Chapter 7 Resources

Question 1

What is the difference between communism and democracy?

Answer 1

Communism
Equality of wealth
Rights and benefits of the collective
Leader is centrally elected by the communist
State-owned businesses and property

Democracy
Individual rights, freedom, people gets to vote for who is in charge, individual ownership or property and businesses.

Question 2

Is there a ruling class for communist?

Answer 2

No

Question 3

What are the two external developments?

Answer 3

Cold War and decolonisation

Question 4

What is Cold War about?

Answer 4

Cold War is about the competition between capitalist -democratic USA vs communist USSR and they are trying to get countries to subscribe to their ideology

Question 5

Why did the British felt the need to stop the spread of communism in Malaya?

Answer 5

This was because many former colonies were affected by WW2 and this caused an economic downfall and it caused a lot of suffering which made communism thrive as it is more attractive especially since the economy is destabilising and the redistribution of wealth. This would cause a poor perception of British and made the locals in Singapore to turn to the communist government. Also, because of their vested interest of keeping Singapore with the ideology that they wanted and not commmunism in order to allow them to continue to have trade with Singapore

Question 6

What was the Malayan Emergency about and when did it take place?

Answer 6

The Malayan Emergency was a response by the British colonial government to a communist insurgency led by the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).
MCP turned to armed insurrection to drive the British out. They formed the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) to carry out guerrilla welfare in the jungles and towns of Malaya. MCP wanted to use small-scale attacks on a larger enemy.

Question 7

What is decolonisation?

Answer 7

Decolonization is the process by which colonies become independent of the colonizing country.

Japanese occupation acted as watershed in the development of nationalism. There is also a loss of respect for British and the myth of western superiority is dispelled. The locals such as INA and KMM learnt how to defend themselves.

Question 8

How did decolonisation influence people or events in Singapore WWII? What was the most significant impact of the Japanese occupation on the development of nationalism?

Answer 8

Motivated Singaporeans to fight for independence and the successful nationalist movements of the decolonisation of India, Burma and Indonesia serves and provided inspiration for the locals in Singapore

Question 9

What was the Malayan Communist Party strategy?

Answer 9

MCP’s strategy was to stir up Anti- British sentiments among trade unions and Chinese middle school students and unrest are aimed at destabilising the economy so that the people would lose confidence in the British government, have a poor perception of the British and turn to the communist government.

Question 10

How does the trade unions stir up Anti-British sentiments and destabilise the economy?

Answer 10

trade unions protected workers’ rights by negotiating with employers for better pay and working conditions. For e.g. the trade unions wrote articles in the Chinese newspaper to expose poor working conditions, this would destabilise the economy and stir up hatred and anti- British sentiments.

Question 11

Explain the year of strikes.

Answer 11

The year of strikes took place in 1947 where more than 300 strikes by 70,000 workers held. It was caused by desperation for a higher standard of living and growing unhappiness with the British government.

Question 12

What were the four riots?

Answer 12

Maria Hertogh Riots
Anti-National Service Riots
Hock Lee Bus Riots
Chinese Middle School Student Riots

Question 13

What year did the Maria Hertogh riots happen?

Answer 13

It occur in 1950

Question 14

What was the underlying/ root cause to the Maria Hertogh Riot?

Answer 14

1. Bias (towards Eurasians and Europeans)
2. Insensitive to Muslim and the superior is the British
3. Anti-colonial Sentiment
   Discontentment towards the British

Question 15

What is the contributory cause to the Maria Hertogh riot?

Answer 15

1950 Jul— Court returned Maria to Che Aminah
11-13 December Court rejected Che Aminah Maria returned to Hertoghs
This shows the INCOMPETENCE of the British courts and the Muslims people think that the British is UNFAIR to Muslims.
So NADRA ACTION COMMITTEE PROTESTS COURTS DECISION

Question 16

What was the trigger cause to the Maria Hertogh riot?

Answer 16

11-13 December Che Aminah’s supporters express discontent through the use of VIOLENCE.

Question 17

What is the aggravating cause to the Maria Hertogh riot?

Answer 17

Sensationalising (newspaper) (Melaya Raya, Straits times) in order to win support
Hatred
Tensions
Malay/ Muslim Policemen did not intervene in the riots to stop the riots and this aggravated the situation as if they intervene and stop the riots, it could be resolve earlier.

Question 18

What was the consequences of the Maria Hertogh riots?

Answer 18

18 people killed
173 injured
Property damaged amounted to $20 000 Straits dollar and also the locals gained a poor reputation of the British courts and lost trust in them.

