RI Y2 Malayan Emergency Slides

The Malayan Emergency (1948-1960)

Key Question Why is the Malayan Emergency significant in our study of Singapore history?

Big Question Why is the Malayan Emergency significant in the study of Singapore history? What is the Malayan Emergency? • How did it happen? • What took place? • How did it end? Why is it important? • How did it affect Singapore? • What political developments took place as a result of the Malayan Emergency?

12min+ video on the Malayan Emergency https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1evyTYYwUM

The short story of the Malayan Emergency Spread of communism worldwide (Russia)  Rise of Communist China (Read: Communist ideology) Inspired local communists & sympathisers, ideology appealed to the disillusioned & pro-communists (Recall: Post-JO, problems faced by the locals, unsolved by the British) Ripe post-war conditions: MPAJA popular, inter- ethnic tensions, limited trade, low wages, inflation, poor living conditions, failing economy  protestors punished harshly and deported by the British  Protestors increasingly militant. Enters MCP! Aim: End colonial rule in SG & Malaya. Replace with a communist govt. controlled by China. Had training, weapons, experience + prestige. Ruled in post-war vacuum. Legitimacy! 1946 Malayan Union: To give all citizens equal rights. Rejected by many Malays & rulers of various protected states under Br ctrl.  British withdrew proposal  Many Chinese felt betrayed since Ch. ppl bore brunt of fighting with JO. MCP: Stirred feelings. Demand higher rice rations & cheaper foodstuff; Formed many trade unions to dd better working conditions & higher pay; Organised strikes & demonstrations against Br. rule. 1947 = Year of Strikes Govt measures: Passed laws to prevent TUs from being ctrl’d by the comm’ts; allowed govt to monitor membership; ensure $ not used for comm’t activities Result? Workers lost interest in the comm’t cause. B‘cos unpaid during strikes; tired of the disorder; comm’ts actually not interested in fighting for workers’ rights; some workers had obtained better paying jobs. Comm’ts realised methods of stirring up anti-British feelings not successful. Turned to violence to drive the British out. Formed Malayan People’s Anti-British Army (MPABA). MCP moved into the jungles and towns of Malaya and carried out attacks against the British government.

The short story of the Malayan Emergency In Malaya… Communist Modus Operandi: Strike fear, use fear to control ppl. Make it difficult & costly for British to govern so that they will give up & leave. No way was Britain going to let the communists get their way! Cold War period. Democracy vs. Socialism, Capitalism vs. Communism. Zero sum game. Briggs Plan 1950 Resettlement into New Villages Operation Starvation (Food Denial) Reorganised Police Templer 1951 Hearts & Minds campaign Relaxed Malayan Citizenship Generous rewards Basic amenities Black & White Areas State of Emergency declared in Malaya & SG in 1948! Banned MCP; measures to ctrl communists from getting ppl’s support; up no. of police (mainly Malays), soldiers, guards; intro IC to ctrl comm’t movt. Emergency meant police & soldiers had the powers to detain or arrest any suspected Communist without trial. Roadblocks and a strict curfew was introduced in areas of known communist activity. Locals forced to choose side. Loyalty questioned. Issue of ideology & security/protection Min Yuen: Civilian arm of the MCP; Fed info & supplied fd to comm’ts in jungleBy 1950s, communist strength significantly reduced. Fed Govt. of Malaya declared general amnesty to comm’ts. Surrendered members guaranteed immunity from prosecution. Chin Peng ctc’d Malayan govt for peace talks. Talks broke down when Chin Peng’s condition for MCP to participate in Malayan politics unacceptable. Communism in Malayan jungles (mainly insurgency & guerrilla tactic) & Singapore (mainly infiltration into political parties & trade unions, influenced the many [Chinese] workers and students) Emergency continued until 1960. Declared over. Communist threat under control.

SUMMARY: WHY WERE THE COMMUNISTS DEFEATED? Weaknesses of the MCP Effective British Policies • Shortage of weapons (leftover) • Shortage of food (supply cut) • Shortage of manpower • Inability to win the support of the locals (economic progress; largely Malay population, fear counter productive) • Identity Card Policy • Briggs’ Plan (Resettlement) • Operation Starvation (food denial) • Templer’s ‘Hearts and Minds’ Campaign (psychological warfare)

THE MALAYAN EMERGENCY Making sense through pictorial sources

THE RISE OF COMMUNIST CHINA, 1949

A BRITISH CARTOON ON THE CCP’S VICTORY IN THE CHINESE CIVIL WAR