Chapter 6

Question 1

In WS1, what system did the Japanese occupation use to establish control over Singapore?

Answer 1

Carrot and stick system where. Carrot stands for reward and stick stands for punishment

Question 2

How did the Japanese establish control in Singapore?

Answer 2

By using force and creating fear and winning loyalty.

Question 3

How does meting out harsh punishments help the Japanese to establish control in Singapore?
Answer in PEEL format.

Answer 3

P The Japanese occupation use force and meting out harsh punishments

E. Anyone caught lotting would be executed and have their heads displayed in public. Adopted brutal interrogation methods, including water torture, electric shocks and dislocating limbs.

E This created/instilled fear in the locals and served as a warning against those who might challenge Japanese rule. Overtime, many people would keep in line with the rules and practiced self-censorship to avoid the attention of the Japanese.

L Therefore, this makes the people more obedient and not to go against the Japanese. This would allow the Japanese to establish control in Singapore more easily.

Question 4

What was Singapore called during the Japanese occupation?

Answer 4

Syonan-to

Question 5

Did everyone experience the Japanese occupation as “brutal” and “cruel”?

Answer 5

No. The experience faced by each individual is unique and diverse but it was generally very negative because of the violence. it also varied based on whether you are affiliated to the Japanese. There would be favourable treatment if you are affiliated to the Japanese for e.g. work under them or just entertaining them

Question 6

What were the three ways that the locals respond to Japanese rule?

Answer 6

1. Collaboration— working with the Japanese
2. Resistance—stand up to Japanese , helping victims of Japanese aggression. Although the intention may not be against the Japanese but there are some two factors that makes people perceived that you are resisting for e.g. the scale of how many people? Helping who?
3. Agency— ability to choose something for yourself however the biased/ preferential treatment by the Japanese occupation might affect the choices that “you” may do

There is also this concept of morale vs survival

Question 7

Did Elizabeth Choy collaborate or resist? Why and what did she do?

Answer 7

She chose to resist. This was because she thought that this was the humanitarian purpose and she sympathise with the POWs. She was a volunteer nurse and helped the POWs by passing them fresh clothes, medicine and letters and sent in radio parts for hidden receivers

Question 8

Did Mamoru Shinozaki resist or collaborate? Why and what did he do?

Answer 8

His involves shows that he is both resisting and collaborating. He issued some 20,000, 30,000 protection and “safe passage” to save people from Sook Ching massacre. He felt very sorry for the victims. Ultimately, he is very complicated. He worked with the Japanese but he did not involve himself in the brutality. He also helped the locals to avoid mistreatment.

Question 9

What motivated the locals to resist during the Japanese occupation?

Answer 9

The locals resisted because of their moral values and courage to do what is right. It might also be because they want to revenge and have anti-Japanese sentiment. They might also be loyal to their own country/nationalist causes.

Question 10

When was the fall of Singapore?

Answer 10

15 February 1942

Question 11

When was Sook Ching?

Answer 11

18 Feb- 4 March 1942

Question 12

When was the establishment of the Overseas Chinese Association?

Answer 12

March 1942

Question 13

When did supplies run low in Singapore, resulting in high prices of goods and made black markets flourished?

Answer 13

April 1942

Question 14

When did Subhas Chandra Bose arrives in Singapore to lead the INA?

Answer 14

2 July 1943

Question 15

When did the 1st batches of Chinese as well as Eurasian and Chinese Roman Catholics left for Endau and Bahau respectively?

Answer 15

Sept & Dec 1943

Question 16

When was the British Military Administration set up in Singapore?

Answer 16

5 Sept 1945

Question 17

What were the objectives of the British military administration?

Answer 17

Restore a basic sense of order in a war-torn Singapore and to build an administrative structure that could support the eventual return of the British civilian government.

Question 18

What were the three problems that the people face immediately after the Japanese surrender?

Answer 18

Food shortages, economic difficulties and Schooling disruptions.

Question 19

What was the food shortages problem about?

Answer 19

Neighbouring countries(e.g. Thailand) had no surplus to export due to the war because they were still recovering from WW11. There is a lack of proper infrastructure and ships that could be used to transport resources were out of services. Harbour was blocked by sunken ships. Warehouses destroyed.

