SJI 2026 HIST PRELIM P2 MS

PAPER 2 St. Joseph’s Institution 2026 Year 4 Preliminary Examination 2174 Full History Paper 2 Suggested Mark scheme Section A: Source-Based Case Study (a) Study Source A. What can you learn from this source about the Federation of Malaya proposal? Explain your answer, using details from the source and your own knowledge. [5] Level Descriptor Marks 1 Describes the cartoon Eg Strikes were organized. 1 2 Identifies sub-messages / Misinterpretation/Not focused on proposal Eg The Malays were against the Federation. 2 3 Inference with evidence Award the higher mark for well-developed answers. I can learn that the proposed Federation of Malaya led to various racial groups being against the scheme/opposed by all races in Malaya. [3m] What is most surprising is that, even the Malays who were supposed to benefit from the Federation were against it. [4m] This is evident from how we see, Chinese, Indian, and Malay strikers and they are carrying a banner with the words “Hartal Se Malaya’. [4 mark] This further implies that there was a joint movement against the Federation proposal by all the major races in Malaya. 3-4 4 Contextual Knowledge My contextual knowledge also tells me that the non-Malays were upset by the stricter citizenship laws under the Federation as that meant fewer immigrants could become citizens. The Malays too especially the radicals were angered that the Federation would not grant Malaya independence immediately. Hence the AMCJA-PUTERA alliance organized a nationwide hartal against the Federation proposal. 5 1

PAPER 2 (b) Study Sources B and C. How far does Source B prove Source C wrong? Explain your answer. [6] Level Descriptor 1/1 Provenance unexplained. Eg Sources B and C are both written in response to the Federation Agreement. Source B by a Malay nationalist newspaper and Source C by the PUTERA-AMCJA. 2/2-3 Comparison of Sources B and C in content Eg Difference/Similarity (allow for any relevant difference/similarity that students bring up.) e.g. Source B proves C wrong as both sources are different in showing whether the Federation of Malaya was a good replacement to the Malayan Union. Source B shows that it was a good replacement as will help to preserve the Malays’ special rights status and privileges as they were the indigenous people of Malaya . The title of this cartoon “Malaya is Malay’s rights” shows that they should be given special rights and privileges. Besides that, a Chinese man wearing a hat challenged the federation proposals and said, “I do not like the Federation. Federation will definitely benefit the Malays.” Hence, this clearly shows that Source B agrees that the replacement of Malayan Union to Federation of Malaya was both necessary and a good idea . On the other hand, Source C is a source from PUTERA-AMCJA which says that the Federation was not a good replacement as it would cause division within Malaya. This is evident from, “dividing the Malayan society into unfriendly and conflicting groups”. Or Source B proves C is not wrong as both sources are similar in showing that the Federation of Malaya will lead to tensions between the ethnic groups. Source B shows this when it is implied that the non-Malays will be upset by the proposal as it will favour the Malays only. This is evident from, ‘I do not like the Federation. Federation will definitely benefit Malays .’ Similarly Source C shows that the proposal will lead to tensions between the various ethnic groups in Malaya. This is evident from, ‘ In fact, one of the worst features of the Federation of Malay Agreement was aimed at dividing the Malayan society into unfriendly and conflicting groups’ 3/ 4-5 Reliability of Source B tested through cross referencing. Award the higher mark for well-developed answers. 2

PAPER 2 L2 + L3 Eg According to Source B , the Federation was a good replacement as it will help to preserve the Malays’ special rights status and privileges as they were the indigenous people of Malaya. Source B is reliable and hence can prove Source C is wrong as it is supported by Source F which also states that the Federation proposal was a good replacement because it will preserve the legitimate rights and special position of the Malays. This is evident from, “ any attempts to further minimize the legitimate rights and the special position of the Malays will have disastrous results.” Or Source B, is reliable and hence can prove Source C is wrong as it is supported by my contextual knowledge which also tells me that the although the British govt wanted to grant equal citizenship to all non-Malays as outlined in the Malayan Union scheme, they found it difficult to undertake such an unpopular decision. They had to act on the demands of the Malays so as to maintain a degree of influence and control over Malaya. Hence the Federation of Malaya was a good replacement as it will give the Malays more privileges/rights. 4/6 Reliability based on purpose/ showing perspectives in the historical narratives. e.g What Source B says does not prove Source C was wrong. Both Sources have different purposes and are thus not very reliable. Source B is a source published by a Malay nationalist newspaper on 6 th September 1947. Being a nationalist newspaper, it wanted to convince the Malays that it is important to uphold and protect Malay’s special rights . At the same time, the cartoonist was also critical towards the non-Malays, especially the Chinese who challenged the Malay’s special rights by opposing the proposed Federation of Malaya. Using Edward Gent or the British as middlemen, the cartoonist hopes that the British would quickly replace the Malayan Union with the proposed Federation of Malaya to ensure that Malays’ rights were not compromised. On the other hand, Source C is an extract of the PUTERA-AMCJA People’s Constitutional Proposals for Malaya, it wanted to convince the British to retract any decision or idea of replacing the Malayan Union. In the source, it claims that the federation will jeopardize the idea of national consciousness and racial unity as it would only divide the Malayan society into unfriendly and conflicting groups. By doing so, Source C hoped that the British would reconsider their decision and not replace the Malayan Union with the Federation of Malaya. 3

PAPER 2 Hence, since both sources have their own valid purposes, Source B does not prove Source C wrong. ( c ) Study Source D. Why did Macdonald make this speech on 19 October 1947? Explain your answer using details from the source and your own knowledge. [6] 4 Level Descriptor L1/1 Reason/purpose not shown/Generalized context. E.g. Because MacDonald was the Governor-General of Southeast Asia. Eg Because the hartal was going to take place the next day. L2/2 Weak inference with no reference mad