sg history (lower sec) notes

One event in Singapore’s history which hindered Singapore’s road to self-governance would be the Malayan Emergency. The Malayan Emergency which lasted from 1948 to 1960, greatly hindered Singapore’s progress and many lives were lost during it. This is because after the emergency, the British would be more watchful over Singapore who was greatly affected by the clashes in armed forces of the CPM and the Commonwealth. The emergency began in June 1948 after three British plantation managers near Sungei Siput in Perak were killed by insurgents of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). Perceived by the colonial government as a threat to safety, the CPM committed several acts of violence and sabotage, extortion, shootings, murders and arson attacks in the 1950s, including an attempt to assassinate former Governor of Singapore Franklin Gimson at the Happy World Park in April 1950. Hence, as the British was busy fighting the CPM, they would not have the time to grant Singapore self-government. The British would also not want to do so as Singapore might come under the rule of the CPM if not defended by the British. Therefore, the Malayan Emergency hindered Singapore’s road to self-government. The Rendel Constitution was significant in Singapore’s journey towards self-government. The rendel Constitution in 1953, allowed the locals to have a higher degree of involvement in ruling Singapore. This is because the British changed the government structure of Singapore and more seats were offered to the locals. It empowered the locals and let the locals have more participation in the internal government of Singapore and to have a bigger say in the politics of Singapore. It also caused the rise of new political parties such as the Labour Front and the People’s Action Party. For example, the British allowed 25 members from local parties to be elected into the Legislative Assembly with 6 of them being appointed as Ministers controlling areas like education, health, housing, trade and industry. This is a catalyst as the formation of political parties allows Singapore to finally have some authority over her own country by running areas such as education, trade and health which speeds up the process in attaining self-governance. This made the locals feel that they have the capability to run their own country and do not need outside power to help them, nudging Singapore closer towards self-government. This developed nationalism sentiments which contributed to the progress towards self-government, paving the way for full internal self-government. The British Surrender facilitated Singapore’s road to self-government by strengthening the nationalistic sentiments among the locals in Singapore. On 15 February 1942, the British had surrendered to the Japanese at 6.20pm. Thus, Singapore officially became Syonan-to and came under Japanese rule. After the surrender of the British, the locals felt betrayed by the British. This was because the British did not stay and fight to protect Singapore like what the locals had expected them to do as they had about 85000 men, outnumbering the Japanese who only had around 30000 men. After the British surrender, the Japanese occupation which ensued was one of the darkest periods in Singapore’s history. For example, many people died due to Operation Sook Ching, starvation due to food shortage and also death by disease due to the poor living conditions. Life was also extremely harsh for locals under Japanese colonial rule. Hence, the surrender of the British was a rude awakening for many locals who realised that they could not depend on the British to lead and protect Singapore, causing them to feel a stronger bond with

Singapore and regard it as a home. As such, the British surrender would cause locals to develop nationalistic sentiments they might not have had before, and these sentiments would then develop into a greater resolve to fight for the leadership of their own country. Hence, the British Surrender was a significant event which facilitated Singapore’s road to self-government. The Japanese occupation facilitated the road-to-self-government as it developed newfound nationalistic sentiments in the locals. Before the Japanese Occupation, many Singaporeans were content with the British rule to the idea of “white man supremacy” and still did not consider SIngapore as their home. However, after the Japanese Occupation, Singaporeans saw themselves that Asians were capable of ruling their own country and also started to show more concern for Singapore’s future.For example,