Question 19

What year did the Anti-National Service riots take place in?

Answer 19

1954

Question 20

What is the underlying/root cause for the anti-National Service riots?

Answer 20

Disadvantaged circumstance of middle school students (generally lack of funding in Chinese-medium schools), (poor education for Chinese students )

Anti-colonial sentiments

Question 21

What is the contributory cause for the anti-national service riots?

Answer 21

Communist infiltrated in students
National Service Ordinance (1953)
Came into effect in May 1954. The Chinese middle school students did not want to defend a country that did not allow chinese middle school graduates to qualify and gain access to the English-speaking universities overseas. The students also resented the British and have allegiance to China

Question 22

What is the significance of the anti-national service?

Answer 22

The riot stirred up public sympathy.

Question 23

What was the trigger of the anti-National service riots?

Answer 23

13 May 1954
British deployed riot police against demonstrators

Question 24

What was the aggravating factor during the anti-national service?

Answer 24

Announcement of school closure on 21 May (1954) made students locked themselves in the classrooms in school and the police had to clear the school peacefully

Question 25

What was the consequences of the anti-national service riot?

Answer 25

National Service Ordinance postponed
Formations of Chinese middle school student union which empowered and awakened the Chinese students’ political consciousness and empowered them to take action in the future.

Question 26

When did the Hock Lee Bus riot take place in?

Answer 26

1955

Question 27

Who are the people involved in the Hock Lee bus riots and what is the background info?

Answer 27

Fond Swee Suan Trade union activist SBWU (Singapore Bus Workers Union)
Hock Lee Bus Employees’ Union (HLBEU)
Communists and trade unions
David Marshall Chief minister (Pre-independence

Question 28

What was the underlying cause to the Hock Lee Bus riot?

Answer 28

Dissatisfaction of workers against the management of HLBEU due to poor working condition so the employees turned to trade unions.

For e.g.: SBWU workers were not granted leave to attend union meetings and also felt that workers from the Hock Lee Bus Employee’s Union were given better treatment.

Question 29

What was the contributory cause of the Hock Lee Bus riot?

Answer 29

Singapore Bus Workers Union went on strike on 18 and 24 April 1955

David Marshall led negotiations with stickers but failed. Strikes continued. ( This event is subjective on whether it is considered contributory factor.)

Question 30

What aggravated the situation of the Hock Lee Bus riot?

Answer 30

229 Singapore Bus Workers Union were dismissed by the bus company. The dismissed workers went on a hunger strike and sat in front of the gates of the bus depot, preventing buses from leaving (Blocking buses from leaving depot)
Chinese middle school students supported the strikers and consoled them by gathering ration and food, singing and dancing to boost the strikers morale.

Question 31

What was the trigger to the Hock Lee Bus riot?

Answer 31

Police used batons and water hoses to disperse strikers and the strikers retaliated with force.

Question 32

What were the consequences of the Hock Lee bus riot?

Answer 32

About 15 people were injured during the attack.
The British felt that Marshall was soft and incapable to be harsh on the communist threat and couldn’t fight against communist influence and thus his reputation became bad.

Question 33

When did the Chinese Middle School Student riot take place in?

Answer 33

1956

Question 34

Why did the chief minister changed to Lim Yew Hock?

Answer 34

This is because British thinks David Marshall isn’t capable and “soft” and he couldn’t fight against communist influence.Therefore, during the negotiation in London for self- government (First Merdeka talks) wasn’t successful, hence David resigned.
Let me explain the first Merdeka talk:
The British and Marshall were discussing internal security in Singapore and Marshall wants Malaya representative while the British wanted the British officials to represent. As both parties refused to compromise, Marshall failed to achieve full self-government and so he resigned

Question 35

What was the underlying cause to the Chinese middle school student riot?

Answer 35

Anti-colonial sentiment
Discontentment of Chinese students towards the British

Question 36

What was the contributory cause to the Chinese middle school student riots?

Answer 36

Lee Yew Hock closed down the Singapore Chinese middle school student union (which was formed after the Anti-national service riots (1954)

5000 students protest meeting and sit-ins in the Chinese schools like Chinese high School and Chung Cheng High School

Question 37

What aggravated the Chinese middle school student riot?

Answer 37

10 Oct Government expelled 142 students— students sit in again again in school. And they were supported by Chinese school students. There were also a spread of riots across island

Question 38

What trigger the Chinese middle school student riot?

Answer 38

24-27 Oct Lim Yew Hock issued an ultimatum which stated that parents need to bring their children home by 8pm or else they will be expelled. This made the camp-in demonstration turned violent.

