Chapter 7.3 Local's respond to post- war problem

Question 1

A) Maria Hertogh Riots

Answer 1

-In late 1950, a custody battle over a 13-years old girl caught the public attention.
- She was born to Dutch Catholic parents but brought up in Muslims

Question 2

B) Anti- NS Riots

Answer 2

• Chinese-middle school students were especially angry about conscription.
• There were old enough to enlist but their education had already been disrupted once by the war.
• They also did not want to fight for a foreign government that did not seem to treat them well.

Question 3

C) Rendel constitution

Answer 3

• The British formed the Rendel Commission in July 1953 to review Constitution of Singapore
• They were tasked to find out how local people could be more active in the government

British Respond
- This meant the people would be able to elect locals to control certain areas of the government
- As the result of the report, the Rendel Constitution was introducing in 1955
- There would be a council of minister headed by the governor, and 5 other local minister, and three British ministers.
- The Legislative( having the power to make law) council would also be rename the Legislative Assembly
-The 6 locals ministers would be given control over education, heath, housing and trade and industry
- The 3 British minister would control areas deemed more important by the British government: Law, Finance, External Development , External Defence and Internal security
- Although the changes it introduced were limited, the Rendel Constitution proved to be an important step in Singapore’s journey towards self-government.
- The new constitution meant an election was to be held in April 1955

Question 4

D) Hock Lee Bus Riots

Answer 4

• The British were not impressed by how Marshall handed it
• He had refuse to call British troops as he did not want to appear be siding with the British
• To the British, Marshall seemed week due to his reluctance to take stronger action against those involved in the riots.
  - He was even unwilling to negotiate with them
• His perceived weakness affected the negotiations with the British during the first Merdeka Talks in 1956.

Question 5

E) First Merdeka Talks

Answer 5

David Marshall’s LF Government
- In April 1956, Marshall led a mission to London to negotiate for self- government
- Marshall demanded full internal self- government by 1957. He wanted greater local control over defence and external affairs.
- He had vowed to resign as chief, minister if he was not successful.

Question 6

F) Chinese middle school Riots

Answer 6

• After the Hock Lee Bus Riots, the British doubted the LF government’s ability to maintain law and order and deal with the communist threat.
• The British wanted a strong and stable government in Singapore to protect British economic and defence interests, and keep it from becoming communist

Lim Yew Hock’s LF government
- (The British) pleased with Lim’s decisive
- Lim’s tough actions made him to be the British “running dog”.

Question 7

G) Second Merdeka Talks

Answer 7

• In 1957, Lim led another delegation to London.
• Like Marshall, he wanted to gain control over all internal matter. including internal security:
  - Unlike Marshall, Lim showed a willingness to compromise
  - He recognised that the British were reluctant to hand over control of internal security due to communist threat.
• The delegation also agree to leave external affairs and external defence in the hands of the British.

Question 8

H) 1959 election

Answer 8

• compared to the 1955 election people showed an event greater interest as they had a chance to decide who was most suited to governing Singapore
• This increase interest was partly due to citizenship Ordinance of 1957, which enable 320 000 residents to become Singapore citizen with voting rights.
  - This included a large proportion of the 220 000 foreign-born chinese residents.
  -Compulsory voting was also introduced to ensure that people took responsibility in choosing their own government.

Full internal self-government
British, Malayan government- Local, British and Malayan representatives sat on the internal security for Singapore’s internal security
Head of state( Yang di- Pertuan Negera) prime minister and 8 other local Minister :
- Appointed from 51 elected members of the legidlative Assembly
- In charge of culture, education, finance, health, home affairs, law and labour, and trade and industry.

Question 9

Conclusion

Answer 9

• The post war period saw locals becoming more disconnected with the British rule as a result of external influences and the hardship they had suffered
• The increasing anti-colonial sentiment led to strikes and riots, but also to greater political participations as the people’s desire for self- government grew.
• In 1959, 14 years after wwII ended, Singapore attained full internal self-government.