How did the Local People Respond to British Rule after World War II?
Dec 23, 2015
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
2/33
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
3/33
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.