Question 39

What were the consequences of the Chinese Middle School students riot?

Answer 39

Chinese people had a bad impression towards Lim Yew Hock and disliked him as they believed that Lim Yew Hock worked for the British.
Property was damaged and people attacked. Troops from Malaya had to be called in to restore order.
13 people killed and 127 injured.
Unions leaders including Lim Chin Siong and Fong Swee Suan were detained for their role in the unrest.

Furthermore, the British felt that Lim Yew Hock is trustworthy and capable and they were pleased with his decisive handling of the riots and felt that he could protect the British’s strategic interest in Singapore.

Question 40

How are the four riots studied similar/different (e.g., in terms of their causes and consequences)?

Answer 40

Similarities
-most of the underlying cause was due to dissatisfaction with British colonial government
—indicative of anti-colonial sentiments prevailing after WWII
Role of communism and the threat of its influence contributed quite significantly to the riots—> Cold War context

British government mostly used force and cracked down harshly on the protestors which contributed to tensions.
Also trigger cause was mostly due to the use of force.

Differences Some was race-based but others could be linked to socio-economic factors— opportunities offered to Chinese was lesser
Amount of violence differs
Peaceful measures were attempted to be used in some riots.
for instance David Marshalls attempt to negotiate with Fong Swee Suan and trade union.

Question 41

What is the definition of Constitution?

Answer 41

Constitution is a document which states the powers, laws and rules

Question 42

What is the definition of an elections?

Answer 42

An election is a process where people chooses their representatives in the government by voting.

Question 43

What is a commission?

Answer 43

A commission is groups of people appointed to do specific tasks, such as investigating or writing a report.

Question 44

When was the first election?

Answer 44

The first election was in 1948.

Question 44

What does limited self-government mean?

Answer 44

Limited self-government refers that British are still controlling and ruling and the representatives in Singapore are not in charge of everything.

Question 45

How many people were elected by the people during the First election?

Answer 45

6 were elected by the people

Question 46

When did Singapore attained limited self-government?

Answer 46

1955

Question 47

How many people were elected as non-officials during the 1955 elections?

Answer 47

Elected 25 non-officials

Question 48

When did Singapore attain full internal self-government?

Answer 48

1959

Question 49

How many elected members were there in 1959

Answer 49

51 elected members

Question 50

What were the Chief minister and 5 other local minister supposed to be in charge of during 1955?

Answer 50

They were in charge of education, health, housing and trade and industry.

Question 51

What were the prime minister and 8 other local ministers in charge of during 1959?

Answer 51

They were in charge of culture, education, finance, health, home affairs, housing, law and labour, and trade and industry.

Question 52

What was the area of shared control during 1959?

Answer 52

The area of shared control: Internal Security
Local, British and Malayan representatives sat on the Internal Security council and shared responsibility for Singapore’s Internal security

Question 53

How did the British respond to the changing attitude of the locals? Why do you think this was important?

Answer 53

The British had plans for political tutelage— gradual increase of political participation transfer of power gradually from British to locals
-Changing demographic in Singapore gave more hope to British as there are more local born and greater stake in Singapore’s future.

Question 54

How many eligible voters were there during the 1948 elections?

Answer 54

200 000

Question 55

Which party contested the 1948 election and how many seats were won?

Answer 55

Singapore Progressive Party (SPP) was the only party that contested the election. It won 3 seats, while the remaining 3 seats were won by independent candidates.

Question 56

What is the aim of the rendel commission about and when did it take place?

Answer 56

1953
The British government wanted to increase local participation and to encourage political awareness and responsibility by allowing an elected government to control domestic policies.
Commission was set up to consult all races and existing constitution and to prepare the locals for eventual union with Malaya.

Question 57

Who led the Rendel Commission?

Answer 57

LED by Sir George Rendel

Question 58

How many members were elected for the new constitution?

Answer 58

25 elected members out of 32 seats

Question 59

What were the ministers in Singapore in charge of after the Rendel Constitution?

Answer 59

1 Chief minister + 6 local ministers were in charge of domestic policies, while 3 British ministers in charge of external policies

Domestic policies include: education, infrastructure, healthcare, housing
External policies: law, foreign relations, national security, finance

Question 60

What actions did David Marshall take during the Hock Lee Bus riot?

Answer 60

David Marshall negotiated with Fong Swee Suan and union members but eventually gave into the demands of the strikers. He also refused the governor’s instructions to send in troops to stop the riots.

Question 61

How did the British feel towards the actions that David Marshall take when he faced the Hock Lee Bus riot situation?