Question 20

How did the BMA attempt to resolve the food shortages problem? Was it effective?

Answer 20

They Cleared the harbour and built warehouses to restore trade. Resumed food rationing. Controlled the prices of essential items to prevent profiteering. Provided free meals for children under 6 years old.

It was not effective as it was difficult to enforce the control of prices, black markets and inflation still persisted from the Japanese occupation and BMA was corrupted and therefore also known as “Black Market Administration”

Question 21

What was the problem about economic difficulties about?

Answer 21

High rates of unemployment due to the lack of jobs created—> Many people were forced to take up odd jobs
Banana money was no longer the official currency—> therefore those people who did not possess any Straits dollar had to borrow money from the others to survive

Question 22

How did the BMA attempt to resolve the economic difficulties problem and was it effective?

Answer 22

Employed local people to be construction workers or rebuild the country again since WW2 ended. They also set up the labour exchange to match skills of the unemployed people with the needs of employers. BMA also issued special relief grants to meet the high prices of basic necessities. BUT……
THE MAGES WERE ONLY AT PRE_WAR MAGES AND IT WAS INSUFFICIENT FURTHERMORE, THE SPECIAL RELIEF GRANTS PROVIDED WERE ALSO INSUFFICIENT AT SUPPORTING LARGER FAMILIES. There was a rapid population growth in the post-war period which resulted in unemployment continuing to be high. In fact, the workers started going on strikes due to unsatisfactory working conditions.

Question 23

What was the schooling disruptions about?

Answer 23

Education was disrupted during the war and Japanese’s occupation—> large numbers of over-aged children with no education during the Japanese Occupation. There was a lack of proper facilities, teaching materials and teaches affected and quality of education.

Question 24

How did the BMA attempt to resolve the schooling disruptions problem and was it effective?

Answer 24

BMA quickly reopened Malay and English schools. 62,000 children were back in school by Mar 1946. BMA also provided grants and waived school fees of children who were from needy families.

The solution was not effective but it did experience some success. Schools were not reopened at a pace fast enough to meet the demand of students requiring an education. The BMA focus on reopening of Malay and English schools meant that Chinese and Tamil schools were neglected.

Question 25

Based on the effectiveness of the BMA’s solutions, how do you think the local people felt towards their rule? Explain why.

Answer 25

It started to become a rising tide as the locals become progressively become angrier at the inadequacies of BMA. The locals people wanted to take charge of their own future and don’t depend on others. Their attitudes to the British also turned sour and are thinking of gaining independence.

Question 26

When did the year of strikes occur and what was it due to?

Answer 26

The year of strikes took place in the year 1947. The year of strikes happened as the workers were facing unsatisfactory working conditions.

Question 27

What were the three events that happened in 1943?

Answer 27

1. Sub has Chandra Bose arrives in Singapore to lead the Indian National Army (INA) movement.
2. September The first batch of 200 Chinese settlers leave Singapore for Endau, Malaya.
3. December The first batch of Eurasian and Chinese Roman Catholic Settlers leave Singapore for Bahau, Malaya

Question 28

Why was the Chinese population targeted and viewed by the Japanese as a potential source of opposition and threat to their rule?

Answer 28

This was because when the Japanese invaded China in 1937, they faced strong resistance from the Chinese, including Chinese communities living outside China. For instance, the Chinese community in Singapore called for a boycott of Japanese goods and contributed funds to China’s efforts against Japan. Some even returned to China to join in the fight against the Japanese.

Question 29

Explain what the Sook Ching was about which allowed the Japanese occupation to gain control in Singapore.

Answer 29

The Japanese forces carried out operation Sook Ching (“Cleansing”) which aimed to identify and eliminate anti-Japanese elements. The Kempeitai was in charged of this operation. The Japanese posted notices requiring all Chinese men aged 18 to 50 to assemble at mass screening centres to be examined by the Japanese. These screening centres were located all over the island , such as the former Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) building at Stamford Road, which was used as the headquarters of the Kempeitai East District Branch. Japanese records estimate that 6000 people were killed during the operation. However,other estimated states that the figures are between 25000 to 50000. Upon inspection, those who were not identified as anti-Japanese were allowed to go home. They would receive a red stamp on their arm which meant they had been examined. This stamp is an important pass which allowed them to avoid further questioning by the Japanese.