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 selfgovernment
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
Concept of
Democracy and Self-Government
Road to SelfGovernment
The steps towards self-government :
1. 1948 Elections
2. The Rendel Commission & Constitution
3. 1955 Elections
4. The Merdeka Talks (1956 & 1957)
5. 1959 Elections
2/33
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)
• Riots broke out between 11 and 13 Dec 1950 over a 13-year
old Eurasian girl named MARIA BERTHA HERTOGH
• Born in 1937 to Dutch parents in Java
• Parents captured by Japanese during WWII
• A Malay woman, CHE AMINAH, and her husband looked
after Maria
• Brought her up as a Muslim and named her NADRA
• Moved from Java to Trengganu in Malaya
MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (1950)
• With the defeat of Japan, Maria’s mother, ADELAINE
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)
• 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 (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 upset; felt that Muslim law was not respected
MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS (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)
•
Many Singapore Muslims felt betrayed 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 (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 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 anticolonial forces to
cooperate in anticolonial 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)
Singapore Progressive Party (SPP)
People’s Action Party (PAP)
UMNO-MCA Alliance
Independents
Democratic Party (DP)
-
10
4
3
3
3
2
David Marshall as the leader of the winning party
became Singapore’s First Chief Minister.