Answer 61

The British felt that David Marshall was weak because he gave into the demands of the strikers, therefore was “soft” against the communist threat.

Question 62

When was the First Merdeka Talks?

Answer 62

1955-1956

Question 63

Were the British and Marshall successful in negotiating during the First Merdeka Talks?

Answer 63

Yes. British had distrust and little confidence that Marshall could maintain law and order and deal with the communist threat.
Talks broke down over the issue of internal security arrangements.
British wanted their representative in charge of the internal security council but Marshall wanted a Malayan representative in charge. Both sides refused to compromise, therefore failed to achieve full self-government.
—Marshall resigned

Question 64

When was the Second Merdeka Talks?

Answer 64

1956-1959

Question 65

Who was the Chief Minister during the Second Merdeka Talk?

Answer 65

Lim Yew Hock

Question 66

What actions did Lim Yew Hock take during the Chinese Middle School Student riot (1956)?

Answer 66

Issued ultimatum to the student protestors and didn’t hesitate to send in riot police with tear gas.
Shut down and banned alleged communist organisations and unions

Question 67

How did the British feel towards the actions that Lim Yew Hock responded to the Chinese middle school student riot?

Answer 67

The British trusted Lim Yew Hock and thinks that he is capable. The British was pleased with Lim’s decisive handling of the riots and felt that he could protect the British’s strategic interest in Singapore.

Question 68

What was the outcome of the second Merdeka talk? Was it successful?

Answer 68

yes. British had more trust in Lim Yew Hock to manage internal security. Lim Yew Hock was also willing to compromise on the issue of internal security and agree to some extent.

Formation of a security council comprise 3 British, 3 Singaporeans and 1 representative from Federation of Malaya
Singapore gained the status of self-governing state with control over domestic issue, except internal security.

Question 69

What is the difference between the rendel commission and the new constitution?

Answer 69

The British formed a commission in 1953 to review the constitution in Singapore, and they submitted the report in 1954 recommending limited self-limited government, meaning that the people would be able to elect locals to control certain areas of the government.

This made the Rendel constitution to be introduced in 1955.

Question 70

What were the British still concerned about for Singapore during Singapore’s progress towards self-government?

Answer 70

They wondered whether the locals had the capability to self-govern. One example is David Marshall. He displayed characteristics of being “soft” and “weak” which made him viewed as incompetent and unsuitable to protect Singapore’s external defence from the communist.

Wanted to ensure that Singapore’s economy would be linked to the British.— and be able to continue to have trade between Singapore and the British— to promote British’s economy and its vested interest.
Wanted to ensure that Singapore’s economy would be linked to the British.
Threat of communism.

Question 71

What was the impact of the Rendel Commission?

Answer 71

The rendel commission encourage political awareness and responsibility among the locals in Singapore by allowing an elected government to control domestic policies and achieved limited self- government. There were more political parties which were formed during that point of time which would give both Singapore and the British hope as there would be more chances of a capable leader to lead Singapore and improve the growth of Singapore while meeting the vested interest of the British government which is to establish ties with Singapore and continue to go on with trade with Singapore.

Question 72

What were the most significant milestone on Singapore’s road to self-government was…

Answer 72

The Chinese middle school student riot and the second Merdeka talks in my opinion.

Question 73

Rank the following riots according to these words for the following events.
Steady. Explosive, radical, abrupt, profound , negligible and superficial.
Events: 1948 Elections, 1955 elections, 1959 elections, First Merdeka talks, Second Merdeka talks, Maria Hertogh riots, Anti-National Service riots, Hock Lee Bus Riots, Chinese middle school students riots.

Answer 73

1948 Elections were a symbolic change as the elected Singaporeans only formed a minority in government, it indicated that the British were open to local rule, but real power had not been.

Maria Hertogh steady change made it closer to self-government. This was because the Maria Hertogh stirred up some discontentment towards the incompetence of the British courts and them being bias towards the Malays which kind of made them associate this with anti-colonial sentiment.

Anti-national service riot made an explosive and profound change to make Singapore closer to self-government. This was because the Chinese school students received disadvantaged circumstances. For example, Chinese middle school graduates were not qualified to gain access to the English-medium university of Malaya or to English-speaking universities overseas. Not were there any openings for the Chinese-educated in government organisations in Singapore and they were expected to defend their country. These youths and their teachers had good reason to be bitter against the colonial government and this why the anti-colonial sentiment and resentment started to increase. It was a profound and explosive change given that after the National service ordinance was postponed, the Chinese middle school students formed the Chinese middle school student union which was an act of empowerment that awakened the Chinese students’ political consciousness and empowered them to take action in the future.