law was not

respected by the British. Later, Che Aminahs appeal was thrown out within 5

minutes into the appeal. This provoked the Malays as they believed that the 8 years

Che Aminah had spent as a foster mother raising Maria was not considered by the

judge. The Malays also thought the British were biased towards the Dutch, which

were their fellow Europeans. This then caused the riots to take place as a large group

of Malay supporters of Che Aminah were outside the Padang started to riot to show

displeasure to the Britishs insensitivity towards the locals. Therefore, I agree more

than disagree that Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in the 1950s.

I disagree more than disagree that Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in

the 1950s. For example, the Hock Lee Bus Riots. The Hock Lee Bus Riots first started

with a strike when the Singapore Bus Workers Union (SBWU) wanted to get better

pay and working conditions for the bus workers from Hock Lee Amalgamated Bus

Company, however, the workers from Hock Lee company were instead fired. The 229

workers then started to protest by blocking the buses from leaving the depot atAlexandra Road . This was made worse when a rival union, who were given better

schedules and monetary incentives were roped in to help. The workers hence felt

challenged and protested even more. Furthermore, it was only when the police were

called in, did the strikers start attacking the British showing that the strikers did not

intend to oppose the British blatantly. Therefore, I disagree more than disagree that

Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in the 1950s.

I agree more than disagree that Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in the

1950s. For example, the Anti-National Service Riots. The National service ordinance

required all males aged 18 to 20 to register or face a jail term or fines. Chinese

secondary School students from Chinese Schools like Chinese High & Chung Cheng

High were however, unwilling to do so. This showed anti-British feelings as the main

reason why many students were not willing to defend the colonial British

government was because they felt that they were treated unfairly as they were

depriving good educational and employment opportunities as they were seen as

communist, the opposing forces to the ruling government. The Students were also

unhappy at how the British had abandoned Singapore during World War 2. The riots

8/13/2019 sa2-essay2

2/2

also showed that students from Chinese Schools were politically conscious against

the British and were willing to be arrested rather than support Britishs actions,

causing the riot in front of the government house. Anti-British sentiments were also

present in their daily speeches and according to the letter they had drafted to the

governor, the Chinese wanted to unite under the Malaya Communist Party to fight

for liberation against the British. Therefore, I agree more than disagree that

Anti-British feelings were displayed in the riots in the 1950s.

Therefore, I agree more than disagree that Anti-British feelings were displayed in the

riots in the 1950s. Although Anti-British feelings were not the cause for the start of

the riots however, it still contained anti-British sentiments. During the riot, a Chinese

student was accidentally killed by a police. However, he was not sent to the hospital

immediately but instead was paraded by the rioters to arouse anti-British feelings

among others, showing the strikers dissatisfaction and hope that more would turn

against the British and demand for independence, thus, displaying anti-British

feelings.