How Did SG achieve Internal Self-Government? Flashcards
Hock Lee Bus Riots what happened
Late April 1955- workers from SBWU, Singapore Bus Worker’s Union led by Fong Swee Suan went on strike against their company (over unfair treatment)
(They weren’t granted leave to attend union meetings)
Company dismissed/sacked 229 workers
Workers went on strikes
Police called-> strikers retaliated
27 April- (Strikers blocked the gates of the bus depot and prevented buses from leaving and hurled stones at the police)
(Police used batons and 15 ppl were injured)
Over next few days (>10000) students from Chinese-medium school (gathered at the depot) to support striking workers
(Brought food, entertained them with song and dance)
Chief Minister David Marshall tried to broker a negotiation between the company and SBWU but to no avail
Strikes grew larger, 12 May: huge clash between strikers and police
(employees of other bus companies joined in to protest against treatment of fellow workers)
(Police tried to disperse crowd with water hoses
Crowd threw bricks, stones and bottles
4 ppl killed, 31 injured)
14 May: Government managed to negotiate, sacked workers re-employed
(However many trade union members remained suspicious of government
continued to organize rallies and protests)
Impact of Hock Lee Bus Riots
David Marshall perceived as weak by the British
-> Incapability to clamp down on communist influences of riots
-> Not calling the troops earlier to disperse the strikers
-> Unable to negotiate between the involved parties
April 1956 Merdeka talks unsuccessful -> stepped down as chief minister
(David Marshall wanted full control over SG’s internal security.
However, the British said that it still has to be chaired with some form of local participation involved in the internal security committee. David Marshal declined, came back to SG & stepped down as Chief Minister)
Why did the Hock Lee Bus Riots happen?
Workers felt that their pay wasn’t good, unfair treatment, SBWU not given proper treatment compared to Hock Lee Bus Employee’s Union
Chinese middle school riots
In September 1956, Lim Yew Hock banned the SCMSSU (Singapore Chinese Middle School Students’ Union)
(Around 5000) Students demonstrated against government (took over their schools, demanded pre-registration of SCMSSU
After stern warnings from government, protests died down) -> (two weeks later) Government ordered expulsion of 142 students from schools including Chung Cheng High School (and The Chinese High School) on suspicion of anti-government activities
-> students camped at both schools on protest
On 24 October, Lim Yew Hock made a radio broadcast demanding that students leave school premises by 8 o’ clock the following evening
With support of the union, students were more defiant and willing to fight
Large crowds gathered outside the schools
Demonstrations turned violent when a mob outside CCHS confronted the police
Ensuing riots spread across island and continued for 3 days
troops from Malaya called in to restore order
Order restored on 28 October
13 ppl died, more than 120 injured
Lim Chin Siong, Fong Swee Suan and other union leaders swiftly detained by police
(On the whole) British pleased with Lim Yew Hock’s handling of the riots -> strengthened his position in the eyes of the government
However his tough actions made his LF government appear to be running dogs of the British in the eyes of some locals
Second Merdeka Talks (impacted by Chinese middle school riots)
(1957)
- Lim Yew Hock led the second delegation to Britain
- Compromised on leaving internal security, external defence and external affairs under control of the British due to latter’s fear of a communist threat
- Secured full internal self-government for Singapore
1959 Election
- 13 political parties + 194 candidates
- ppl more interested to vote as these ppl would be governing SG
- Citizenship Ordinance of 1957 allowed 320,000 residents to vote
- compulsory voting took place-> 525, 000 voters turned up
- PAP won 43 out of 51 seats that they contested
More Abt second Merdeka talks
Concluding round of talks in 1958 to finalize details of agreement
New Constitution drawn up
British Parliament passed a State of Singapore Act converging colony into a state with control over all domestic issues except for internal security
Head of state/Pertuan Negara would replace the British governor
More abt 1959 election
SG divided into 51 constituencies
Each would elect a representative
Parties used radio broadcasts, newspapers and pamphlets to spread their ideas
Vehicles with loudspeakers broadcast party slogans
Candidates also held election rallies, attended by large crowds
Citizenship Ordinance of 1957 … including a large proportion of the 220,000 foreign born Chinese residents
Early hours of 31 May election results announced
LF, renamed Singapore’s People’s Alliance SPA, performed poorly, winning only 4 out of 39 seats contested
