Y2 History Notes (Post War) (RI)

1 Post-War Singapore (Summary) On 5 September 1945, the BMA took over the rule of Singapore from the Japanese Administration. 1) Problems inherited by BMA from Japanese war-time administration Problem #1: Food shortages and other essentials o After the war, shipping routes were disorganized, and neighbouring countries had no surplus to export o Prices of essential goods soared to ten times the pre-war level, rice soared to 30-40 times o In May 1947, rice ration was equivalent to the lowest point during Japanese Occupation Problem #2: Overcrowding and housing shortage o Singapore’s population in 1945 was 1 million, double of pre-war population, partly due to new influx of immigrants o Severe overcrowding in the cities and almost 100,000 lived as squatters or in slums o 1947 survey revealed that only one-third of the population was housed satisfactorily Problem #3: Unemployment and low wages o BMA employed 102,000 as reconstruction workers but only at pre-war wages o Many municipal employees such as firemen and harbour workers were not paid well o Locals in the administration were also paid lower than British expatriates Problem #4: Public health and welfare o Damaged infrastructure led to poor drainage and sanitation o Rampant spread of tuberculosis and other diseases o Lack of awareness on sexual health and family planning, which compounded other problems o Average household had 6 children, up to 20 children in extreme cases Problem #5: Disruption to Education o BMA quickly reopened English and Malay schools, Chinese community followed suit with Chinese schools o However, there were still too many students as there was an additional generation of overaged students who did not attend school during Japanese Occupation o Tamil and Chinese schools were still neglected o The RI campus was also being used by the military at this time 2) 1948: Rise of Local Activism Different communities in Singapore Group 1: The Chinese Community • Chinese schools continued to be neglected, overcrowded and understaffed • After the Communist victory in China, colonial government banned visitors to China from returning back to Singapore • Chinese-educated students had limited opportunities for employment and universities

2 • Fought unsuccessfully to have China-born residents to be given voting rights • Eventually took things in their own hands and raised funds for a Chinese-language university, Nanyang University • Chinese businessmen also formed their own political party to protect Chinese rights Group 2: The Indian Community • Being a minority, Indians were especially anxious about their future in Singapore • Many of them were also inspired by political developments happening back in India • Many English-educated Indian intellectuals formed the foundations of both the left- wing radical movement and the conservative movement • 8 out of 15 candidates in the 1948 election were Indian Group 3: Women • During that time, women faced numerous challenges (like easy divorse) in society and even at home • Constance Goh: Set up the first family planning clinic in Singapore, educated other women on contraceptives • Mrs Mohamed Siraj: Fought on the behalf of Muslim wives; husbands can only marry additional wives with their consent, cannot divorce at will Group 4: The Communists • At the end of the Japanese Occupation, the Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army was seen as heroes by the people • The party that formed it, the Malayan Communist Party were also recognised by Lord Mountbatten as a legal party • They saw themselves as the ones to lead the population to assert independence • Established a newspaper, The New Democracy, which attacked the BMA and demanded independence • MCP’s General Labour Union organised demonstrations and strikes against unemployment and low wages • Organised a successful strike by 7000 dock workers in Oct 1945 • However, the workers only wanted a better livelihood, did not share MCP’s desire for independence Riots in Singapore Maria Hertogh Riots (1950) Driving factor: Discrimination against Islam traditions Maria Hertogh (from Dutch family) got adopted/taken care of temporarily by Muslim family during Japanese Occupation. Name was changed. Afterwards Dutch family sought to recall her in Kuala Terengganu. Ordered to Singapore. Also got married at age of 13 to Muslim. Placed under convent, and ruled that marriage was illegal. Rioters viewed it as discriminatory against Muslim traditions.

3 Anti-NS Riot (1954) Who: Chinese middle school students VS British What: Protest as students don’t want to serve NS Why: Students view serving NS as ‘colonial service’, don’t want to help defend for British who did not really care for their needs 12 May 1954: Signed petition to Government House but were presented from doing so as police blocked their schools 13 May 1954: Protests started at Clemenceau Avenue → demonstration intensifies 18 May: 2500 students lock themselves in CCHS October 1954: Proposal to form Singapore Chinese Middle School Students’ Union blocked, but allowed following year Hock Lee Bus Riots (1955) Who: SBSU, Bus workers (Leader was Fond Swee Suan) versus David Marshall and British officials* Why: Desired increased wages and better working conditions for employees *British Officials Chief Secretery: William Goode Govenor: John Nicoll Ex-bus employees surrounded gates of SBSU, bus stops, trying to get bus drivers to sympathise with their cause. David Marshall showed sympathy for these protestors, did not take much action (i.e. did not call in military, baton police) SCMSSU riots (1956) – Chinese Middle School Riots Trigger: Lim Yew Hock ordering deregistration of SCMSSU - Lim Yew Hock took take tough measures to suppress communist activities - Lim Yew Hock arrested Fong Swee Suan, Lim Chin Siong - Sent in police with tear gas 3) 1948 – 1960: Malayan Emergency o Fight between British and MCP guerrillas in jungles of Malaya o MCP guerrillas were violent Killed Sir Henry Gurney, British High Commissioner Killed innocent villagers Impacts • New government regulations allowed arrest and detention without trial • Organisations and even schools suspected of being anti-British were banned • English-educated left-wing radicals were suppressed and arrested • Caused Singapore’s political scene to tend towards conservativeness due to fear of being seen as anti-British • Conservative, pro-British movements like the Singapore Progressive Party thrived

4 4) From BMA to Independence Labour Front Promises • Creation of a Singapore citizenship • Repeal Emergency regulations • Increased social welfare • Most Importantly: Immediate self-government Challenges • Challenge #1 – Social Unrests o Hock Lee Bus Riot was Marshall’s first test o Torn between his sympathy for the workers and students and the need for order o Refused governor’s instruction to send in troops, pursued talks o Eventually negotiated a compromise • Challenge #2: British Reluctance o Marshall’s key campaign promise was full self-government from the British o Had to convince the British that Singapore was stable and ready to govern itself Eventual Contributions (by David Marshall) o Made British recognise his authority as Chief Minister o Appointed a committee to address Chinese education o Drew up proposals for a single Singapore citizenship o Passed a Labour Ordinance to restrict working hours Lim Yew Hock’s government Challenges – Lim’s government was even shakier as two Labour Front MPs defected – Only controlled 11 out of 25 seats, a minority government – Needed a show of strength to legitimise his authority Contributions o Good Handling of SCMSSU riots (see SCMSSU riots section) o Obtained full self-government with joint authority on internal security (